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September 2007 |
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We Have Gift Certificates! September 24, 2007
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We are getting several inquiries all of a sudden about gift certificates, customers wanting to know if we have them available and if so how to go about getting them.
Gift
certificates are available by phone during office hours. Call: (800) 353-1906. You can get them for any amount you like |
and we'll send them to anyone you want. They never expire and are a great way to share a fun and rewarding hobby with someone you know.
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New Yeast Strain Profile Charts! September 17, 2007
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One of the things that surprises many home winemakers, particularly new ones, is the number of different wine yeast that are available to them. It's not until one starts making wine do they realize that a yeast is just not a "yeast". There are many shades of gray between the character and attributes of one strain against another. Because of this some consideration should be given to the strain that is going to be used.
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To help simplify this selection process we have added two yeast profile charts to our website, one chart for the Red Star brand of yeast and one chart for the Lalvin brand of yeast. Each chart can be accessed from each brands detail page. These charts illustrate which strains of yeast should be used with which wines by categorizing them.
These charts are meant to be an additional aid. If you have a recipe that already recommends a particular strain of yeast it is usually best to following that recommendation.
If the type of wine you are making does not fit perfectly into any of the categories then choose the category that you feel would be the closest.
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Stay Away From The Walking Stick! September 14, 2007
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Dear E. C. Kraus
I just ordered your catalog and am wondering if you have a recipe for a new berry I have found in the woods. It is devils walking stick I don't even know if people make wine out of it. Is it ok to make wine out of it or is it poisonous?
Thanks
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John
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Dear John,
The Devil's Walking Stick grows wild and is also used ornamentally in landscaping. The berries are considered mildly toxic when fully ripened and toxic when unripened. We would not recommend making wine from this fruit.
We have no experience with anyone who has made wine from this fruit nor can we find a recipe for it. Also realize that the fermentation may alter this fruits composition in a way we don't understand making it even more lethal.
These berries are not necessarily known for eating and would more than likely create a poorly flavored wine anyway. So in short, stay away from the Devil's Walking Stick he just might beat you with it.
AS A SIDE NOTE:
North Carolina State University has a great resource for toxic plant information. Not only does it list toxic plants, it also lists edible plants that have parts that are toxic with complete details including just how toxic the plant or plant part may be.
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Cork Vs. Screw Cap September 7, 2007
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One of the biggest debates going on in the wine community these days is whether corks should be dropped in favor of the screw cap. The screw caps seems to be a hard pill to swallow for many wineries, but |
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there is a growing group of studies that suggest the screw cap is the way of the future.
Many wineries in Australia and New Zealand have already embraced the screw cap stating that the elimination of possible cork taint, alone, is reason enough for change. Some of these studies are also showing that quality is improved when wines are stored under screw cap, whites improving more so than reds.
But opposition to this move comes by way of a plea for esthetics. Market competitiveness causes hesitation among wineries fearing their screw-capped wines will appear cheap and not sell as briskly as the corked wines of their competitors.
Some U.S. wineries are closing their bottles with both cork and screw cap. One such winery is Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, CA. Their philosophy states what is right for one wine may not be right for the next, making closures--in effect--a question of flavor design.
The results of one study can be found on "California Wine And food's" website. The Hogue Cellars did a 4 year trial study for natural cork, synthetic cork and screw cap. The results of this study are disclosed there.
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