For quite a while now, I've toyed with the idea of becoming a home winemaker. Time isn't exactly something I have a surplus of these days, but making and bottling my own vino is something I think would be such an amazing process.
But, instead of going out and buying so-so home winemaking equipment and blindly working my way through the fermentation process with purchased juice or concentrate I'm taking it one step further.
LENNDEVOURS contributor Richard Olsen-Harbich, who also happens to be the managing director and winemaker for Raphael, one of Long Island's premier merlot makers, has offered to let me adopt 25 cabernet franc for the season. The vines are nine years old, planted in 1997.
Obviously I've already missed pruning season, but it is my plan to visit "my" vines as much as possible and chronicle their growth, development etc. throughout the growing season.
But that's not all. Come harvest time, I plan to pick the grapes myself, stomp them and make wine out of them...all under the tutelage of Rich in Raphael's winery.
We'll probably make 3-4 cases of 2006 cabernet franc, tentatively scheduled for release in June or July of 2007.
Of course, you, my readers, will be there with me every step of the way. I'm hoping to get out to Peconic either this weekend or next to take pictures of my adopted vines.
I'd like to make a white wine too, but I think maybe I'll stick with the cab franc this year. I'd tell you to reserve your bottle today, but I expect this vintage to sell out to my ultra-exclusive wine club withing hours of its release. This will be a cult bottling priced at, say, $425 per bottle.
Please put me down for one 375ml bottle. And Lenn, please wash your feet before stomping.
Posted by: phermented1 | April 24, 2006 at 01:58 PM
I'm not washing my feet...my funk is part of the terroir, isn't it?
Posted by: Lenn | April 24, 2006 at 02:02 PM
How about a barter arrangement? I'll trade you a pound of pulled pork for a bottle of wine. Believe me, you're getting the best of that deal. ;-)
Posted by: WhiteTrash BBQ | April 24, 2006 at 03:16 PM
Great idea, Lenn! I might also toss my hat into the "wine blogger/winemaker" ring myself with a barrel or two of Napa juice. Should I do this, my cult price will be significantly below yours... perhaps a bit of barter is in order in around 18 months ;-)
Posted by: Tim | April 24, 2006 at 06:16 PM
Ah, exclusivity, the key to success. Can't wait for the (completely objective) tasting notes! Such a fun project.
Posted by: Trish | April 24, 2006 at 08:10 PM
Oooh, Derrick is going to be so jealous! That's so awesome that you'll get to be hands-on with your grapes.
Posted by: Melissa | April 24, 2006 at 09:00 PM
This could be the next big reality TV show...on the Food channel...very interesting and gutsy!
Posted by: Terry Hughes | April 25, 2006 at 06:45 AM
Wow, Cab Franc for $4.25, I'll take a bottle.
Posted by: Ed | April 25, 2006 at 09:00 AM
That's way to cheap bro. Do you have any idea what price the 2005 First Growth Bordeaux's will be fetching by then? This will be an 06, even fresher and better. If you'd like to employ my mad marketing skillz, let me know.
(P.S. Reserve me a bottle, I love Cabernet Franc.)
Posted by: Jathan | April 25, 2006 at 01:08 PM