WELCOME!

This site is to pass on what I am doing in home winemaking, and how you can do it too! Where possible I will place worthwhile references under the links heading.

I enjoy making wine and getting recognition for it, so will continue

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Above oicture is of my awards and some of the wines.

Completed bottling  of Crush 2024 on 31 May 2024.

CRUSH 2025 is here!

2025 is a red year so the main wine is a Lodi Zinfandel from Delta Packing.  Also go some Chardonnay primarily for brandy and to make a very good chard.

3  October 2025

Measured wine status and the Chardonnay is through fermentation, the Zinfandel needs some more time.

	Z-1	Z-2	C-1	C-2	C-3	C-4
pH	3.57	3.57	3.6	3.6	3.6	3.6
SG	1.004	1.004	0.998	0.998	0.998	0.998
Temp oF	68	68	68	68	68	68
ABV	13	13	12.5	12.5	12.5	12.5
MLF	75	75

Decided to turn the Chardonnay into brandy so did a double distallation on the four pails.

6  October 2025

Remeasured the Zinfandel, primary fermentation is done and malolactic is in progress.

10  October 2025

Racked the the zinandel to two 6 gallon glass carboys, and added oak cubes.  Now to let it settle and age for a few months.

Also the approximately 24 gallons of Chardonnay have turned into 4.8 gallons of 160 proof/80% ABV brandy and is aging on oak chips and cubes.

More to follow

For more details see HERE. 

My Wine - outlines what I have been doing with my home winemaking. Click Here

Wine 101 - is an introduction to Home Winemaking for the beginner. Updated and added a new section on working with grapes. Click Here

Links - provide special links to other sites of interest. Click Here

Special Topics - are discussions of topics related to wine making and other topics.  Click Here

Please enjoy and let me know what you think of the site and especially if there is anything you would like me to cover.

 

Or my excursion into winemaking

If you have any questions or would like more information please contact me at:: info@smartdogwinery.com