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How grapes are sold? How many do I need?
California grapes are sold
in wooden boxes called lugs. Each lug weighs 36
lbs. When making red wine, each lug usually
produces 2.5 gallons of wine. If you want to
produce 6 gallons of wine, then you should purchase 3 boxes of grapes. Usually, however, Mother Nature gives us a bonus. Last year, each 36 lb box yielded close to 2.7
gallons. Free wine is good! But
because we can’t predict higher yields, you must assume the minimum
yield of 2.5 gallons per box.
What grapes are available?
Red
Grapes:
Old Vines Zinfandel
(vines 40 - 50 years old)
Petite Syrah
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Sangiovese (the grape of
Chianti)
Syrah (also called Shiraz)
White Juices:
Muscat
Juice—the
uninitiated may not be familiar with this varietal, but everyone has
had this wine. Muscat is the grape that
produces Asti Spumante. Done as a
non-sparkling, dry wine, it produces a fresh, crisp, fruity wine with
typical flavors of melon, apricot, citrus and pear. Once
you’ve made it, you’ll make it again.
Chardonnay Juice - The grapes are picked at the vineyard,
where they are crushed, de-stemmed and pressed, and the juice
transports in oversized food-grade buckets. To ferment, you simply open
the bucket's lid and toss in the wine yeast. After fermentation is
complete, you transfer to a carboy and continue with the traditional
winemaking steps. Winemaking doesn't get any easier than this!
How much do grapes cost?
The red grapes normally cost between $35 - $40 per box,
and the white juices usually costs between $72 - $80. We
never know the exact cost until the grapes arrive, since grapes are
fresh produce, and the prices depend on harvest conditions, yield and
demand. Shipping costs are variable, and because of the dramatic rise in
petroleum prices, we do expect a significant increase in the grape prices.
Because
grapes are perishable, fresh produce, they must be pre-purchased, and no
returns / refunds are available.
When do the grapes arrive?
Only mother nature knows when the grapes will
ripen properly for winemaking purposes. Consequently,
it is still too early to predict the exact weekend. Whatever
weekend the grapes do arrive, we will be available on Saturday for
grape pick-up, crushing and general help.
How to Make Wine
From Grapes (The
Basics)
Note: For people
who order grapes, we will provide detailed information outlining the
winemaking process.
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1. |
Crush
and de-stem the grapes. We provide an automated
crusher / de-stemmer for this process. |
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2. |
Add
campden tablets to the grape must. Wait 24
hours. |
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3. |
Add
the wine yeast. |
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4. |
Once
or twice daily, stir the floating grapes down into the fermenting wine. |
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5. |
After
4 to 14 days of fermentation, transfer wine to a glass carboy. Press the grapes skins. We
provide a grape press for this process. |
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6. |
After
1 month, siphon the wine into a fresh carboy. |
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7. |
After
2 – 3 months, siphon the wine into a fresh carboy. Add
finings if desired. |
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8. |
After
3 – 4 months, siphon the wine again. Bottle at
your leisure. |
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9. |
Allow the wine to mature in
the bottle, and then drink wine like you're Bacchus draped in a toga
with a wreath of grape leaves around your head! |
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1. |
6.5 or 7.8 gallon primary fermentation bucket
(food-grade) equipped with a spigot, lid and airlock. |
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How many buckets do I need? |
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One 6.8 gallon bucket will
hold 1.6 boxes total. Do not overfill.
One 7.8 gallon bucket will
hold 2 boxes total.
One 16 gallon food-grade
drum will hold 4 boxes total
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2. |
Long handled stainless steel spoon – used to stir the
floating grapes. |
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3. |
Auto siphon and siphon tubing - for siphoning wine from
vessel to vessel |
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4. |
Glass carboy with stopper and airlock (for aging the wine) |
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5. |
Hydrometer - for monitoring fermentation progress |
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6. |
Funnel - for filling the carboy |
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7. |
Laboratory thermometer - for re-hydrating the yeast |
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8. |
Campden tablets - for must sanitation |
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9. |
Sodium Metabisulphite - for equipment sanitation |
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10. |
B-Brite winery-grade cleanser - for equipment cleaning |
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Getting
Help With Winemaking
At Jasper’s, our job is
not to simply sell you grapes and send you on your merry way. We are true wine aficionados, and as such we
consider it our responsibility to promote wine appreciation and to
teach effective winemaking technique. And what
does it cost you? Nothing! At
any step along the way, always feel free to call or e-mail us with
questions.
How to Order Grapes
Because our grapes are fresh
produce picked-to-order at the vineyard, we require the grapes to be
pre-purchased, which is non-refundable. When you contact us, please
specify which grapes you would like to purchase, and how many boxes of
each. See above for prices. If
you are unsure of what you would like to do, then please call. We're
here to answer any questions.
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Please order by
phone during business hours. Do not leave a message.
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Call us
at
603-881-3052 during business
hours |
Order
Deadline
To be determined....
Thanks,
Jeff Walch
jaspers@boomchugalug.com
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