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Harvest News
Summerset Fall Harvest Comes to an End
During the past 6 weeks over 600 of our faithful harvesters have picked 36 tons of grapes, which will make wine for 30,000 bottles for our 2009 vintage wines. All the while consuming 400 bottles of wine and devouring 35 pans of Paesano's delicious cavatelli. Thank you to all of our harvesters, volunteers, staff and grape growers for making this season a spectacular one. We had fun, hope you did, too!
Harvest Update
by Dave Klodd
2008 was a record harvest year at Summerset, we processed over three tons per acre average from the winery crop itself and processed over 120 tons total plus did some custom pressing for a few other wineries. This past winter was very harsh on the plants and conspired with wet and cold weather in the spring to hurt pollination and bud development. The end result was a 2009 crop just a little over half of last years. Juice yield per ton does not equate to wine yield per ton due to racking and filtering losses during processing, and can vary greatly by variety. As a generality, one ton may translate into 150 gallons of wine X 5 bottles per gallon equals 750 bottles at 750ml per bottle.
The potential bottle yields for our harvesters this year are estimated below
Edelweiss...4,000
Foch...5,000
Frontenac...6,500
Niagara...2,000
GR7...2,000
Concord...5,500
St. Vincent...2,000
All of our GR7 crop was lost to deer on one Sunday last year, there was no damage on a Saturday and they were not ripe, when we went to net them on Monday, there was not one grape left to be found. We lost almost half this year even after netting earlier. We could have also doubled or tripled the St. Vincent crop if we had time to net them earlier.
The new boiler for the heat exchanger worked well and enabled us to process the reds at much higher temperatures and faster than ever before at 100 to 175 pounds per minute averages. The color and flavor extraction has greatly improved. The system we started last year with use of the bins and the custom made rotator is much safer, much faster, far less expensive and has saved many a back from heavy lifting. We are now able to process with only two people instead of six or more. In the coming year or two we hope to install a large hopper and bulk crushed grape system to better regulate the flow of grapes to the crusher. This will allow us to dump the bins even faster and speed up the
reloading of the press. By the way, we are now able to do over 6 to 7 tons in one press run which is enough to at least fill a 1,000 gallon tank. The speed and efficiency of our harvesters is always greatly appreciated and makes our jobs much easier.
Tickets on Sale Now for Women & Wine
A Culinary and shopping experience!
November 7th 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Women! Grab your girlfriends, sisters and mothers and make plans to join us on November 7th from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM for a fun afternoon of wine, lunch, fashion and shopping at Summerset Winery. We'll be showcasing some of the best jewelry, spa & clothing items around. The cost is $35.00 per person and includes wine reception, gourmet boxed lunch, wine, gift bag, giveaways - and tons of fun! Professional Organizer, Mary Sigmann, will be our main speaker and will give us advice on how to clear the clutter in our lives! Guests are invited to sign up to get their hair and make up done at the Ultra Salon booth or receive a spray tan or massage from Morning Rain Massage & Day Spa. Lunch
will be catered by Judge's Signature catering and will include a turkey croissant with cranberry chutney, pasta salad and seasonal fresh fruit. A decadent dessert table will be offered following lunch. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions we should be aware of and we will try to accommodate.
Browse our vendor displays with jewelry, spa related items, clothing, and much, much more! Here are just a few of our fantastic vendors: Ultra Salon, Morning Rain Massage and Day Spa, Silpada Designs, Iowa Bed & Breakfast Guild, Sassy Serving and Glassware, Various & Sundry and much, much more!
Reservations required. Tickets are non-refundable. Call now. Space is limited!
Call the winery at 515-961-3545 for more information.
On the Road with Linda Mark
Ron and I traveled to Waukee, Iowa, after Kurt Schade of Schade Creek Vineyard asked us to attend his upcoming hearing before the Board of Adjustment. Ron, myself, Diane and John Larson from Snus Hill Winery, and Stan Olson from Penoach Winery were at City Hall to show support for Kurt. Kurt owns 13 acres zoned agricultural right in the middle of Waukee. He has planted 7 acres of grapes and has built a new winery on the property. The Board of Adjustment had already allowed Kurt in a prior meeting to make wine on his property, but did not want to allow him to sell the wine. The dreaded commercial zoning had also been brought up previously.
The hearing action started immediately and was non-stop. I won't go into detail, but Kurt's attorney, Mr. Eide was able to stand up to comments by the 5 member board. It seemed certain that there would be no wine selling at Schade Creek Vineyard, but then Ron, Diane Larson, and Stan Olson all took a turn in addressing the board. Immediately after, the board motioned for a vote and at 3 for and 2 against, the motion to sell wine passed.
This scene has played out in various ways across Iowa. As more little fights are won, it will begin to be easier for future wineries to open up for business.
Afterwards, we visited the Schade Creek Vineyard at the corner of University Avenue and Warrier Lane. This is truly an urban winery. The vineyard rollercoasters down a valley and meets residential houses at the top of the slope. The new winery building is a combination of Tuscan warmth and American lodge. The back room has the definitions of wine bottle sizes painted across the walls. A 15 foot log is carved with the name of the winery, to be placed outside at some point. Although the tasting room is not open yet, Kurt has started making small batches of wine. We celebrated the victory with bit of bubbly poured into champagne flutes.
We look forward to Kurt's Grand Opening of the Schade Creek Vineyard (and Winery), the date to be determined.
Summerset Winery's Sunday Tunes...
Summerset Winery Presents One Nite Stand Band
October 4, 2009
3:00 - 6:00 PM
On Sunday, October 4, One Nite Stand will perform at the winery. They have been called one of the best Smooth Jazz/R&B groups in the Des Moines area. The band's current line-up includes: Jeff Nelson, Larry Sykes, Tommy Doggett, Ben Williams and Scott Willsey.
www.onenitestandband.com
Summerset Winery Presents Malcolm Wells & the Two Timers
October, 11th, 2009
3:00 - 6:00 PM
On Sunday, October 11 enjoy the soulful Blues of Malcolm Wells and the Two Timers with Iowa favorite Matt Woods.
Please note: All wines purchased for consumption during Sunday Tunes must be bought at the winery on that day only. Sunday wine sales help Ron & Linda pay for the band and staff for your afternoon pleasure on these days. Thank you!
There is a cover charge to attend Sunday Tunes concerts; $3 per person or $10 a car. Case Club members get in free. In addition to great Summerset wine, patrons may also purchase pop, water, cheese, crackers, and summer sausage to enjoy during the concert or to take home. Bring your own chair! Seating is limited so it is highly recommended that guests bring their own chair to sit in during our Sunday Tunes.
Thank you for helping support live music.
Our live music events are open to the public. Complimentary wine samples are available. Select one of our fine bottles of wine for your afternoon enjoyment.
Patrons are welcome to sit back and enjoy a relaxing chair massage by Heartland Prairie Massage. For more info, contact bcarnol56_123@msn.com
NO DOGS OR OTHER PETS ARE ALLOWED ON THE SUMMERSET WINERY PROPERTY. NO OTHER ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED ON THE SUMMERSET WINERY PROPERTY. VIOLATORS WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
Away Events
October 3
Harvest Festival, Downtown Clear Lake from noon - 5:00 pm
October 3
Dysart Wine Festival, Main Street in Dysart, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
October 10 & 11
Madison County Covered Bridge Festival, Winterset
November 7
Farmscape Celebrity Readers Theatre Wine & Beer Tasting, Hearst Center for the Arts, Cedar Falls, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Summerset Winery Gift Shop & Tasting Room
The tasting room and gift shop are open Tues–Sun, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Tours are available upon request. Located in the rolling hills south of Des Moines, Iowa, Summerset Winery is located 7 miles south of Southridge Mall or 5 miles south of the Hwy 5 bypass on Hwy 69 and 2 miles east on Summerset Road. Follow the Blue Highway signs. For more information contact the winery at www.summersetwine.com
Summerset wines are also available at over 100 retail gift shops and grocery stores across Iowa. Check our website for the store closest to you, www.summersetwine.com.
This promotion is sent to you by:
Summerset Winery
15101 Fairfax
Indianola, Iowa 50125
Phone (515) 961-3545
Fax (515) 953-2282
SummersetWine@msn.com
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