Last month I was able to locate 100lbs of Cabernet grapes from Nappa. The price was great, they were already de stemmed and seeded so I bought in on the deal. I could not believe how simple the process really is; well compared to making all-grain beer.

We met at a location where we divided up several thousand pounds of grapes into 100lb units, then placed into a large plastic vessel. Pitch in some nutrient, some pectic enzyme and yeast. It sits for a few weeks and you basically have wine. Everyday you are required to “punch down” the must so that the skins and seeds left over are in constant contact with the must. The skins gives red wine its color, and mouthfeel or body.

On pressing day, I added 12cc of sulphuric acid to get my pH lower and I added a maloactic culture to balace the sweetness and get rid of any other nasties before the wild stuff sets in. Pictured below is me pressing the grapes. It was 1.5 hours from start to clean up. DLB helped out.

We decided to hit a few wineries in Ohio before the harvest. Next weekend is the big Grape Jam(boree) and it gets pretty packed with people so we usually go to spend time with our family the week before or so. Here are some pics I took with the point n shoot using some fill flash.

Many of you may think that I am up to no good these days and you are probably correct. Well, not exactally but I have been up to stuff. I have not been posting much here because I hooked on Facebook. Not a good thing! In the last few weeks I have been recovering from the surgery. Things are going much better than expected. I still can not do a push up to save my life. My right arm and hand is still really sore and hurts from time to time.

I have not been riding my bike as I’ve had to move around the city right after and during work. I know messengers do it, but I can not be sweatly in a meeting and have helmet head. In time. I have been much more active than I have been in a while! I have been running almost 3-5 times a week now. Dreamy is running with me too!! Finally a running partner and she is a hot one too!! We do about 3-4.5 miles every time. This mornign I did 4 miles before work and I feel great. But I especially feel great as I have been spending about 4 hours in a pool every Wednesday learning how to use a SCUBA! I am in class training for my Open Water Certification with PADI. I am so stoked! I was really nearvous at first but I am really enjoying the whole breathing underwater thing. The hardest part is equalizing my ear pressure. Last night I was finally at the bottom of the pool at ground level and it worked finally. Well the hardest part about using a SCUBA is being able to afford the hobby. So expensive!

Next month I get certified and then its off to Yelapa Mexico where I am going to be diving tropical waters with my cousin Chris.