Joe Sallustio wrote:
> I make beer too and that sounds like a plan. One thing to consider is
> 'give away' wine (just like beer). I know I don't drink 20 gallons in
> a year but am sure I give that much away. In other words, think that
> through now and include it in your plan, at least for the Merlot. It
> needs a little time to come around and giving wine away is a slippery
> slope. You could end up on the short end...
>
> Joe

I hear you. In fact my little brother-in-law got hitched last weekend
and I am now out of all but my coffee stout and a few bottles of weizen.
I didn't plan on taking beer to the party the night before, so I didn't
brew to have extra on hand when we ran through it.

I always make 10 gallon batches when it comes to beer. It just isn't
enough extra work to justify only making 5. I have a friend that
normally splits the batches with me. Unless of course it is one of my
recipes that people like real well and then I keep it all so as to not
burn through it with company too quickly.

I do think that one of the things that will help me in the vein of
running out by giving away, is that my dad and brother are slated to
give it a go with me on the grape wines this fall. We will each do a 5
gallon batch. So there will be 15 gallons of each variety in the family.

If the cherry and apricot turn out well, I could definately see doing 10
gallon batches of those next year. The fruit is free, so why not?

On another related note. A friend has Riesling starter vines that he is
going to give me in the spring. How long, on average, before a vine will
produce fruit in a usable quantity? I have been told that a mature vine
will produce enough fruit for a gallon of wine on average.


Ryan