Are expert wine tasters out of a job? Probably not, but a new electronic tongue works just as well (apparently):

Scientists have managed to develop an electronic tongue in the form of a handheld device, capable of telling the differences between various wines thanks to half a dozen sensors that measure levels of acid, sugar and alcohol — all without running the risk of a machine “getting drunk”.

Electronic Tongue Developed [Ubergizmo]

This year will be a huge success and adventure for newbies at the New York State Fair Home Winemaking Competition. As this year’s new organizing official for the competition, I am encouraging everyone who has ever made wine at Lakeland Winery to enter a bottle of their wine. You may bring in a 750ml bottle and I will transfer it into the required two bottles, using two 375ml bottles (FREE).

Use this link below to download the application, and get your wine to me by the new deadline of August 13th. I will be available Monday and Tuesday for drop off at Lakeland Winery. The competition date is August 17th. The fee is only $10.00 each entry, and you are SURE to win a beautiful gold, silver or bronze medal. We need Volunteers!

Cut and Paste this link: http://www.nysfair.org/docs/entry/Home-Wine-Entry-Form.pdf

To Summarize:

Home Wine Submittal Deadline: August 13, 2008

Log-in and set up Date & Time: August 16, 2008

Volunteers: please arrive at the Art and Home Center at 9:00 AM.

Home Wine Competition Date: August 17, 2008

Volunteers: please arrive at the Art and Home Center at 7:30 AM.

Lunch provided to all volunteers.

Awards Ceremony: August 22, 2008 at Noon

Two 375ml entry bottles of wine may be substituted for two 750ml bottles.

If you have any questions, please call Andy at (315)572-4763 (cell phone)

Mail by UPS to: Agriculture Suite, 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse, NY 13209

Here’s Step 2 of my How to Make Wine Video series! In this second video I explain how to transfer your fermenting wine from a bucket and into a glass carboy with a siphon, also known as “racking” your wine.

Enjoy, and be sure to leave some comments and share with your friends. :)

This came from the most recent Uncork New York publication. Thought you should know…hopefully Lakeland Winery’s wines will be able to compete in the future. Always keep in mind, even if it’s “Best of Show” doesn’t mean you need to like them. It just means every single judge felt it deserved a gold medal, and more. And never feel ashamed you can’t taste the difference between what you like and what other so called experts like, because your preference is personal. That’s one thing I’ve learned: You may love it but the person standing next to you will make a face that sends a different message! Please be patient, your appreciation of different wines will change as you explore a larger variety of wines.

NEW YORK GOLD keeps flowing in, most recently from the International Eastern Wine Competition, one of the country’s oldest and largest judgings, this year with 2,250 entries. New York won a total of 245 medals, topped by the Casa Larga 2005 Vidal Ice Wine (Best of Show Dessert Wine), Rooster Hill 2006 Semi-Dry Riesling (Best of Class), and the Peterson family-owned triad of Goose Watch, Penguin Bay and Swedish Hill racking up 3 Double Golds, 5 Golds, 16 Silvers and 14 Bronzes. Their Double Golds were Goose Watch 2007 Traminette, Penguin Bay 2007 Pinot Grigio and Swedish Hill Blanc de Blanc, accompanied by Golds for Goose Watch 2007 Viognier, Penguin Bay 2007 Gewurtztraminer and Percussion, and Swedish Hill Blue Waters Riesling and 2007 Cayuga White. Other New York Double Golds went to Cayuga Ridge 2006 Cayuga White, Dr. Frank 2005 Merlot, Eagle Crest 2006 Cayuga White, Earle Estates Apple Enchantment, and Sheldrake Point 2007 Riesling Ice Wine. Other Golds went to Brookview Station 2007 Whistle Stop White (Apple Wine), Jamesport 2005 Pinot Noir, Keuka Spring 2006 Crooked Lake Red, Lieb 2006 Pinot Blanc, Lucas 2007 Dry Dock, Peconic Bay 2005 Chardonnay, Red Tail Ridge 2006 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, and Ventosa Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc and Tocai Friulano. Perhaps most significant, out of 250 New York wines entered, 245 won medals (only five did not), reflecting the “quality revolution” in New York across the Board in terms regions and varietals.

Andy

Step 1: Starting the process of making wine from a juice concentrate kit. Let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

Recently, I ran into this nice gentleman named Stanley who convinced me to sample some of his Raspberry Cordial. It tasted a little sweet but for all you women who love sweet alcohol, this one’s for you. It was delicious!

1 qt. berries (red or black raspberries)
1 qt. vodka
1 cup sugar

Thoroughly mix the sugar and vodka into a gallon carboy. Add berries (without crushing) and stir gently. Attach either an airlock or secure a balloon with a rubber band to the opening. Wait 6 weeks at room temperature for fermentation (DO NOT add yeast). Drain off the sediment (called lees) and store in corked bottles. You can drink immediately but I recommend cooling before drinking.

Bring it into the winery with 3 bottles and I’ll cork it for you. Enjoy:)

Andy

Interested in purchasing Lakeland Winery wines by the bottle online? Stay tuned….our online wine store is opening soon…

Photo by boxercab
In Mendoza, Argentina, you can buy a ready-made vineyard for a permanent vacation:

The foothills south of Mendoza in Argentina have long been known as the agricultural heart that produces the country’s increasingly popular signature wine, malbec. For the past three years it has also been where Americans, Canadians and Europeans looking to fulfill winemaker fantasies have taken advantage of Argentina’s relatively low land prices and bought mini-vineyards.

Money on the Vine [WSJ.com]

Photo by K. Todd Storch

The Wall Street Journal recommends that French wine lovers should run out and grab a few bottles of the 2005 Burgundy vintage:

“Drop everything. Go to a good wine store right now, buy a bottle of 2005 red Burgundy and open it for dinner tonight. Set aside some time to go back tomorrow to buy more to lay down for the future.”

Tastings: The Right Stuff [WSJ.com]

For anyone who wants to make wine the simple and easy way (i.e., with some Welch’s frozen grape juice!), the Beer, Wine and Food blog offers up 8 simple steps to turn juice from the grocery store into a quick batch of wine. Don’t plan on winning any awards with this approach, but it’s a great hands-on experience nonetheless:

“I feel there are numerous people looking to get into winemaking and would like to take a simple approach. Or, maybe you are an experienced winemaker looking to make a batch for quick consumption. Either way, here are the simple steps to making wine. The procedure is designed to make 1 1/2 gallons which will probably end up being about 1 gallon bottled.”

Read on to learn more…

8 Simple Steps to Making Wine [Beer, Wine and Food]