In the quest to experience less chaos and find more Zen
in my life, I have concluded that I really enjoy the making and bottling of
wine. There is something calming about
the bottling process. It has a rhythm to
it, like music. Think waltz: rinse, sterilize, drain; fill, cork, cap; heat-shrink,
label, box; one, two, three; one, two, three; one, two, three.
Perhaps it is because it requires less thought, and the
action of it is more by rote. Perhaps it
is because the rhythm of it reminds me of music. Perhaps it is just the extreme and complete
180 from my normal frantic pace.
Whatever it is, it gives me a sense of calm and tranquility. It also gives me a tasty bonus when the time comes
to uncork and enjoy!
Last Thursday I bottled a batch of Amarone. It is a double-fermented, dry, Italian red
with a wonderful fruity overtone. It is
a bit raw coming out of the carboy, but 12 months from now, I will be singing
its praises as it slides over my palate and down my throat like expensive silk.
When I was finished with bottling, I proceeded to make
three batches of Christmas wine. It is
so easy when you make it at a great micro-winery like Your Vine or Mine in
Painesville. I mix it right there. They take care of the day-to-day work, like
filtering. Six weeks later, I come back
and bottle the wine. Fruit wines, like
the ones I make for Christmas gifts, are ready to drink as soon as they are
bottled, but I like mine aged a little, so I make it in early August, bottle in
mid-September, take home the spoils, and my Christmas gift list is 90% crossed
off! Where else can you find a decent
gift for friends, family, and co-workers, etc. for less than the cost of a
movie ticket?
No one turns down a bottle of wine. Even if they are a teetotaler, they can re-gift
it or serve it to dinner guests. I can’t
tell you how many times a wine recipient has told me that after serving my
wine, a guest wanted to know where to buy a case. That kind of review speaks for itself! Designing your own label is fun and
creative. It gives the gift a personal
touch.
Of course, if you want to make a straight wine, like a
Reisling or a Merlot, then you need to do it now to give the wine sufficient
time to age before the holidays.
Otherwise you have to tell the recipient to wait until a certain period
of time has passed before they can pour it for dinner.
This is the fifth time I have made “holiday” wine, and I
have to say it has gone a long way toward relieving the stress of finding the
perfect holiday gift. I highly recommend
Your Vine or Mine, where you can find your own little bit of Zen, and take care
of your holiday gift list at the same time!
Posts
