Cellar News Winter Update

The 2008 harvest went smoothly thanks to all of our volunteer help. On the down side, yields were much lower than we had anticipated due primarily to the late frost we experienced in April. Initially plants appeared to have a normal amount of grapes but, the density was much less on most varieties. Our Edelweiss only took in perhaps half of what we normally do and, two other local sources had almost none this year. We will likely run out of Edelweiss by summer.

We purchased a grape known as Lacrosse this year from two local growers. It tends to flower later than other varieties and yields were not hurt as much by the frost. It can be a problematic grape to work with but, after experimenting with a number of different small batches in the past we may have gotten it right this year. We hope to bottle in February if all goes well. When we run out of Edelweiss, some may find the Lacrosse to be a wonderful substitute.

We intend to have a number of other locally grown varieties of grapes/wine available in small lots, some of which we've not purchased or bottled in the past such as Iowa Chambourcin (a dry red), Iowa Frontenac (a dry red), Iowa Seyval (dry white), and Iowa Vignoles (semi dry white).

Currently, we are in a processing frenzy and are out of some wines such as regular Festiva, Iowa Vignoles, and running low on others such as Summer Blush, and Seyval. The wines are here in bulk but, are not ready for bottling. We bottled about 10,000 in November, 23,000 in December and hope to finish 12,000 in January.

Stop in and see our three new stainless tanks. They give us another 14,000 litres in storage/fermentation capacity (they are shiny!). Also, say hello to our newest addition as cellar help, Ms. Carrie Smith, her hard work is greatly appreciated.

By the way when Ron was on vacation, we poured cement in front of the Gazebo. The bands will no longer have to unload in the mud and, you won't have to dance in it either.