Here’s Step 5 of my How to Make Wine Video Series! In this fifth video, I explain how to use an automatic bottle filler to transfer wine into bottles while leaving enough room for the cork—and how using a floor mounted bottle corker speeds up the bottling process. Enjoy!

Joie de Vivre!
—Andy

If you’ve never seen the great 2004 documentary, Wine for the Confused, starring John Cleese of Monty Python, then you’re in for a treat. Although it is John Cleese, the film’s description points out that it is meant to be more educational than funny:

Wine is confusing…overwhelming even. So where do you start if you want to learn more about it? Join comedy legend John Cleese on a witty and personal look at the world of winemaking.

You can watch the entire film below or head over to Hulu.com and watch it there.

Anyone interested in helping me set up and/or conduct the NYS Fair Home Wine Competition July 10th and 11th, please email me at andy@LakelandWinery.com.

On Friday morning at 9AM we need help with-computer entry-washing glasses-glass dryers-labeling-arranging bottles in order-putting tuits on glasses.

On Saturday morning beginning at 7:30AM we need help with-computer entry-
washing glasses-glass dryers-pourers-gofers-watchers-servers, etc.

Come rub shoulders with our famous hand picked judges who come from all over New York State to make this a success.

Anyone who wants to submit an entry, please go to:              

www.nysfair.org/competitions

Bring your wines to Lakeland Winery during the week from 5 to 7PM.

I had so much fun last night at the Winery with my friends playing cards. We had a very special guest visitor, ‘NaNa’ a famous international dancer and drummer from Accr, Ghana, Africa. You may remember him and his troupe last year at the New York State Fair.

friendly guest at our Lakeland Winery Booth

the wild side

Lakeland Winery was in Utica this past weekend for the Wine and Chocolate Festival sponsored by Galaxy Communication. Had fun, did quite well and have pictures to prove it!

July 2nd is the last day to enter wine in the New York State Fair Home Wine Making Competition. All my customers should enter their wine made by you at Lakeland Winery. If you do you will probably win a nice medal, and definitely receive a ticket to the Fair.

You only need one 750ml bottle to enter but they must be in two 375ml bottles. If you need them I will supply the bottles at no charge. Just bring in your wine with a check and I will take it from there.

While traveling recently through the Finger Lake wine country,  I came across this Renaissance women working at Prejean Winery. She was kind enough to display my Travel Poster advertising our trip to Napa Valley, California. The deadline is approaching fast so if you are interested in going, please visit www.lakelandtraveltours for more information. One thing I noticed from this excursion is that winery owners and their employees are very friendly and accommodating people.

Here’s Step 4 of my How to Make Wine Video series! In this fourth video I explain the process of filtering your wine. After allowing 4 to 5 weeks for the grape particles and ingredients to settle, the wine is almost crystal clear. But to completely polish the wine clarity, the wine is filtered before bottling.

Enjoy, leave comments, and don’t forget to share with your friends! :)

Here’s Step 3 of my How to Make Wine Video series! In this third video I explain how to check the specific gravity of your wine with a hydrometer to assure complete fermentation. I add potassium metabisulfate and potassium sorbate to the carboy and stir vigorously. These ingredients will help sterilize and protect against re-fermentation after bottling. A natural fining agent is also added to settle the must.

Enjoy, leave comments, and don’t forget to share with your friends. :)