… and you’re sitting at the head of the table. We all recognize and appreciate real passion. It kindles memories. And it’s that kind of enthusiasm you’ll experience when you help make your wine. Punch down the skins during fermentation. Clamp on a hose and prepare to rack. Fill a barrel. Put a sample blend together or clean a stainless steel wine tank. Learn to use the tools of the trade such as a refractometer (pictured on the right) to measure the sugar content of your grapes, or a wine thief to sample from the barrel.

The effort you put into your bottle of wine only seems to enhance its flavor. It’s not book-learning. It’s learning about winemaking from the ground up. Your friends will recognize your passion. It will inspire and impress.