Realistic Toy Shotguns

A Month in the Life (Mad) a Natural Wine Producer

(Warning: this post is long!) (And after reading it, understand it nor have I published anything, nor have I distributed no wine in the last month!)

the title was going to put something like "crisis management" or "I need a vacation" or "How NOT to Take a Wine Project" or even "planning? Never heard of it! ", But in the end I thought maybe something more simple and direct.

I'm actually writing this for myself so that you can clarify in my mind what I have done over the past month, what I'm doing now (and why!) And I have to do in the near future " why I've been running around here and there and I have not had a moment to stop and think!

In the background is the issue of pruning. We should have started to prune in January, but for one reason or another did not start until March, was a little late but not too late for us (depends somewhat on the weather, latitude and the number of strains have to prune).

slope: insert photo unpruned vine (the photos are on my laptop, which has a "critical error Drive" so I have to take to fix 

the optimum period for pruning is from time fall leaves (when the sap is removed to the roots and trunk and enters his vineyard during winter) and before the sap begins to flow again in spring when temperatures rise. We estimate that we could trim the two vineyards (2 hectares in total) in 8 man-days, ie 4 days 4 days John and me. No problemo! But then came 'events'.

The first event was the Natural Wine Fair in Barcelona (March 27), which meant that no pruning that weekend, and also lost another day to bottle, cork, label and ship wine to the fair. Insert photo



The Fair was a huge smash, and apart from all the things I wrote in the previous post also made two interesting contacts:

1. The first was a potential investor who is interested in investing in wine Ambiz! We reached the point where we need to increase our production of wine if you want to be a viable small business, instead of going part-time as we have been doing the past 8 years. Basically, we need some external funding to hire more vineyards, renting a larger warehouse, invest in some equipment and to cover expenses. All this is very difficult and time consuming, and we are looking at different options, such as a loan (bank or cooperative), private investors, or both. In short, this topic is 'parked' for now, because it is very complex and can not cover my head right now with everything else!

2. The second contact was such an interesting Opaz Ryan. After a brief talk at the show, invited me to write a post about 'natural wine' to your website - Catavino. Ryan, like many others, is a bit skeptical about natural wines, but the most important and wonderful thing is that you're curious, you have an open mind and want to know. I was super-easy to write this post - I think the force was with me - and I did it in 1 hour or less. I am very happy, because it is the first article 'Serious' I've ever written! That is, an article on something different from the usual themes and activities of the vineyard and winery usually write in this blog.

... and talking about writing posts, ... 2 months ago, another writer (Fiona Beckett, London, who writes a blog about natural wines) asked me to write a post on the use of sulphites, but I've been struggling with the subject since then - I do not go!

Finally, after Barcelona, \u200b\u200bMadrid and back to reality, and managed to prune a little midweek, hoping to give myself over the weekend. But what happened? Well, another event! I completely forgot that a few months ago we signed up for another fair, Eco-Festi-Ball, in Torres de la Alameda (Madrid) was a European Traditional Dance show, with organic products market. Another fund pruned!



insert photo festival was very good. People had come from all over Europe, and discovered a little world of dance. Cool! I must confess that I had no idea that this was a festival of dance - I thought it was a sort of market for organic products! This is what happens when you do not bother to read the program! In fact, the other producers (olive oil, bread, fruit and vegetables, quinoa, etc) all of the complaining lack of interest by the public, and some do not even come on the second day. For wine producers, however, it went very well, and even sold a couple of boxes a bar / restaurant at the fair. It seems that the wine and dancing go together!

best day for us was when our table suddenly collapsed and about 60 bottles of wine and 90 glasses fell to the ground. The noise was so tremendous that the music stopped and there was complete silence in the room for a few seconds. An existential-surreal moment! As it turned out only broke 3 bottles of wine, but instead he broke all the glasses least 3.

collapsed table insert photo

The second day of the show, John and I split - he went to the festival while I was attending a consumer group (organic products). "EcoGal" are Galapagar (Madrid) and about 20 people came to visit the vineyard and the winery and meet the winemaker! So that morning we went to the vineyard where I tried to answer your questions about organic wine (some of them were very difficult!). Then we went to the winery for lunch and wine tasting. And to answer more questions about natural and organic wines. Insert photo


group
few days later, my partner (of love, not business!) Had surgery appendicitis - and suddenly without warning! Is recovering well, but still remains at home right now as I write!

The next event was an invitation to dinner with organic wine producers. 3 of Andalicia came, and I could not refuse to go! These were: Barranco Oscuro (Lorenzo), Cauzón (Ramon), Maren (Jose Miguel) and Almaty (Alfredo) of Valladolid and a wine distributor (Luisa de Vinosautenticos). See photos and comments here on the blog of Nacho Bueno. The next day I went to his taste and presentation in The Bullet Montecarmelo, and post-tasting beers with them!

add photos

And what else? (Because, yes, there are more). Now I called the U.S. importer (JosePastorSelections - the same as last year) and says he wants a pallet of wine, but you love already! - To be in New York for presentation in June.

So ...

- Do we have enough bottles? Fortunately, yes. No one had asked for a new pallet of bottles a few months ago, but have accumulated more than 1000 cylinders used - that we return our local consumers.

- Do we have enough corks? No! urgent calls and emails to our supplier (Salmantina of cork) calling to us quick errand.

-? We tags? No! urgent calls and emails to our loved designer (Hello why), but is on vacation, so to wait again!

- We AVIN antics and those QR codes so cool? No! Priority Mail to André riberinhos (of Adegga) - and is so fast that sends me the email vuenta. Now you just have to cut and paste on the labels.

QR code to insert picture

- Do we have boxes? No! expedited mail to our supplier (Cartonajes Hurtado). Dece that sent next week

- Do we have a special pallet, plastic, approved, approved U.S. Customs? Incredibly, yes! Last year a neighbor gave us a wine cellar. Fortunately it would have been difficult to find one quickly.

So that's what I'm doing now and what I'll be doing next week: bottling, corking, labeling, put in boxes and assemble the pallet.

But that's not all! Last Saturday I was invited to be interviewed in a campaign of 'slow food', and of course, could not say no! I had no time to prepare and simply showed up there not knowing what to expect. And it was super-interesting. A couple are spending 40 days in bed (a bit like John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1969), and each days invite someone to chat on her bed. Inviting all sorts of people, but related in some way with life 'slow'. Here is the link to my session here. (I'm on wine explayánandome natural, organic viticulture, the rates of different types of bacon!).

I think that's it. All this is apart from the normal daily routine of taking children to school, pick them up, and go to work at the office!

Oh, I almost forgot: a few weeks ago another blogger (aka Chris Penwarden @ Singapour) Singapore Interviewer mail me for a post which he published in his blog on Earth Day (on 29 April). That was no problem because I did mail in my 'spare time'. Here is the link to that post.

Perhaps one day, if I find the time, and after sending a pallet of wine to the U.S., and after writing the post to Fiona, I'll have a nervous breakdown quickly, or I'll catatonic for a while - but only until next event or activity, that certainly is approaching and as I write 

Reflection: Writing this really helped me see things in context. Basically what happened is that I inadvertently did I get into a lot of promotional activities, and I have not done any work of vineyard or cellar. So I think that is enough for 'activities' for now - and from the vineyard and winery!

Last
horrible thought: I just realized that this year I have not even seen our new vineyard in Villarejo. Juanillo has pruned by himself.

Windows Live Does Not Detect My Webcam

A photo for my friends who love pulque.

By

. Jesica Velasquez and Don Der (2011)

Cheater Korean Movie Online

Enjoy Our Golden Autumn in the mountains

Fotos De Pati Nabidad En Bikini Gratis

Scraps New

This time I come to show you some scraps to buy and some are already in the pipeline which I'll show when they are finished they will be in very very little. Hope you like.

What Hormones Are In Yaz

my first steps with seam

Hello again as I told you long ago pointed me to a sewing course and as yet I had learned nothing here you have the photo of the second dress I do and still I have to finish hope you like it.

Remove Airlock Underfloor Heating

Envy Me Dio Hahaha .... Revealing a secret

The truth is that as the title indicates it gave me envious to see the towels to prepare for the draw and all I got to work and I have another and this time I think will stay me. And here I leave some photos to share with you all.
The truth is that it is a pretty good idea for fabrics that do not know what to do because we can also find plenty of ways to combine them.

Good Lubricants To Masterbate With

Natural Wine Room, Barcelona Visit Nacho

On Sunday March 27th I went to the Natural Wine Hall III, in Barcelona (Convent de Sant Agustí). Would be about 20 producers of natural wines, mainly from France and Catalonia, but a few from other parts of Spain and Italy.

Fair What

mean? What if it was a success? Were there many people? Will I be helpful? "I made many contacts? "I had a good time? Did I hurt your feet? "I served many glasses of wine? "I sold a lot of wine? Was fun dinner? "I took many pictures and videos?

Pasting labels
Well, the answer is "yes" to all questions at least two: 'No', did not sell much wine (about 20 bottles) and 'No', no I took many photos as I wanted! But everything else, say YES.

Before I came

people I would say it was a huge smash hit, and spent hundreds of people there. I have no precise data on the event organizer Benoît Vallée ( L'Anima del Vi), but that is my impression - from the time people started coming (10:30 - 11:00) I could not sit down or leave my table until 9:00 pm.

Ready for action

escape
got to go to the bathroom at about 5:00, but my neighbor (Maestro Alfredo ) was not so lucky - I said he could not go pee until 9:00 pm! More signs / evidence of the success of the event are the pain in my feet (standing for 12 hours) serving glasses of wine and talking to people.

The thing is encouraged

There was no way to eat, of course. But Benoit had the solution: apart from the 20 posts of natural wine producers, there was one food (tapas) (Bar Cortijo) and they were responsible for bringing us food throughout the day. In fact, my biggest sale of the day was to them - I ordered a box of my "orange wine" as they considered a perfect match perfectly with your sushi. (I forgot to take a picture of the dish).

3 Airen - same vineyard, same grape, same day harvest

Left: Orange Wine (with skins)); Center: Normal, Right: Carbonic maceration

What if I have been helpful to be at the fair? Well, I could not tell! Of course, not sales! Perhaps for future sales? Who knows! I think it does promote and advertise my wines and my project enough. I distributed about 100 brochures and seen about 50 cards - and only gave them to people the previously asked me, not my suggestion.

Reds: Petit Verdot, Syrah, Tempranillo, Garnacha

Most interesting was the variety of people who came to the fair. Some were lovers of wine with high knowledge that I made many difficult and interesting questions! Others were novices in the wine world who came to see, taste and learn.

T-post

In theory, the event had to end at 5:00 or 6:00, but at 8:00 still full! At the end the lack of light that threw everybody, as there was no light in the monastery and could only do with lighters and torches.

Thanks to good planning Benoit, the restaurant where we would eat was across the street, so we did not have to move vehicles or public transport. Just had to leave the convent across the street and enter the restaurant.

Producers Dinner

The first to arrive we sat on the terrace of the restaurant and ask for beer! It is not the first time that happens to me. After 12 hours of wine tasting, think more wine at dinner is not recommended. Best 'rest palate 'with a beer or two!

Vintners and their beers

Fortunately (for all other customers of the restaurant) we put in a separate room. Admittedly assemble a tremendous scandal. He gave me the impression that the waiters were a bit overwhelmed. First, we all bottles (and boxes) of our wine, put on the table, chairs and floor, and opened no more ourselves. It was as if we had just come out of jail! We were so eager to taste the wines of the other, and until then we could not do not leave our tables for to taste like!

In the table

When they got us in and sit down, nobody was interested in the food and the waiters could not take note. I did not even see the menu, much less order! At the end Benoit ordered 30 steak with potatoes, and 30 starters for all.

Then the party came to life. First a little speech Laureano Serres, natural winemaker and president of the PVN (Association of Natural Wine Producers), in Catalan, not sure how many understood something, but I can say that he received a standing ovation at end!

(Link to speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDdtswX9Q9M )

Some people started smoking at the table - which is now banned from the new anti- January 2 snuff. But in those moments, who is going to agree? No, man, no, I'm exaggerating - we left out smokers also (sometimes).

Here are some of the wines:

Perhaps the best known is that of Thierry Puzelat (one of the smokers!):

Slope: Photo Puzelat "in Cot We Trust"


Slope: Photo Laureano Serres "Brutal"


picture yet Clos du Tue-Boeuf Touraine Le Buisson Pouilleux


fotoEls yet Bassots - Jordi Escoda


fotoVinya Sanford yet

Pending
fotoMacon Cruzille manganite


picture yet Dinavolo (Italy)


yet

photo master Alfredo

Luna Lovegood Headdress For Sale

Hello again come to remind you that it is less for the draw and for some more of you girls feel encouraged to participate desvelare like some secret part of the gift you'll give away. As shown in the photo are some towels decorated with a patchwork of fabric and a bag hidden inside a secret and not yet I will tell you. And this is all I can tell you for now. I hope you are encouraged to participate. You know that to participate would have to leave the message on the post that was published in the draw.

Scholarships For People With Bell Palsy

Second Day Well Pruning

The other day (Tuesday 22 March) came to the winery Bueno Nacho. Nacho is a natural wine lover, is one of the six people who have sponsored a barrel this year, and also writes a blog where it has things in wine.

Bottling wines to the Wine Fair in Barcelona Natural

has indeed written a nice post about your visit, you can read here:

http://nachobueno.wordpress.com / 2011/03/27/visita-a-la-bodega-de-vinos-ambiz-vino-natural-de-madrid /

also has put a lot of photos, you can see in the same post.

Male Milking Images Forced

The other day (Thursday, March 17) went to prune a little more. We too late this year, and we have only trimmed 0.25 hectares of a total of 2.0 acres we have.

I think that spring is coming late in these latitudes (south of Madrid). Would have to look at the notes, but it seems to me that the vegetation has not even begun to sprout. The only signs I've seen so far are: 1) the almonds, which are already several weeks into flower and 2) those herbs 'bad' (ie 'good') that are called milk thistle.

That's good because if I have reason, the vines sprout too late (maybe) and so we have a little more time to prune.

Almond Blossom, with vineyards in the background

Making a virtue of vice, it is true that if pruning later, the vines will sprout later, and they will be more protected against the risk of a frost in April or May. As happened last year, when it froze the night of 7-8 May and lost 25% of production.

is an example of one thing I've noticed over the years and do what you do (or not!) Will have positive and negative consequences at a time. In most cases, of course, if you do the thing "right" the positive effects outweigh the negative. Anyway the idea is interesting.

Vine pruned thistle surrounded

Milk Thistle seen from above

podábamos
While we collected all the branches and take them to the edge of the vineyard. Later, the crush and scatter the pieces around the vineyard. Eventually decompose and thus improve fertility and soil structure.

Lots of branches

This is a practice 'sustainable' in the sense that we are not constantly (every year) removing material of the vineyard (grapes and vines), but also give back something. Besides the branches bring organic manure.

More piles of branches

Finally, it seems we have a new neighbor in the vineyard. This hole is right on the edge of the vineyard between two piles of branches. I have no idea what animal this is - it seems too big for a rabbit.

front door of the house's new neighbor

Volunteer Nursing Home Portland

A New Collection Compliance Certificate

Good night all, just come to tell you that I will start a new collection as many of you have given me your envy when I see posts such as scissors beautiful and original ... and so I decided to start my new collection of scissors. Still not exactly where but I'll get them, and I will inform the teaching go.

Renters And Fish Tanks

Trasvases (some good news and some bad)

The other weekend we attempted to transfer wine First move the

Sirah and Petit Verdot in a stainless steel tank to another.

Petit Verdot (front) and Sirah (back)

Warehouse

Petit Verdot Petit Verdot

smelled like farts and hydrogen or something, so that aeration has been good. It smelled much better after the transfer.

We did by hand, fill a basket from the flu in the bottom of the tank, and then tossed into the new tank from above.

Looking

wine to deposit

beautiful colors

More colors

The Sirah also smelled a bit musty but not to fart!

Cot (1)

Cot (2)

Mejunje deep

Top View

Rack the Garnacha also for the first time this year, so there was quite a concoction lees at the bottom of the tank.

We are very happy with how these three wines are coming out.

When we decided to put a portion of Garnacha in old oak barrels (more than 5 years) as an experiment, to see how it goes.

Cleaning the old barrel and burning a sulfur pastille

To get the Grenache in the barrel, we had to use the bomb. No I like bombs! They make too much noise. I do not know for sure if the noise affects the wine, but to me it does affect me!

The Garnacha entering the barrel

Another thing I like about the bombs is that they are too powerful and move the wine too quickly.

The Garnacha falling to the ground

was not as bad as it looks - just lost a few gallons, before getting off the bomb! After cleaning the spill, I enjoy writing in the barrel with chalk!

Garnacha 2010

Finally, racked a large lot (2000 liters) of Tempranillo, and bad news: when we went to open the air cover, we discovered that it was open! We forgot to close the last time we opened a few months ago. This means that the wine has been in contact with air (oxygen) during this time. Not a disaster, but also wrong. Finally, the wine looks good. For good measure, throw away the last 100 liters - 25 cm closer to the surface that has been in contact with air. Another lesson learned!

Pump (Of contention) and Tempranillo tank