some grape diseases

Here are a few leaves from grapes in my personal vineyard.  Things are proceeding along nicely but there do seem to be a few problems.

These are Norton grape leaves.  Notice the small cuts in the margin area

Another view of the cuts

and what is making these pock marks on the leaves.  Here is the top surface

Here is the lower surface

If you have an idea what any of this is, and would like to tell me, send your response to my email account at john.kinnaird66@gmail.com and I will post your response on the blog to the edification of all

may meeting cont'd

DUES  will be 25 dollars per family.  If your spouse belongs, that makes membership a real bargan.
Checks will be made out to French Broad Vignerons LLC and they should be given to Judy at the next meeting.  The next meeting will be July 17th and will be held at Paul's shop.  Paul is in charge of the educational portion of the next meeting.  Directions to Paul's shop will be forthcoming.

The French Broad Vignerons will be in charge of judging the amateur wine making contest held and sponsored by the Asheville Wine and Food Symposium.  We need some volunteers who have been to Chucks wine evaluation classes to help with the evaluation of what we hope is a large number of entries.  If you are a member of FBV and have been trained and want to volunteer, call John Kinnaird at 242-6675.

Paul is also interested in hosting an amateur wine making festival and would like some feedback on this idea from the club members.  I will post his number on this blog as soon as I contact him and get his OK.

Alan presented the educational portion of our meeting with a very interesting discussion of grafting techniques.

some of the interested members, Tom, Jeanie, Anna, and Julia

Chuck, Chaz, Eric, Alan

Alan leaning on his forcing box

Above is Judy and Pete

Directly above is a root stock stem that has been notched by the grafting device Alan showed us

the grafting snipper can also make a male version (the desired grape variety) that fits into the female notch on the root stock.

The entire top part of the graft is dipped into parafin brifly to cote the grafted region

Then the entire ensemble is placed into the forcing box.

More on the forcing box later

all buds are removed from the root stock so that the only growth allowed comes from the grafted bud, which will push its way through the parrafin.

May meeting 2012

The May meeting was held Alan Stanton's house.  We elected officers and confirmed our bylaws and adopted a constitution.  For a copy of the adopted constitution, refer to the copy that was sent to members prior to the meeting. 

Alan Stanton was elected President
Chuck Blethen was elected Vice President of publicity
Paul Korochich was elected Vice President of education  (Paul, I apologize if I mispelled your name)
John Kinnaird was elected Secretery
Judy Flan was elected Treasurer

(more notes and pics to come)

april meeting

Here are the members on hand.
Chuck holding forth with Paul and spouse at table

 

Alan and Tom

Tom made an excellent presentation on wine closures.  He brought his Ferrari and lots of examples of cork and various other closures.

Alan brought three different wines including some yummy rasberry chocolate port and Tom brought a bottle of his fantastic Merlot.

Next Month Alan is presenting a class on grafting.

The meeting is at Alans house

Pete is chilling and offering excellent advice regarding club organizational issues.  Pete and his wife Judy were perfect hosts and we thank them for their hospitality

Bill and Judy rustling grub in the kitchen.  The pulled pork and the sides were great and the wine quite drinkable.

Training Class

This is hard work, but someone evidently has to do it.

Chuck is leading the class.  We tasted several wines and were given score sheets to guide us through the process. 

The meeting was held at Bob Bowles meeting room.  Great spot.  Thanks Bob and thanks Chuck for an excellent class

January 17th meeting 2012

This month's meeting was held at Troy and son's distillery.  They are the only legal moonshine producer in Western North Carolina.  (Maybe the only one in the world)  Charles Ball gave us a good tour of the facilities and let us taste his wares.

Hanging out at the bar

more bar flies

Charlie checking temps on the German still

that readout on the screen displays temperatures at multiple locations

Alan checking the distillation in the fractionating column

Eric checking the hydrometer

Bob and Chuck

The German still.  Built like all things German.

Charles Ball sets up the samples of the moonshine.

All their liquer was good.  The "Blond" shine was some of the best whiskey I have tasted.

November meeting at Foxhill Meadery

Jason was kind enough to host our November meeting at his place in the tasting room.  You can see that this room is not only for tasting but also for fermenting the Mead that he makes.  Those are tanks that hold over a hundred gallons of mead. 

In this picture you can see the back of Alan, Pete sitting across the table, Chuck behind Alan, and our host, Jason.

From right to left, Jennifer and Mark, two professionals who really know a thing or two about wine making;  Bob Bowles with the camera and Chuck next to Bob.  This table is loaded with wine experts.  In the center of the table sits a bottle of Mead.  Jason was more than generous, opening 6 bottles of his different meads for us to sample.

 

Cynthia sitting next to a bottle of Petit Manseng that Alan brought along for sampling

A shot of Jason, probably wondering what in the world he was thinking when he told us we could come over.

some of Jason's adjustable volume stainless steel tanks.  The tops are adjustable vertically and seal against the sides of the tanks using a pneumatic gasket.

This was a great meeting.  I for one learned a lot about the fermentation business in general and certainly appreciate Jason taking the time to have us over.

For some really excellent Mead, check out Jason's website at http://www.foxhillmead.com/  .  Jason makes at least six very tasty meads that can be found locally at wine stores in the Asheville area.