Identifying the finished wine

It is always easier to drive to a location if you know the route. Chances are you won’t get lost along the way. Winemaking is similar. If you know what you are looking for, you can craft the wine towards that destination. In July we met with Chris Pearmund, co-owner of Vint Hill. […]

First decisions: the Vintner’s Work Order

If you are interested in making a barrel of wine at Vint Hill Craft Winery, your first decisions will be made when you complete the Vintner’s Work Order. Think of this as an application where you make some early decisions about the wine you want to craft. Your first decision is to select […]

Trying to identify an annoying aroma and taste

The barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon I plan to craft in the fall will not be my first attempt at winemaking. At home I made a Cabernet Sauvignon from a Wine Expert wine kit, a dry mead from scratch, and a dessert Riesling from a Wine Expert wine kit. My first attempt at winemaking […]

I never fancied myself a winemaker

I never fancied myself a winemaker. I simply enjoy visiting wineries throughout the world, talking to winemakers and tasting wine. An early personal challenge was to taste as many grape varieties as possible. After two and a half years I tasted 100 different varietal grapes. Tasting wine, interviewing winemakers and writing about […]