On Feb 3, 10:23 am, "Paul E. Lehmann" wrote:
Joe Sallustio wrote:
On Feb 2, 4:03 pm, "
wrote:
I am considering ordering malbec grapes from
South America. The supplier has quoted 18 pound
boxes. How many gallons should I get out of an
18 pound box of malbec grapes?

Does any one have any suggestions or comments
about what to expect with this grape?

Thanks.
Orlando

About 1.2 gallons US; if these are shipping
across a border and get held in Customs you may
not be happy in the end.

Joe

Joe, those Central Valley California grapes that I
believe we have both used to make wine are excess
grapes that the wineries in California could not
use. At least this is what S&S, a distributor
who sells the grapes in Baltimore told me.

I bought some Riesling juice from them this year.
When I got it home it was already about 25%
fermented in the pails. This means that they have
probably been held in cold storage in California
for a period of time BEFORE shipped via
refrigerated truck to the Eastern US.

I do not think the grapes from Chile would be of
any less quality. In fact they may be better if
they are flown cold via Air Cargo direct.

When I visited Guatemala a few years ago, I
visited a huge ranch that grows ROSES and air
ships them to huge markets in the US. Produce
grown south of the equator does not mean that it
takes the slow boat through the Panama Canal.

To be honest the grapes we get in from Pittsburgh are not excess, the
businesses are set up to supply home winemakers. They are lesser
quality to be sure but wineries want their grapes by the ton and juice
by the tanker. Places like California Concentrate sell it that way
too so maybe that is what S and S meant.

I was thinking about how hard it is to get an answer about bringing
grapes across the border from Canada; if you are bringing small
quantities of anything fruit related across and you get the wrong
Customs person it's 3 stooges time.

If a vendor is arranging it the paperwork would be in order so you are
probably right on, I may have been overreacting. Chile and Argentina
make great wines, I would give it a shot if I could look at the grapes
before buying.

Joe