Wine 2025 – Update #03

03 November 2025

I decided to post a wrap-up of the 2025 plans to explain our final decisions.

For various reasons beyond her control, Beth’s vineyard did not yield sufficient Marechal Foch for our needs. So we switched and purchased 210 lbs Baco Noir along with 25 lbs each Leon Millot and Marechal Foch. We had tentatively considered Baco Noir for 2026, so this is basically swapping years. The choice is fine with us.

Post-pressing, we froze the Baco pomace for use later when the California Pinot Noir buckets arrive.

The yield of Chardonnel was also low, but Beth had 40 lbs of Chardonnel frozen from last fall, and adding that to the fresh grapes worked out. That wine is in carboy now and is very promising.

We purchased 2 buckets of Verdicchio, which is fermenting nicely.

We went ahead with 8 lugs of Pinotage, which is currently fermenting. The Specific Gravity came in at 1.122, which is WAY high, projected to hit 16.5% ABV. So we watered it back to reduce ABV and may blend with some of the 2024 Chelois to further reduce the ABV.

We added the Baco pomace to the Pinot Noir buckets, which is showing great promise.

No initial plan has ever remained unchanged. But as long as we are happy with the results, all is good!