mapquest tells me it's a four hour drive to Sparanburg, SC. But remove
the x's from the above email and if you are in that area this fall, let
me know. Sometimes I am in Charlotte, which is real close. Maybe a swap
of a couple bottles. :*)

Thanks for the info about the brandy - it was a great taste test that my
wife and I hoovered over for a while - deciding what everclear or brandy
brought to the port.

If you ever do make a port, I highly recommend cherry, as it cleared so
much nicer than my blueberry or elderberry.

DAve

Joe Sallustio wrote:
Dave,
I never made a port but did do some sherry; I used everclear too. The
brandy I keep around is EJ VSOP (Gallo). It's cheap and I think it
tastes fine.

Keep in the back of your mind when a winemaking text tells you they
add 'brandy' it's usually closer to everclear than brandy from a
store. They distill marc or junk wines to make a concentrated alcohol
which probably tastes closer to moonshine or real grappa than brandy.
They don't age it in oak; it's just used to fortify the wine. Sounds
like it was a nice experiment.

I get to Spartanburg SC once in a while if you are close to there.

Joe