Thoughts on getting some Newsom grapes.
We talked about some of this, both during the meeting, and I also discussed other issues with individuals. But it's best to put everything out front , so that everyone has the same information.
First disclosure; I'm not sure that I will be participating in the quest for grape. If I have a decent harvest, I'll do that, and take my chances in wine bragging rights going up against Neil's grapes. I may have surplus to sell too. I'll update as things get closer to harvest.
I think the key thing to toss out on the table is;
This is not a "we bring back grape for everybody" thing. Simply put, the people that go, are the ones that get grape. Put yourself in the situation of an 8 hour drive up, 8 hour drive back, lots of out of the pocket expenses--so the grape has then cost you far more than 50 cents a lb, plus time, plus hard work. So, if you want the grape--you ante up with your own labor and time. By pooling labor, and traveling costs, etc. the out of pocket costs go down for each person that participates. I just can't think of a fair way to adjust the cost to allow non-participants to get grape. BTW, the economics of someone trying to do this for a profit are HORRIBLE.
Sounds harsh. But if you can think of a fairer way to do it, post away.
While I'm being the big meanie, I also have to point out that it's essential to have excruciatingly good vineyard manners by everyone. NO TRASH LEFT BEHIND. (Is there anyway that I can print that in 24 point letters?)
You also need very high quality pruners, and the willingness to gently reach in, and snip the bunch. If you pull, there is a good chance of damaging the vine, and that could make the job of pruning harder the next year. And it's really NOT OK to decide that the bunch you snipped off isn't suitable for one reason or another, and discard them. We might not be the only people (we WILL NOT be the only people participating on this!), so, if you snip it, its yours.
The vineyard is in sandy soil. Even 4WD can get stuck. You WALK your path, to make sure that you are OK. A towtruck is gonna cost you a BUNDLE...
Here's the things to expect--
Plains, TX, is truly in the middle of nowhere. I believe that Neils sister runs a bed and breakfast at the vineyard, other than that, the closest decent hotels are in Lubbock, about 1 hour drive away. Best to pack food, to minimize downtime of looking around for place to eat that everyone agrees on. (Did I mention that litterbugs will be subject to public flogging, and a ceremonial breaking of their corkscrew, and mashing their recipe book into the dirt? )
The drive up is 8 hours +, whether interstate, or backroads. (My time, was 9 hours--no more than 3 mph over the speed limit, and stopping once every two hours to stretch legs, etc.) The group going should probably agree beforehand "are we sightseeing on the way up, or not." (on the way back, the clock is ticking on the grapes getting warm. NONSTOP.)
Things needed;
List of people. When it's getting close to harvest, I'll send out warnings. Essentially, it's best to go the weekend after the mechanical harvesting is done. Drive up, maybe partial harvest, if you arrive with daylight. Spend the night, get up EARLY, finish harvest, return to Austin. A crusher/destemmer needs to be ready right away on arrival.
A truck/trailer combo, enclosed, capable of carrying a BUNCH of ice, along with the weight of the grape. (I did a layer of plywood first, in the bed of the truck, followed by a layer of foam--think bigtime temp insulation--followed by 4 15 gallon tubs full of grape--about 100 lbs per 15 gallon tub--surrounded by 5 gallon buckets full of ice, then more foam, more plywood, and then finally topped of with a tarp, more foam, and then another tarp.) If your grapes are not cool, they are fermenting like mad--with all kinds of bad stuff.
BTW, 400 lbs of grape is roundabouts 30 gallons of finished wine, BUT...........it depends!
That's the SIMPLE explanation...
Tim
