Onwards to year 12!

This year, I’m hopeful of getting a new barrel. So I wanted to get a higher bodied grape to handle it. So I selected Zinfandel (which is Leah’s favorite) at Schulenburg Vineyards like I did in 2022 and 2023. I arranged to pick up 1200 pounds on August 26, and I went up to Lodi by myself to pick it up. They were waiting for me in ~50lbs boxes.

I was by myself for the pickup, which was a first. I planned on taking two trips (5 hours of driving that day!), but I was super lucky and smart and got all 1200lbs in the car. I hand smushed the grapes to pack them in a little tighter. I was able to fit all in following manner:

• 2 big bins in the front seat
• 7 big bins on the first level, in the back of the car
• 3 heaping half bins resting on top of those
• 3 buckets, sealed and laying sideways on top of the 7 big bins

And that’s it! I was able to get everything in my car!

I then went home and crushed them all. It was more work by myself, and lifting the heavier bins made it that much harder.

I had my assistants sample the fresh grape juice.

I got it all in the fermenting bins and pitched the yeast (BM45) the following day.  I measured the brix to be around 24.5.