update pictures!

Difficult to see but the vines are there under the trellis








Racking the blueberry








L-R: Blueberry, Apple, Lemmon-Lime, Mead

Crazy updates!

So!- Lots to tell. I think...

First-

My original intention was to oak the 2 separate gallons of blueberry at different points, however, 1 gallon fermented out completely in a shorter time than I had expected so I simply stabilized it and now it is aging in the cellar. The second gallon I did end up oaking and it is currently sitting on oak chips and there is still a bit of fermentation going on.

The mead is still bubbling every now and then but it is very clear and I am excited for when it finishes out and I can cellar it.

The lemon-lime is also fermenting and starting to clear very nicely.

I can't remember if I put this in the other posts (and I'm too lazy to go back and check!) but I currently have 5 gal. of an apple wine which is in its secondary fermentation and it has been undergoing a very steady and strong fermentation since it started. I chose to make this one because based on what I've read it doesnt take to aging very well and its a good wine to make and enjoy soon after it has cleared; and lets face it, I want to enjoy some of this wine before next year!!

Since I had an empty primary fermenting bucket and want to make as much wine as possible to learn as much as possible, I decided to make 3 more gal. of wild blueberry. It is currently in its primary stage of fermentation and going strong. I think that the warmer weather is definitely helping things out nicely.

Lastly- Something I'm VERY excited about!!-

I have acquired and planted 4 grape vines in my backyard! I bought 2 white (Traminite) and 2 red (Frontenac) and I am happy to say that they have started to bud and I am very much looking forward to the new growth and establishing the vines! I built a crude but pretty decent trellis out of 3 metal sign posts and some 12 gauge wire and its looking pretty good! (i'll post some pictures in a bit) They probably won't produce very much of anything until next summer/fall but it is exciting nonetheless.

Well that is all for now!

-G

Experiment

So since I am in the process of learning about winemaking, I figure now is a good time to try some experiments-

I'm going to try oaking at different stages with the blueberry. I started the initial ferment on 3/5 and racked it into secondary on 3/15.

It has been in secondary fermentation for about 3 weeks and has thrown quite a bit of sediment so I'm going to rack it again. Since I have 2 gallons separated into individual gallon carboys I'm going to oak one now, and I'm going to oak the other after it has stabilized and cleared and is ready for aging.

Lets see what happens!