Synopses & Reviews
From breaking ground to savoring the finished product, every aspect of growing flawless grapes and making extraordinary wine is covered in this classic
Synopsis
From planting vines to savoring the finished product, Jeff Cox covers every aspect of growing flawless grapes and making extraordinary wine. Fully illustrated instructions show you how to choose and prepare a vineyard site; build trellising systems; select, plant, prune, and harvest the right grapes for your climate; press, ferment, and bottle wine; and judge wine for clarity, color, aroma, and taste. With information on making sparkling wines, ice wines, port-style wines, and more, this comprehensive guide is an essential resource for every winemaker.
"
Synopsis
From breaking ground to savoring the finished product, every aspect of growing flawless grapes and making extraordinary wine is covered in this classic
About the Author
Freelance author and journalist Jeff Cox is a contributing editor to Organic Gardening magazine and The Wine News and is the host of Grow It! on the Home & Garden Television Network. He has written 13 gardening books, including From Vines to Wines, Seasonal Celebrations, The Perennial Garden (with his wife, Marilyn Cox), The Spirit of Gardening, and Flowers For All Seasons. Jeff is a member of the Author's Guild of America, Garden Writers' Association of America, and the San Francisco Professional Food Society. He lives in California.
Table of Contents
List of Tables
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Tim Mondavi
Preface
Introduction: Making Wine
Part 1: Selecting the Vines The Secrets of Good Wine
The Origin of Classic Wine Grapes
A Self-Education in Wine
Vinifera in the United States
Part 2: Growing the Grapes Parts of the Grapevine
How Much Wine to Make
Finding a Favorable Site
Grape Trellises
Constructing a Trellis
Ordering and Planting Grapestock
Managing Vineyard Rows and Aisles
Irrigation
Pruning in the First Two Years
Establishing a Training System
Pruning Mature Vines
Cluster Thinning
Training Systems Illustrated
Pest Control Strategies
Fertilization
Tending Grape Crops
Determining Ripeness
Harvesting
Part 3: Making the Wine Crush Immediately after Picking
Decisions of the First Few Days
The Primary Fermentation
The Secondary Fermentation
The First Racking
Cold Stabilization
Using Barrels
Further Racking and Aging
Wine Disorders
Filtering
Fining
Blending
Final Measurements before Bottling
Bottling
Corking
Labeling
Making Sparkling Wine
Cellaring the Wine
Wine Accoutrements
Sensory Evaluation of Wine
Appendix 1. The Home Winemaker's Record Book
Appendix 2. For More Information
Appendix 3. Sources of Supplies
Appendix 4. Sources of Grapevines
Appendix 5. Grape Pests and Diseases
Index