877.812.1137

cmusto

What to do while you wait for your wine to age?

If you are like us then you get impatient waiting for your wine to finish the aging process. Here are few things to keep you busy while you wait for your vintage to be ready.

there is always time for winemaking

1. Drink Last Year’s Wine – Yummy.

2. Make a Wine Kit – You can have wine on the table in 3-4 weeks! Personally we are loving the Castel del Papa and the Green Apple Riesling.

3. Search Out a New Wine Club or Two – These new wines can inspire a new blend or variety to be made next year.

4. Design Your Own Wine Label – Your wine label should represent you. Musto Wine Grape offers custom label design as well as stock labels to help you add your own flair to your wine label.

5. Drink Local – Check out your local wineries and compare wine notes with other local winemakers. Connecticut has a great Wine Trail you can check out the next time you stop by to pick up a few things.

6. Visit California Wine Country – Why not take a trip and see where your wine grapes came from? Contact Christina at cmusto@juicegrape.com for more information on where to taste, stay, and play in California Wine Country.

7. Clean and Organize Your Wine Cellar– Think of it as “spring” cleaning. I’m sure your house mates would be happy to see it organized.

8. Stock Up on Winemaking Products for Next Year – There are a lot of sales going on during the Holiday Season. Take advantage of them and get ahead for next year!

9. Plan for  your next Winemaking Project – Southern Hemisphere Grapes – Grapes from Chile and South Africa will arrive as early as the beginning of May. The California grapes will arrive in August.

10. Throw a Blending Party – Invite your friends over and create some new and interesting blends.

Italian Juices will start to arrive the Week of 10/10

Fresco Juices and Other Italian Juices will start to arrive the Week of 10/10

Please give us a call at 877.812.1137 or email us at sales@juicegrape.com to schedule your pick up. 

Mosti Mondiale’s flagship refrigerated fresh grape juice product, Mondiale Fresco, has served the home winemaking community since 1989. Sourced from both Italy and California, Mondiale Fresco marks the beginning of a new winemaking season based on traditional practices that have crafted wines of significant character. With over 30 fresh varieties to choose from, Mondiale Fresco is proud to be the only product to offer home winemakers their own vineyard in one unique package. 

Mosti Fresco Juices are PRE ORDER ONLY.  If you have not pre-ordered yet please give us a call at 877.812.1137 or email us at sales@juicegrape.com

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Mosti Fresco Fresh Juice Instructions

Mosti Fresco Varieties:

  • ALICANTE (CALIFORNIA)
  • AMARONE (ITALY)
  • BARBERA (CALIFORNIA)
  • BAROLO (ITALY)
  • BOURG ROYAL (CALIFORNIA)
  • CABERNET FRANC (CALI)
  • CABERNET SAUVIGNON (CALIFORNIA)
  • CASTEL DEL PAPA (ITALY)
  • CHIANTI (ITALY)
  • LAMBRUSCO (ITALY)
  • MERLOT (ITALY)
  • MONTELPULCIANO (ITALY)
  • NEBBIOLO (ITALY)
  • NERO D’AVOLA (ITALY)
  • PETITE SIRAH (CALIFORNIA)
  • PINOT NOIR (CALIFORNIA)
  • RUBY CABERNET (CALIFORNIA)
  • SANGIOVESE (ITALY)
  • SHIRAZ (CALIFORNIA)
  • VALPOLICELLA (ITALY)
  • ZINFANDEL (CALIFORNIA)
  • GRENACHE ROSE (CALIFORNIA)
  • ZINFANDEL ROSE (CALIFORNIA)
  • CHENIN BLANC (CALIFORNIA)
  • GEWÜRZTRAMINER (CALIFORNIA)
  • MOSCATO (CALIFORNIA)
  • PINOT CHARDONNAY (CALIFORNIA)
  • PINOT GRIGIO (ITALY)
  • RIESLING (CALIFORNIA)
  • SAUVIGNON BLANC (CALIFORNIA)
  • SOAVE (ITALY)
  • TOACAI (ITALY)
  • TREBBIANO (ITALY)
  • VINHO VERDE (CALIFORNIA)
  • MALVASIA AROMATICA (ITALY)
  • MOSCATO ITALIANO (ITALY)

Our Italian juices are prepared in multiple ways for multiple winemaking opportunities. We have our Italian Fresh Juices, Mosti Fresco Juices, and Original All Juice Sterile Juices. All of our juices are handled with utmost quality and care.

Other Italian Juice Opportunities:

Italian Juices Are Coming!!

Fresh Italian Juices: Our Mosto Imperatore Italian juices have arrived! Create the best wines Italy has to offer. We have all the specialty varietals and blends – Amarone, Barolo, Brunello, Chianti, Dolchetto, Lambrusco, Montelpulciano, Moscato, Nebbiolo, Nero D’Avola, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Trebbiano, and Valpolicella.

Winemaking Instructions 1

Winemaking Instructions 2

Sterile Italian Juices: Mosti Mondiale’s 23L Original AllJuice is a true 100% pasteurized fresh grape must product. Experienced winemakers looking to complement their skills and patience will become instantly rewarded with the introduction of fresh grape must. Italian Varieties: Castel del Papa, Lambrusco, Montelpulciano, Nero D’Avola, Trebbiano, Moscato, and Il Toscano (Chianti)

Sterile Juice Descriptions

Sterile Juice Instructions

Please give us a call at 877.812.1137 or email us at sales@juicegrape.com to schedule your pick up. 

Juices and Grapes In Stock as of 9/22/16

muscat-cannelli

Variety Label 36/42
Cabernet Sauvignon Cry Baby 36lb
Pinot Noir Paso Robles 36lb
Muscat Muscat King 42lb
Old Vine Carignane Smiling Baby 36lb
Syrah Lodi Gold 36lb
Barbera Lucerene 36lb
Muscat Valley Beauty 36lb
Cabernet Franc Cry Baby 36lb
Merlot Lugano 36lb
Zinfandel Lucerene 36lb
Old Vine Zinfandel Paso Robles 36lb
Syrah Paso Robles 36lb
Cabernet Franc Paso Robles 36lb
Zinfandel Zinderella 36lb
Old Vine Zinfandel Lugano 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Costamagna 36lb
Merlot Lugano 36lb
Merlot Washington State 36lb
Old Vine Carignane Caterina 36lb
Petite Sirah Caterina 36lb
Merlot Caterina 36lb
Petite Verdot Caterina 36lb
Chardonnay Lanza 36lb
Ruby Cabernet Lodi Gold 36lb
French Colombard Cry Baby 36lb
Malvasia Bianca Lodi Gold 36lb
Black Muscat Lodi Gold 36lb
Carignane Uva di California 36lb
Merlot Paso Robles 36lb
Alicante O’Caprio 42lb
Alicante Smiling Baby 36lb
Barbera Valley Beauty 36lb
Zinfandel Valley Beauty 36lb
Mixed Black Uva di California 36lb
Old Vine Grenache Cry Baby 36lb
Ruby Cabernet Valley Beauty 36lb
Malbec Cry Baby 36lb
Muscat Cry Baby 42lb
Muscat Cannelli Lanza 36lb
Chardonnay Cry Baby 36lb
Syrah Cry Baby 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Caterina 36lb
Carnelian Pia 36lb
Zinfandel Pia 36lb
Mixed Black Smiling Baby 36lb
Mixed Black Uva di California 36lb
Old Vine Zinfandel Caterina 36lb
Muscat Treasure 36lb
Grenache Teaser 36lb
Zinfandel Teaser 36lb
Sangiovese California Special 36lb
Barbera California Special 36lb
Brunello Pia 36lb
Merlot Lodi Gold 36lb
Old Vine Zinfandel Caterina 36lb
Sangiovese Pia 36lb
Petite Sirah Pia 36lb
Gamay Pia 36lb
Barbera Pia 36lb
Alicante Lodi Gold 36lb
Petite Verdot Paso Robles 36lb
Barbera Valley Beauty 36lb
Viognier Lodi Gold 36lb
Pinot Grigio Lodi Gold 36lb
Thompson Seedless Valley Beauty 36lbs
Merlot Lanza-Musto 36lb
Sangiovese Lanza-Musto 36lb
Barbera Lanza-Musto 36lb
Nebbiolo Pia 36lb

 

Juices:

Variety
Merlot
Thompson Seedless
Muscat
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscat
Carignane
French Colombard
Syrah
Thompson Seedless
White Zinfandel
Malvasia Bianca
Malbec
Chablis
Burgundy
Gewürztraminer
Syrah
Viognier
Petite Sirah
Merlot
Chardonnay
Malvasia Bianca
Riesling
Barbera
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Muscat
Zinfandel
Thompson Seedless
Grenache
Pinot Noir
Ruby Cabernet
Merlot
Mixed Black
Sauvignon Blanc
Sangiovese
Pinot Grigio
Cabernet Sauvignon
Zinfandel
Merlot
Barbera
Zinfandel
Muscat

 

SHOWCASE YOUR WINES!

wine-competition_sign-for-store

SHOWCASE YOUR WINES!

PAY FOR YOUR ENTRIES ONLINE

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musto-wine-grape-co-2016-wine-competition-announcement

musto-wine-grape-co-2016-wine-competition-wine-category-code-numbers

musto-wine-grape-co-2016-wine-competition-wine-competition-rules

Show Off You Winemaking Skills at the Musto Wine Grape Company, LLC.’s Winemaker Amateur & Commercial Winemaking Competition!

The Annual Musto Wine Grape Company Amateur & Commercial Wine Competition will be held October 22, 2016. Your wines will be judged by some of the best wine judges in New England. Each entry will have detailed feedback to help further improve your winemaking skills.

Amateur or commercial wine entries will compete for, gold, silver & bronze medals. Best of Show medal will also be awarded. Amateur entries will compete against amateur entries and the same holds through for commercial entries. Each wine will be judged on its own merit. Medal awards will be decided by a group on competent wine judges selected by management of the Musto Wine Grape Company. All entrants will receive judging notes for each wine entered. Entry information can be downloaded at www.juicegrape.com.

Professional winetasting event, limited focus

  • Important Dates:
    • October 17th, 2016 NLT 4:00PM Wine Entry deadline arrival
    • Send or deliver entries
      • Musto Wine Grape Company, LLC 101 Reserve Rd, Hartford, CT 06114 or (860-278-7703
      • Levy, Diamond Bello & Associates, LLC (LDB) 497 Bic Drive, Milford, CT 06461 (203-882-7940Judging: October 22nd, 2016
    • Judging Results: TBD and at the awards Dinner (TBA). Also, posted on, www.juicegrape.com
    • Entry Fee:
      • For a single wine the entry fee will be $10.00 and $8.00 each for 2 or more entries submitted at the same time.
      • There is no limit to the number of entries. Make checks payable to Musto Wine Grape Company and U.S. dollars only.
    • Wine Entry Qualifications and Conditions:
      •  This wine competition is open to any amateur winemaker, commercial winemaker or winery. Wine entry must have been made by a winemaker, not purchased and re-bottled and used as an amateur wine maker entry. Judge may not judge and wine they have submitted.
      • Wine entry(s) are to be delivered or shipped to the above stated location before the closing time.
      •  A wine entry is a still bottle of wine and submitted for entry in a 750ml wine bottle. Ice wines or late harvest wines may be submitted in a 375ml wine bottle. Sparkling wines must be submitted in a champagne style bottle with the proper closure.
      • All bottle entries must be free of any labeling or identifying markings. However, each must be marked with Category number, winemaker(s) name, wine ingredients and percentages & vintage.
      • All shipments are the entrant’s responsibility therefore packaging must be able to withstand considerable handling and shipping costs are the entrant’s responsibility. COD’s or postage due will be rejected. If an entry bottle is received damaged, we will make every effort to contact the entrant and notify them of the damage. Check with your shipper as to requirements for shipping wine.
      • Wines entries made from grapes and juice based wines will be judged and awarded in their own category. Wine entries made from kits and fresh processed and concentrated juices will be judged and awarded in a kit category.
      • Judging of entry wines will be performed on a 20 point award system. Each wine will be judged on its own merits and not compared to any others in its category. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded within each category and based on the 20 point system.
      • The Best of Show award(s) will be those wine entries that are superior within a given category. All award decisions made by the judges and/or sponsors, are final.
      • Awards will be given to the winners at the Award’s Dinner at the above stated date and time.
      • All entrants will receive a copy of the judging worksheet and a copy of the winning results.
      • All entrants will receive a copy of the judging worksheet and a copy of the winning results.
    •  Entry Form and Fee(s):
      • Do not send wine with your entry form and fee(s)
      • When paying by check, attach the check (payable to Musto Wine Grape Company) to the entry form and mail to Musto Wine Grape 101 Reserve Rd, Hartford, CT 06114 or Winemaker Products 497 Bic Drive, Milford, CT 06461. The entry form and fee will be held until the wine(s) are received. Do not send cash with the entry forms. Please keep a copy of the completed entry forms for your records.
    • Sending Your Wines:
      • Do not send wine entry form and fee(s) with the wine(s). Forms must mailed separately.
      • Write on each box, SAMPLE MATERIALS, NOT FOR RESALE, GLASS ENCLOSED.
      • If sending more than one box, indicate that they are “Box 1 of 2 and Box 2 of 2, etc.
      •  If you’re delivering you own entries, we can only accept them Monday to Friday, 10:00AM to 4:00PM. The Milford location is closed on Saturday and Sundays. The Hartford location will be open on Saturday and Sundays and must be dropped off before 2:00PM. Wine entries are not to be dropped off after closing hours. Musto Wine Grape Company nor Winemaker Products, LLC will not be responsible of missing packages housing wine entries.

hires

Juices and Grapes In Stock as of 9/12

 


lodi-gold-pinot  

Variety Label 36/42lb
Alicante O’Capro 42lb
Alicante California Special 42lb
Barbera Valley Beauty 36lb
Barbera Teaser 36lb
Barbera Cry Baby 36lb
Black Muscat Lodi Gold 36lb
Cabernet Franc Cry Baby 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Cry Baby 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Pia 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Caterina 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Costamagna 36lb
Chardonnay Costamagna 36lb
French Colombard Cry Baby 36lb
Gamay Pia 36lb
Grenache Regina 36lb
Grenache Lugano 36lb
Grenache Pia 36lb
Grenache Teaser 36lb
Malvasia Bianca Cry Baby 36lb
Merlot Lucerene 36lb
Merlot Lodi Gold 36lb
Merlot Lanza-Musto 36lb
Muscat Muscat King 42lb
Muscat Cry Baby 42lb
Petite Sirah Pia 36lb
Petite Verdot Musto – Paso Robles 36lb
Pinot Noir Lodi Gold 36lb
Pinot Noir – YOLO Lodi Gold 36lb
Pinot Noir Musto –Paso Robles 36lb
Primitivo Lanza-Musto 36lb
Ruby Cabernet Caterina 36lb
Ruby Cabernet Caterina 36lb
Sangiovese Caterina 36lb
Sangiovese Regina 36lb
Sauvignon Blanc Lanza – SOLD OUT 36lb
Syrah Cry Baby 36lb
Thompson Seedless Miss Seedless 42lb
Thompson Seedless Treasure 42lb
Thompson Seedless Cry Baby 36lb
Viognier Lodi Gold 36lb
Zinfandel Valley Beauty 36lb
Zinfandel Valley Beauty 36lb
Zinfandel Zinderella 36lb
Zinfandel Lucerene 36lb
Zinfandel Teaser 36lb
Zinfandel Pia 36lb
Old Vine Zinfandel Lugano 36lb
Old Vine Zinfandel Caterina 36lb
Old Vine Zinfandel Lugano 36lb

Juices in Stock as of 9/12/2016:

Variety
Alicante
Barbera
Burgundy
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chablis
Chardonnay
Chianti
French Colombard
Gewurtztraminer
Grenache
Malbec
Malvasia Bianca
Merlot
Mixed Black
Petite Sirah
Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir
Riesling
Ruby Cabernet
Sangiovese
Sauvignon Blanc
Syrah
Thompson Seedless
Viognier
White Zinfandel
Zinfnadel

Paso Robles Merlot Harvest

Good Morning from Paso Robles Winemakers!

Our crew is working very hard to bring you some of the finest wine grapes Paso Robles has to offer.  Yesterday and Today we are harvesting Merlot and Syrah. They are being picked around 24-26 Brix. They should be arriving in Hartford, CT around 9/23/2016.

merlot-vineyard merlot-grapes

We are still awaiting the Petite Sirah which is currently at 22 Brix. We are thinking it will harvest around 9/23.

ps-grapes1  ps-grapes3

Make sure to place your orders!

These are fantastic grapes for making Award Winning Wines!

-PS-

Drop Off You Wine Competition Entities at Pick Up!  http://www.juicegrape.com/community/wine_classic/

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Grapes & Juices in Stock as of 9/10/2016:

 

cry-baby-cab-grapes cry-baby-cab-boxes

Grapes & Juices in Stock as of 9/9/2016:

JUICES:

Sangiovese
Mixed Black
Pinot Noir
Alicante
Ruby Cabernet
Toscano (Chianti)
Chardonnay
French Colombard
Regina Muscat
Chablis
Sauvignon Blanc
White Zinfandel
Muscat
Malvasia Bianca
Syrah
Cabernet Franc
Pinot Grigio
Merlot
Barbera
Zinfandel
Cabernet Sauvignon
Old Vine Zinfandel
Thompson Seedless
Grenache
Riesling
Regina Zinfandel
Regina Barbera
Regina Merlot
Regina Thompson Seedless
Regina Grenache
Regina Cabernet Sauvignon

Grapes:

Variety Label 36/42lb
Chardonnay Costamagna 36lb
Pinot Noir Lodi Gold 36lb
Grenache Lodi Gold 36lb
Barbera Valley Beauty 36lb
Mixed Black Uva di Cali 36lb
Merlot Lucerene 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Cry Baby 36lb
Zinfandel Valley Beauty 36lb
Thompson Seedless Miss Seedless 42lb
Zinfandel Valley Beauty 36lb
Zinfandel Zinderella 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Costamagna 36lb
Merlot Lodi Gold 36lb
Barbera Valley Beauty 36lb
Cabernet Sav Pia 36lb
Sangiovese Regina 36lb
Zinfandel Lucerene 36lb
French Colombard Cry Baby 36lb
OVZ Lugano 36lb
Zinfandel Teaser 36lb
Alicante Cal Special 42lb
Barbera Cal Special 36lb
Muscat Muscat King 42lb
Alicante O’Capro 42lb
Syrah Cry Baby 36lb
Alicante Cry Baby 42lb
Grenache Cry Baby 36lb
Black Muscat Lodi Gold 36lb
Petite Verdot Musto 36lb
Sangiovese Pia 36lb
Grenache Pia 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Pia 36lb
Sauvignon Blanc – SOLD OUT Lanza 36lb
Pinot Noir Musto 36lb
Thompson Seedless Treasure 42lb
Zinfandel Valley Beauty 36lb
Old Vine Barbera Lugano 36lb
Zinfandel Valley Beauty 36lb
Barbera Cry Baby 36lb
Thompson Seedless Cry Baby 42lb
Merlot Lucerene 36lb
Petite Sirah Pia 36lb
Grenache Regina 36lb
Ruby Cabernet Caterina 36lb
Cabernet Franc Cry Baby 36lb
Sangiovese Caterina 36lb
Symphony (white grape) Cry Baby 36lb
OVZ Caterina 36lb
Alicante Cal Special 42lb
Zinfandel Pia 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Caterina 36lb
Old Vine Carignane Caterina 36lb
Gamay Pia 36lb
Zinfandel Pia 36lb
Barbera Pia 36lb
Cabernet Sauvignon Regina 36lb
Barbera Cal Special 36lb
Merlot Lanza 36lb
Primitvo Lanza 36lb
Zinfandel Lanza 36lb

Paso Robles Update

paso cab

Paso Robles is one of California’s emerging AVA’s. It has grown from a sleepy town to a high end wine growing and wine producing region. Paso Robles Wine Country is ideally located along California’s Central Coast, conveniently between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Over the past decade the number of wineries has more than tripled, and Paso Robles is now home to nearly 200 wineries. Winemaking on the Central Coast began when the Franciscan Friars traveled through California establishing Missions. The Missionaries started planting grapes in 1790. You can still see these vines growing today. Since the original plantings of the Missionaries, Paso Robles has become a top destination for farmers to plant grapes. Many famous people have planted vineyards and started wineries in this region. For example, Ignace Paderewski, the Polish pianist purchased 2,000 acres in the 1920’s. He planted Petite Sirah and Zinfandel and eventually opened York Mountain Winery; which is still in existence today.

Paso Robles is comprised of 26,000 acres of wine grapes. It is one of the fastest growing wine regions in California and on the Central Coast. It has a diverse topography. There are rivers, roiling hills, flat lands, and mountains. The soil is comprised of bedrock, weather granite, marine sedimentary rocks, and volcanic rocks. Because of the many different soil components one vineyard block could contain several different soil types.

 

In terms of grapes, Paso Robles is known for growing Zinfandel, but has gained recognition for Bordeaux and Rhone varieties. The AVA likes to produce non-traditional blends. It is a valley that doesn’t follow the rules and expectations of tradition winemaking. The winemakers of Paso Robles like to make their own rules.

Musto Wine Grape Company will be offering the following wine grapes from Paso Robles: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Old Vine Zinfandel.

  • The Paso Petite Sirah resides on the East side of Paso Robles. Days are hot for a longer period of time than the west side but the temperature will drop down to 50 degrees and below at night. The grapes ripen while maturing slowly to produce  a wine with aromas of blueberry, raspberry, and black coffee.  The wines from this area show deep color, are full bodied, and have a smooth tannic structure.
  • The Paso Merlot, and Syrah are sourced from Tolosa Winery from their “Meeker Vineyard” blocks.  The Syrah is the Shenandoah Clone and on 5BB rootstock. Finally, the Merlot is Clone 3 and on 5BB rootstock.
  • The Paso Zinfandel and Old Vine Zinfandel are sourced from the Steinbeck Vineyard. The Zinfandel resides on east-west rolling hills. The soils are calcareous and are farmed by a multiple generation vintner.
  • The Pinot Noir is sourced from Opolo Vineyards of Paso Robles. The Pinot Noir vineyards are located in the Willow Creek AVA. This region cools down earlier than the East side. The area is known for getting any varietal ripe and mature. The soil is very calcareous which produces a very elegant Pinot Noir.
  • The Cabernet is sourced from Parrish Templeton Vineyards. These grapes go to wineries such as Opolo and Justin. It is located in the “Pomar Junction” area of the Templeton gap. The soil consists of clay topsoil, over-lying a fractured calcareous base. This vineyard was created to produce high end Cabernet.
  • Varieties from Paso Robles:
    • Cabernet Suavignon
    • Merlot
    • Pinot Noir
    • Petite Sirah
    • Syrah
    • Zinfandel
    • Old Vine Zinfandel

We are currently taking orders for ALL Paso Robles grapes. The Pinot Noir will be arriving on 9/9/16. Make sure to secure your grapes today!

sales@juicegrape.com / 877.812.1137

Washington Merlot Harvest

vineyard image with good sunlight

grapes on vine image

 

Extra, extra, read all about it – we will have Washington Wine Grapes This Year!

Specifically Own-Rooted Merlot from the Rattlesnakes Hills in Yakima Valley.

About the Soil:

The surface layers of vineyard soils are based primarily in loess, which is mostly wind-deposited silt and fine sand derived from the sediments of the ‘Missoula’ ice age floods. The content of the soils consists of a mixture of minerals derived from both the local basalt bedrock and the granite and limestone of northern Idaho and Montana.

Most of the soils are classified as silt loams (mostly Harwood-Burke, but also Weihl and Scoon), which are low in clay. The low clay content creates well-drained soils, encouraging the vines to root more deeply, a factor generally associated with high quality grapes and wines. It also creates an inhospitable environment for phylloxera, an aphid-like pest that feeds on the roots of grapevines. Due in large part to the clay-poor soils, the Yakima Valley is one of the few places on earth where European wine grapes (such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir) can still be grown on their own roots, also a factor generally associated with high quality.

The shallow soil profile contains large chunks of calcium-caked gravel and calcium carbonate horizons called “Caliche”. In most areas, the caliche forms a conspicuous white layer under the topsoil that adds mineral complexity. The deep roots of the vines penetrate through the surface layer of loess, which averages 18 inches in thickness throughout most of the vineyard, and into the underlying calcium-rich substrate. This gravelly, high pH substrate forces the vines to struggle, an additional factor associated with high quality grapes and wine.

About Being Own-Rooted:

An Own-Rooted vine is a vine that has no rootstock. This is not common in most wine regions around the world. The rootstock & vine grafting was necessary at one point to protect from specific diseases such as Phylloxera. The Washington soil type is made up of a fine silt loam which Phylloxera hates – this is why they can plant Own-Rooted vines.

It is said that there are differences in the wines from Own-Rooted vs. Rootstock Grafted Vines. There is much debate around this issue. It looks like you will have to be the judge! 

About the Merlot:

The Merlot Clone coming from this vineyard has clusters that are small to medium in size. The berries are small and round. This clone produces a high vigor vine that creates a dense canopy. Yield is usually around 3-5 ton acre depending on the growing season.

The clone produces a soft, full-bodied, fruity wine full of many different complexities. A great Merlot that can stand alone and age – or be added to a blend to give the wine that extra punch of structure.

Harvest Update: 8/25/2016

ARRIVING to Hartford, CT Early Next Week:

harvest calendar

8/29/2016:

LODI

  • Costamagna Chardonnay
  • Lodi Gold Grenache
  • Valley Beauty Barbera
  • Smiling Baby Merlot
  • Valley Beauty Zinfandel

9/1/2016:

LANZA – Suisun Valley

  • Sauvignon Blanc

CENTRAL VALLEY

  • Cry Baby Muscat (42lb)
  • Muscat King (42lb)
  • Cry Baby Thompson Seedless (42lb)
  • Lugano Old Vine Zinfandel
  • Lucerne Old Vine Zinfandel

JUICES from LODI

  • A Mix of Varieties

 

 

Call 877.812.1137 or email sales@juicegrape.com for more information