25 replies to this topic

[NorthernWiner]

... then I met the woman of my dreams, and she doesnt enjoy ANY wine, let alone maybe a light beer once a month. It's been a tough balance, but she sees my passion for it as of now and lets me play in the "winery" once in a while still.

Any advice?

Ooh... tough call there. As long as she lets you have your fun, I guess that's not half bad. Unfortunate that she doesn't want to share in the fun.

My wife was a little slow to come around too. Actually I think she was just afraid to try my first few experiments (which was probably smart) but now she'll drink anything I put in front of her. Sometimes it just takes time.

[pudo]

I havent quite canceled my wine magazine subscriptions... but my time sure has been cut back. A few of the other girls I had around in the past drank most of my wine, and that was the problem. Now this one wont even drink any of it. Maybe thats a good thing

At least she helped me cut up 100lb of rhubarb this spring.

I wonder if there's any way to slowly ease her into something... such as making her own wine with her... but I doubt she'd drink it.


Steve, are you going back to the MN state fair at all?

[NorthernWiner]

Steve, are you going back to the MN state fair at all?

Probably not. I've been there three times already and we've got family coming over this weekend (I suckered them into helping stain the fence!).

But I still have a couple of bottles of wine for you if you happen to be in the neighborhood. Stop by if you get the chance. But just be careful I don't sucker you into staining the fence, too.

[Curt]

Pudo,
Have her help you with a batch of low alcohol fruity wine like a hard lemonade and see what happens. It isn't for reasons of religion is it? If it is scratch what I just said.

[pudo]

Curt, No I already dated 2 religions nuts in my life that took everything from me besides my house. My girlfriend(the best woman in the world so far!) is just really picky when it comes to drinking or eating anything... wine is too "tart" for her, and now that shes tried a few that are even sweet and smooth, shes giving up even trying them now.

I was wondering if I should buy some sweet concord.... but the last time i bought it to test something the final gravity is like 1.060...... super super sweet.

Steve, The fair was great. I ate salmon on a stick this year. I couldn't find the chocolate covered bacon stand though. Too bad I didnt have time to come and get that wine!!!

[pudo]

Steve... I emailed the fair because I was told by a friend that I tied for 2nd place on the entire competition, yet my name wasnt posted at the display.


They replied:

After some investigation, we were able to discover that the information that was provided by our office to our sign shop included your name. It appears that you name was left off by accident. Since the signs were delivered directly to the Fruit & Wine display, we never saw them, and we were not informed of the omission of your name. Our deepest apologies.


Oh well. I hope next year I have a chance...
Pudo

[NorthernWiner]

Steve... I emailed the fair because I was told by a friend that I tied for 2nd place on the entire competition, yet my name wasnt posted at the display.

Congratulations! You must have tied with the guy in our winemaking club. I noticed in the newsletter that he had three 1st place ribbons. The woman who took home the silver plate this year is up from around your area, too - Gilbert, I think.

I got my judges notes back a few days ago. They were.... interesting. All over the map. I'm actually a little miffed about one of them. One judge gave me a score of 97 for my fortified wine entry and wrote glowing remarks, the 2nd judge scored it 90 points (about where I felt it should've scored), and the 3rd judge scored it 56 and basically said it was a crap effort. A 56? How in the world can there be that much discrepancy? That's two years in a row I've been given extremely low scores by the 3rd judge. The wine came in 5th in the category, so I guess I shouldn't complain, but I'm thinking next year I need to enter some grape wines that people are more familiar with. Some of the off-the-wall varieties I entered this year only seemed to confuse the judges, or at least judge #3.

Oh well. Enough grumbling. Like you said, there's always next year.

[Doyle]

If she is not interested in drinking your wine, you can always use some of it to make some fabulous sauces or for braising meats. That way she can appreciate the flavor nuances of the wine in a way that is not offensive to her. Even if she is vegetarian you can make a great wine sauce with your basic sauteed and carmelized aromatic vegetables (carrots, leeks, celery), a little garlic, a cup of Red wine and a cup of broth (beef or vegetable) and then just reduce it down and strain it.

Congrats on the awards. Steve, sounds like you better find out who these turd (sp) ... third judges are.

..Doyle

[lockwood1956]

and the 3rd judge scored it 56 and basically said it was a crap effort. A 56? How in the world can there be that much discrepancy?

Blooming wine judges....bunch of loons if you ask me

[NorthernWiner]

Blooming wine judges....bunch of loons if you ask me

I'll think you'll need to come over here next year, Bob, and show these guys how it's done.

[pudo]

Steve, Yea that one judge really throws it all off. Maybe they got mixed up with the dairy barn and were suppose to be tasting the milk.

Either way its a good way to keep me chugin along on the wines this year... Id like to start making smaller batches but im a sucker for the prices you get when you buy fruit in bulk.

If you're ever in need of a half ton of raspberries or cherries let me know.

By the way, Chocolate milk does not come from brown cows.