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making wine at home

SHOWCASE YOUR WINES!

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SHOWCASE YOUR WINES!

PAY FOR YOUR ENTRIES ONLINE

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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

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.

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

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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:

 

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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

Zinderella – 88 Points in Wine Enthusiast!

 

matt from delta

Congratulations to our Lodi Growers on earning 88 Points in Wine Enthusiast for their  Old Vine Zinfandel Wine – Zinderella.

Zinderella, an Old Vine Zinfandel – Inspired by perseverance and invigorated by a willingness to never give up on a dream, Zinderella embodies so much more than just wine. From the heart of the esteemed Lodi Appellation, a land recognized as the Zinfandel Capitol of the World; only select Zinfandel grapes that have withstood the test of time have been chosen. With deep, rich Zin flavors, each bottle of Zinderella is an inspiration to follow our dreams and create memories. This is our Zinderella Story” – via Zinderella “The Perfect Fit”

Cheers to Lodi Wine & Lodi Grapes. Make sure to put your order in for Zinderella Old Vine Zinfandel Grapes for this Fall.

Take An Adventure to Lodi Wine Country

Instagram Post _Take an Adventure to Lodi Wine Country

We are bringing Lodi Wine Country to you this fall. An exciting time for the region, Lodi was recently named “Wine Region of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The grapes are grown in a Mediterranean style climate producing wines of great character and strength. Keep an eye out for our newer Italian Wine Grape Program from this region. These grapes will be producing some fantastic and age worthy wines.

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News from Lodi, CA

We can’t wait to bring in the Zinderella grapes Matt is talking about!

A taste of Italy from Lanza Musto Vineyards

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{Lanza-Musto Brunello Clone Sangiovese going through veraison}

Can’t make it to Tuscany this year? Don’t worry, you can make some fabulous Sangiovese right here in the US! Lanza-Musto Vineyards has been producing Brunello Clone Sangiovese for the past 4 vintages. One of the big reasons we planted this varietal is because the valley provides hot days and cool nights. The temperature can swing over 50 degrees depending on the time of year. Sangiovese eats this type of weather up! This high producing varietal soaks up the sun and enjoys the break under the cool night air.

When producing Sangiovese wines keep in mind that even though it is a bold tasting wine, it can easily be overtaken by oak infusions. Both the Musto Wine Grape Co. and Winemaker Magazine suggest using small amounts of oak or aging your wine in neutral barrels. The oak flavoring can overpower the wine and you will lose the delicate acidity and  bright cherry notes that Sangiovese is known for. Also, blending in a little LMV Barbera or Merlot can help give it a little extra structure and complexity. 

Since Sangiovese originated in Italy, the wines pair famously with anything tomatobased. We suggest pasta, pizza, or any meat dishes that have a tomato sauce. Frank Musto from Musto Wine Grape Co., LLC. personally enjoys his Sangiovese with Pepe’s Pizza from New Haven, CT or a great Chicken Marsala.

Sangiovese is one of the hottest up and coming varietals being produced in the United States. Make sure to secure your order of Brunello Clone Sangiovese for Fall 2016. You will not be disappointed!

Cheers and Happy Winemaking!

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{Lanza-Musto Brunello Clone Sangiovese ready to ship to Musto Wine Grape Company}