We're gearing up to bottle our first home made wine - a bright, floral, California blend of Merlot, Zinfandel, Barbera, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Here's the story behind this project.
Background
The vineyard was established by the late Ian and Pat Coster, and maintained by their groundskeeper and friend, Larry Ray. While we know very little about their process or intentions for the farm, it has been an honor to carry on their tradition and make use of this abundant crop!
Back in 2021, when we first acquired this property, we had grand visions of producing our own wine from the small batch vineyard that came with it. However, managing the property soon became overwhelming, and our winemaking dreams were put on hold.
Vineyard Maintenance
Early in 2021 our friend, Gena, visited the property and immediately fell in love with the vineyard. She stepped in to care for the vines and orchard. Over the next two years, we watched as the vineyard flourished under her care. Sadly, the prospect of wine making was a bit intimidating and so the grapes went unused until last year, when we finally mustered the courage to try our hand at winemaking.
Expert Guidance
In 2023 the grapes were ABUNDANT and we were finally ready to jump in (pun intended) to this new hobby! Enter expert wine maker and friend, Antonio Brunetti of Flowers & Cheese, to guide us through the wild fermentation process. He helped us get all the tools and equipment we needed to begin this new endeavor.
Harvest & Mash
In mid September 2023, when the grapes were at maximum sugar content, we harvested 400 lbs. of grapes from just 30 mature vines. The grapes were mashed and stored in a barrel—skins, stems, and all—using a natural method called wild fermentation, with no additives or added yeast. During this process, the sugar in the grapes is consumed by the naturally occurring yeast on the skins and stems of the grapes. We were just shy of 55 gal of mash! We carefully monitored the alcohol conversion, and once it stabilized, the wine was ready to press!
The Press
Over the next two weeks we checked the sugar to alcohol conversion regularly and stirred the mash. Once the first stage of fermentation was complete, the wine was pressed and stored in 6-gallon glass carboys to complete the fermentation. The entire process was labor-intensive but incredibly fun!
Bottling
The final step in our journey! We had an amazing time bottling our first batch of wine with friends and neighbors! It was a day full of laughter, learning, and hands-on fun as everyone got involved in filling, corking, and labeling each bottle. Sharing this special moment with such a great group made it even more memorable, and we’re grateful to everyone who joined us for this milestone in our wine-making journey! Cheers to more adventures ahead! (Photo credit: Leonia Wade, www.shotflicks.com)
"To" a California Blend
What started as a hobby turned into something much more, and to our delight, the wine turned out to be pretty tasty. With over 35 gallons (more than 100 bottles!) of wine on our hands, we knew we had to share this bounty with our friends and neighbors—nothing could be more aligned with our dreams for Makerspace than that.
We can't wait to share this bright, floral blend of Merlot, Zinfandel, Barbera, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has been named "To" by Gena.
"Though we may seem radically different, we share a strong spirit of adventure, curiosity, and compassion. This project is the culmination of what makes us who we are. This blend is everything I love about us and what I believe others cherish in us as well. This wine is to us, to those we hold dear, and those who love us. Here's to the experiences and memories of 2023." ~Gena
A toast to • Here’s to • Raise your glass • To the good times • Salute • À votre santé • To those who • We are gathered to • Let’s drink to • Cheers to • To family • To health • Alla nostra! • To our friends • To remember • To love • To welcome • To fortune • À la vie • To new adventures • Por el amor • To those we have lost • To us • Por la vida • To absent friends • To hope • To inspiration • To life • To a bright future • To you • To happiness
What ever you're drinking to, we're glad to be a part of it!
Thank you for being a part of this wild dream!
--The Hideout