This is a GREAT forum ...

Today, at a four hour convening of an Italian lunch-bunch at a Chinese
restaurant (where we bring our own handcrafted wines), I was privy to a
discourse, by an otherwise intelligent fellow (Italian ancestors), who is
adamant that wines should be racked at the full moon - he will rack only at
the full moon.

I've heard this "racking at the full moon" theory many times, mostly from
winemakers who's roots are in eastern Europe but I wonder if there is any
basis in science.

I (Swedish roots) tend to rack when it is convenient or when I think of
it - on a loose schedule (press + a week or so, two weeks or so, a month or
so, etc...).

After reading, and being highly entertained by, the posting re the "moon
apogee/perigee and the hydrometer" I wonder what you serious winemakers have
to say about racking and the moon.

I will hang up and listen to your comments ...

Thanks, Roger(o)

Like you, I rack when it's convenient. However, in a book about Pinot Noir
I've read that Burgundians rack only when there's high atmospheric pressure
since it presumable keeps the lees compacted, and that this corresponds to
full moons. Is there any reality here? I don't know.

Ed




"Roger Dahlquist" > wrote in message
news:PnUBb.44385$d35.8063@edtnps84...
> This is a GREAT forum ...
>
> Today, at a four hour convening of an Italian lunch-bunch at a Chinese
> restaurant (where we bring our own handcrafted wines), I was privy to a
> discourse, by an otherwise intelligent fellow (Italian ancestors), who is
> adamant that wines should be racked at the full moon - he will rack only
at
> the full moon.
>
> I've heard this "racking at the full moon" theory many times, mostly from
> winemakers who's roots are in eastern Europe but I wonder if there is any
> basis in science.
>
> I (Swedish roots) tend to rack when it is convenient or when I think of
> it - on a loose schedule (press + a week or so, two weeks or so, a month
or
> so, etc...).
>
> After reading, and being highly entertained by, the posting re the "moon
> apogee/perigee and the hydrometer" I wonder what you serious winemakers
have
> to say about racking and the moon.
>
> I will hang up and listen to your comments ...
>
> Thanks, Roger(o)
>
>

Sounds loony to me.

John

"Roger Dahlquist" > wrote in message
news:PnUBb.44385$d35.8063@edtnps84...
> This is a GREAT forum ...
>
> Today, at a four hour convening of an Italian lunch-bunch at a Chinese
> restaurant (where we bring our own handcrafted wines), I was privy to a
> discourse, by an otherwise intelligent fellow (Italian ancestors), who is
> adamant that wines should be racked at the full moon - he will rack only
at
> the full moon.
>
> I've heard this "racking at the full moon" theory many times, mostly from
> winemakers who's roots are in eastern Europe but I wonder if there is any
> basis in science.
>
> I (Swedish roots) tend to rack when it is convenient or when I think of
> it - on a loose schedule (press + a week or so, two weeks or so, a month
or
> so, etc...).
>
> After reading, and being highly entertained by, the posting re the "moon
> apogee/perigee and the hydrometer" I wonder what you serious winemakers
have
> to say about racking and the moon.
>
> I will hang up and listen to your comments ...
>
> Thanks, Roger(o)
>
>

Maybe there is some logic in this. You have the largest tidal swings on the
full and dark moon. So maybe the large tidal action could start the racking
process by filling siphon hose.

Yea, Right!

Ray

"Roger Dahlquist" > wrote in message
news:PnUBb.44385$d35.8063@edtnps84...
> This is a GREAT forum ...
>
> Today, at a four hour convening of an Italian lunch-bunch at a Chinese
> restaurant (where we bring our own handcrafted wines), I was privy to a
> discourse, by an otherwise intelligent fellow (Italian ancestors), who is
> adamant that wines should be racked at the full moon - he will rack only
at
> the full moon.
>
> I've heard this "racking at the full moon" theory many times, mostly from
> winemakers who's roots are in eastern Europe but I wonder if there is any
> basis in science.
>
> I (Swedish roots) tend to rack when it is convenient or when I think of
> it - on a loose schedule (press + a week or so, two weeks or so, a month
or
> so, etc...).
>
> After reading, and being highly entertained by, the posting re the "moon
> apogee/perigee and the hydrometer" I wonder what you serious winemakers
have
> to say about racking and the moon.
>
> I will hang up and listen to your comments ...
>
> Thanks, Roger(o)
>
>

John DeFiore wrote:

>Sounds loony to me.
>
A truely bad pun...
Ken

>
>John
>
>"Roger Dahlquist" > wrote in message
>news:PnUBb.44385$d35.8063@edtnps84...
>
>
>>This is a GREAT forum ...
>>
>>Today, at a four hour convening of an Italian lunch-bunch at a Chinese
>>restaurant (where we bring our own handcrafted wines), I was privy to a
>>discourse, by an otherwise intelligent fellow (Italian ancestors), who is
>>adamant that wines should be racked at the full moon - he will rack only
>>
>>
>at
>
>
>>the full moon.
>>
>>I've heard this "racking at the full moon" theory many times, mostly from
>>winemakers who's roots are in eastern Europe but I wonder if there is any
>>basis in science.
>>
>>I (Swedish roots) tend to rack when it is convenient or when I think of
>>it - on a loose schedule (press + a week or so, two weeks or so, a month
>>
>>
>or
>
>
>>so, etc...).
>>
>>After reading, and being highly entertained by, the posting re the "moon
>>apogee/perigee and the hydrometer" I wonder what you serious winemakers
>>
>>
>have
>
>
>>to say about racking and the moon.
>>
>>I will hang up and listen to your comments ...
>>
>>Thanks, Roger(o)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

Remember for many years in European cellars women were banned because
menstruation would upset the wine being stored in barrels (and I have heard
that some winemakers over there still adhere to this).

A lot of winemakers in Europe are untrained in oenology, and just do what
tradition dictates (obviously not in the better wineries), there is a hell
of a lot of village wine made of pretty appalling standard.

In a winery, we rack when the lees are settled to our liking, or when we
desperately need the tank the wine is in (most usual case during vintage,
there are never enough tanks!).

Rob L

"Ray" > wrote in message
. com...
> Maybe there is some logic in this. You have the largest tidal swings on
the
> full and dark moon. So maybe the large tidal action could start the
racking
> process by filling siphon hose.
>
> Yea, Right!
>
> Ray
>
> "Roger Dahlquist" > wrote in message
> news:PnUBb.44385$d35.8063@edtnps84...
> > This is a GREAT forum ...
> >
> > Today, at a four hour convening of an Italian lunch-bunch at a Chinese
> > restaurant (where we bring our own handcrafted wines), I was privy to a
> > discourse, by an otherwise intelligent fellow (Italian ancestors), who
is
> > adamant that wines should be racked at the full moon - he will rack only
> at
> > the full moon.
> >
> > I've heard this "racking at the full moon" theory many times, mostly
from
> > winemakers who's roots are in eastern Europe but I wonder if there is
any
> > basis in science.
> >
> > I (Swedish roots) tend to rack when it is convenient or when I think of
> > it - on a loose schedule (press + a week or so, two weeks or so, a month
> or
> > so, etc...).
> >
> > After reading, and being highly entertained by, the posting re the "moon
> > apogee/perigee and the hydrometer" I wonder what you serious winemakers
> have
> > to say about racking and the moon.
> >
> > I will hang up and listen to your comments ...
> >
> > Thanks, Roger(o)
> >
> >
>
>

"Robert Lee" > wrote in message >...
> Remember for many years in European cellars women were banned because
> menstruation would upset the wine being stored in barrels (and I have heard
> that some winemakers over there still adhere to this).
>
> A lot of winemakers in Europe are untrained in oenology, and just do what
> tradition dictates (obviously not in the better wineries), there is a hell
> of a lot of village wine made of pretty appalling standard.
>
> In a winery, we rack when the lees are settled to our liking, or when we
> desperately need the tank the wine is in (most usual case during vintage,
> there are never enough tanks!).
>
> Rob L


Here's a slant

In France (these days) many of the wineries have women in the
cellars as the actual wine makers. Men are used to harvest, crush and
press etc. under the winemaker (women) direction. I questioned why and
was told trained oenolgy/viticulture women have a measurable advantage
in taste/smell than men..........interesting

(zinman) wrote in message . com>...
> Here's a slant
>
> In France (these days) many of the wineries have women in the
> cellars as the actual wine makers. Men are used to harvest, crush and
> press etc. under the winemaker (women) direction. I questioned why and
> was told trained oenolgy/viticulture women have a measurable advantage
> in taste/smell than men..........interesting


Yes, but also dependant on their cycle (read: moon) they can smell
better, and even see better in the dark!!! Now, you can imagine in
which period?

Rene.

(Rene) wrote in message . com>...
> (zinman) wrote in message . com>...

> >
> > In France (these days) many of the wineries have women in the
> > cellars as the actual wine makers. Men are used to harvest, crush and
> > press etc. under the winemaker (women) direction. > > > > in taste/smell than men..........interesting
>
>>
WAIT ! WAIT WAIT a gosh darn minute here. In our village we've
been using only chaste and pure women to harvest and press. Of course
this is followed by a burning of our village crones, followed by a
bottling party in which snacks and beverages from the pre season are
given up for sacrefice. Our wizard swears this is the one and only
way.
How can I go about bringing this delicate subject to thier
attention ? I admit, your ways seem better. Please excuse any and all
spelling errors, I'm very upset.

(ineedabiggaboat) wrote in message . com>...
> (Rene) wrote in message . com>...
> > (zinman) wrote in message . com>...
>
> > >
> > > In France (these days) many of the wineries have women in the
> > > cellars as the actual wine makers. Men are used to harvest, crush and
> > > press etc. under the winemaker (women) direction. > > > > in taste/smell than men..........interesting
>
> >>
> WAIT ! WAIT WAIT a gosh darn minute here. In our village we've
> been using only chaste and pure women to harvest and press. Of course
> this is followed by a burning of our village crones, followed by a
> bottling party in which snacks and beverages from the pre season are
> given up for sacrefice. Our wizard swears this is the one and only
> way.
> How can I go about bringing this delicate subject to thier
> attention ? I admit, your ways seem better. Please excuse any and all
> spelling errors, I'm very upset.

I typically hire the seven muses to take care of this dreadful
business for me. Their nakedness is somewhat embarassing, and they do
try to cause mischief, but I must do it for the goodness of the wine.
My wife, however, does not understand, nor forgive. Such a hell I
live.

(Rene) wrote in message . com>...
> (zinman) wrote in message . com>...
> > Here's a slant
> >
> > In France (these days) many of the wineries have women in the
> > cellars as the actual wine makers. Men are used to harvest, crush and
> > press etc. under the winemaker (women) direction. I questioned why and
> > was told trained oenolgy/viticulture women have a measurable advantage
> > in taste/smell than men..........interesting
>
>
> Yes, but also dependant on their cycle (read: moon) they can smell
> better, and even see better in the dark!!! Now, you can imagine in
> which period?
>
> Rene.

Hopefully the present. Rene', tell GW that you have an army of
Amazons that require no NVG to be effective at night, and can capture
Osama Been Forgotton in the Afghanistan mountains.

It is interesting, my wifes sense of smell was incredible when she was
pregnant!

While at uni we did a lot of palate testing, and for our year the women were
all in the top for sensitivity and reproducibility.

Rob L

"Rene" > wrote in message
om...
> (zinman) wrote in message
. com>...
> > Here's a slant
> >
> > In France (these days) many of the wineries have women in the
> > cellars as the actual wine makers. Men are used to harvest, crush and
> > press etc. under the winemaker (women) direction. I questioned why and
> > was told trained oenolgy/viticulture women have a measurable advantage
> > in taste/smell than men..........interesting
>
>
> Yes, but also dependant on their cycle (read: moon) they can smell
> better, and even see better in the dark!!! Now, you can imagine in
> which period?
>
> Rene.

(Rene) wrote in message . com>...
> (zinman) wrote in message . com>...
> > Here's a slant
> >
> > In France (these days) many of the wineries have women in the
> > cellars as the actual wine makers. Men are used to harvest, crush and
> > press etc. under the winemaker (women) direction. I questioned why and
> > was told trained oenolgy/viticulture women have a measurable advantage
> > in taste/smell than men..........interesting
>
>
> Yes, but also dependant on their cycle (read: moon) they can smell
> better, and even see better in the dark!!! Now, you can imagine in
> which period?
>
> Rene.


Right, women smell better than men, duh we always known that. Where
the moon comes in it is all-different. Anyone doing time, as winemaker
in south of France knows why you rack at full moon. Any man knows WHY
you rack at full moon.

SG Brix