Terry and Gary Gallo - 6/4

 Friday we started our batch of wine. Winemaking is a much easier process than I expected. It may be slightly more difficult if the first step involves someone pointing you toward a vineyard with grapes on vines, but when the first step is opening a box containing a plastic bag of juice and several packets labeled one through four, it's not that bad. We split the job up so I did anything involving strength and science while Terry handled adding ingredients and stirring. First  I transferred the bag of juice into the primary fermenter. You may notice the primary fermenter looks much like a big plastic bucket. My view of winemaking as an art form was fading fast.

 Terry successfully added "Packet 1" to water and did an admirable job blending the two together. We were well on our way.

With the able assistance of Jim, our trained professional, I checked the specific gravity which determines the alcohol percentage in the final product. It may look like I'm studying the results of a home pregnancy test but trust me, no urine was involved in the process. All of the temperature and other checks were exactly as planned. I have no idea what happens if they're not.
 

Terry added the yeast. I think we were up to "Packet 3" at this point. The yeast will deserve all the credit if this works out.

At this point most folks are done and come back in six to eight weeks to put the wine in bottles and slap some labels on. Being the hands-on people we are we plan on coming in periodically to do the intermediate steps including such precise tasks as transferring the wine from the primary to the secondary fermenter. That means siphoning it from the big bucket to a big bottle. There are other steps as well but by now my head was spinning with all the added information in my new life as a vintner.

Friday also marked the beginning of Pirate Festival. Several partiers stopped in the winery to get a head start.

Community Day - 5/30

Port Washington Community Day

Sunday was Community Day. Of the five warm-weather festivals in Port Washington, I would put this at number four. The town blocks the main street, vendors sell beer, wine, food, and anything else folks might buy, and various organizations publicize their presence. Terry spent time talking with someone who transferred to the area about ten years ago. He said, "With about three months of good weather, everyone takes every opportunity to get outside and do stuff. The winters are brutal." I can confirm everyone getting out in the summer, but I'll just take his word on the winters.

On the Fishing Boat

Several charter fishing boats gave short rides out into the lake so we took advantage of the opportunity. It was all I needed to quash any desire to rent a boat for a day. I love going out on the water but it doesn't take much time to satisfy the urge. From experience I also know the best boating is always on someone else's boat.





Entertainment included various bands and students from a dance studio. 
 

Hole in One Contest Across a Harbor Leg

Port Washington "Homeys"

First Brat of the Trip

 

We've started walking the Interurban Trail - a 30 mile paved path that was once a rail line running through the county. If we get really ambitious we'll walk the entire length but I'm not making any commitments. So far we managed two miles. Next we'll drive to where we stopped and do another two miles. Either that or I'll just get a beer instead. It's kind of a toss up.

Taste Test

A winery in town offers wine making classes. We signed up and begin on Friday. If all goes well we end up with 30 bottles. As preparation we bought bottles of three varieties and conducted our own blind taste test to decide what to make. We decided on a Washington Riesling. At least I think that's what it was. Things got a little fuzzy about half way through the test.