I would consider any wine product that requires formula approval by the TTB a “formula wine.” Many wines that include flavoring and/or coloring additions require formula approval by the TTB in order to receive a Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) for that product. Common examples of formulated wines include pre-packaged or pre-bottled: Sangria [Mulled] Spiced […]
Winemaking Strategies for Rainy Vintages: Remembering 2011 and Preparing for 2018
With Hurricane Florence threatening most of the Eastern seaboard and Mid-Atlantic, I think it’s an important time to take a moment and communicate a practical plan for your winery staff. There’s a few days left to get organized, and not a moment to waste. Remember that keeping your family, employees, and families safe is the […]
Harvest Must-Haves: Having the Right Plan Can Set You Ahead of the Winemaking Curve
Planning, though time consuming, can be your best friend during the hectic harvest season. Taking the appropriate action steps to think through your winemaking production process is a game changer. As head winemaker or general manager, writing down and documenting your winemaking process for cellar employees can Improve your management practices Enhance communication Get everyone […]
YAN… to the Rescue!
It’s impossible to talk about the pending harvest without talking about YAN. Every year, I run into winemakers asking me what nutrient additions to make when they do not know their starting YAN, or yeast assimilable nitrogen (aka yeast available nitrogen). Not knowing the must’s YAN concentration when treating fermentation with nutrient supplements is equivalent […]
The Wine World Can’t Get Enough of Pet-Nats
If I had to count on all of my fingers how many pét-nats I’ve actually enjoyed in my life, I could readily hold up just one finger. No, not that finger. I literally mean, I’ve only ever appreciated and enjoyed one pét-nat over the course of my professional tasting career. I’m sure some of my […]
Current Freebies & Paid Content on the DGW Website
One of the most common concerns I hear about hiring a wine consultant is concerns about retainer payments. Luckily, I’ve designed DGWinemaking (DGW) without retainers, but with a focus on solving problems for winemakers, the cellar crew, and tasting room staff. There are several tiers of involvement one can participate in depending on the needs […]
