Cabernet Sauvignon Update

On February 26th we started our1st wine making process using a french cab by World Vineyard. There is a local wine supply store in Atlanta GA. (Wine Craft), that sells World Vineyard products and many other so we picked up a box along with a deluxe wine making kit that had everything we'd need along the way. Let me say, the owners of the shop are a friendly pair and open to answering any questions you might have so don't be shy. I called on them myself once and sent an email later on in the process. The service is fantastic! Overall it was quite easy if you followed the instructions and watch some videos they have online on Youtube. Still, to familiarize myself with the tools I decided to make a small batch of what's called "inmates brew" which I learned how to do on Craig's Tube. By purchasing a bottle of 100% grape juice, and following his video, I was able to use many of my new toys and practice on something smaller before attacking the real thing.

There were only 4 big steps in the entire process.

1. Primary Fermentation
2. Secondary Fermentation
3. Stabilizing & Clearing 
4. Bottling 

Remember this... ? Wine Day #1, that was that wonderful oak we added  ...mmmmmmm

So fast forward to present day. We are just a little shy of two months at this stage. The wine has been bottled and sat on the kitchen counter top for 5-7 days and now lies on wire shelves in my office along with my camera gear. The bottles are not included in the kit. These are ones that were saved over some time that were sanitized and washed to reuse. 

Very economical!!  

You can see the reflection from the open windows but my office is usually very dark and cool so the perfect spot for now until I make wine racks, but that's another project for some other day. Now I wait... May 1st taste testing day. 

Here I've finished the bottle off with something I recently purchased online at a lovely little etsy store. Le Box Boutique. The perfect finish to gift this bottle to a friend. ;) ;) 

Today I have to say I feel just that much closer to actually seeing my small vineyard off the coast somewhere. My advice, Find time... make wine! 

Update: This photo won a competition on Le Box Boutique's Blog

dreaming of lavender with love

(click photo to enlarge any image)

"Pour bien vivre, bien aimer et laisser dire."

"To live well, love well and let them talk."

I would love to share this on a wine label. I found this photo and this quote this morning so off to photoshop I went. We are in the 4th stage of our wine making experiment, just two more weeks before bottling and I am already in love with the process. 

As I have been getting the front ready for our lavender beds I can't help but daydream about the scent and color and feeling so I went online and found some inspiration. 

Just allowing these good feeling thoughts which are attracting objects of desire. Try it with something you love. You will have fun! 

Biodynamic Winemaking

Around my early 20's I began to fantasize about owning and belonging to a wine vineyard somewhere in Spain, Italy, or France. It wasn't hard because I had been living in Germany and had visited the countries which was just a train ride away. I still like to daydream and since have brought the winemaking to my kitchen with a cabernet sauvignon and complete winemaking kit. 

Since then, I have been reading up on everything related and found something interesting called "biodynamic winemaking", and takes things a step further than "organic winemaking". 

Biodynamics mixes sustainability with more celestial beliefs and takes a spiritual as well as mystical approach to conventional farming methods. The practice of biodynamics views the vineyard in its entirety as a living system. And, it's not just about the vines and grapes. It's also about the soil, compost, insects, and other vegetation and animals that inhabit space in the vineyard, all working in harmony to bring you some incredible-tasting wines.

Check out these vineyards here in the US that have been practicing biodynamics for some time now. 


Araujo Estate
Resonance Vineyards
Grgich Hills
Beckmen Vineyards
DeLoch Vineyards

Okay, so I'm not quite there yet in my kitchen but it is fun to dream, and I really like what I've taught myself this far. Who knows, maybe someday. Why not today?!