CRUSH 2026 is here!

19 Sept 2026

2026 is a white year and I got my wine must from Delta Packing again!  Easy and simple.  Picked up three 6-gallon pails, one each of Viognier, Pinot Grigio. and Chardonnay.  Price was $45 for each pail, out the door.

20 Sept 26

I am using the ingredients that More Wine used to sell as Brehm Frozen White Wine pack (BF995), but have to buy seperately now,.
For each pail use:
    • AD356 — Opti-White - (15g)
    • TAN250 — Tannin FT Blanc Soft - 3 g
    • AD342 — Go-Ferm (10 g)
    • AD345 — Fermaid K (8 g)

I followed the following procedure in processing the must.

8:00		Clean and sanitize all tools
		Open lids, visually check must
		Stir each pail to assure complete blending, sanitize stirrer between pails
8:30		Check gravity, pH, and SO2 of each, record results
			Viognier	Pinot Grigio	Chardonnay
		pH	3.75	3.71	3.7
		SO2	40	40	40	(probably high reading)'
		SG	1.092	1.094	1.094
		Temp oF	63	64	64
		TA	7.5	9	8.5
9:00		Add Tannin Ft Blanc, mix thoroughly
9:30		Wait 30 minutes, add Opti-white, mix thoroughly
9:45		Wait 30 minutes, mix go-ferm with 25-30 ml of hot water. Allow to cool to -100 oF, add yeast
10:00		Wait 30 minutes and pitch to must.  (after 15 minutes very active -pitched)

22 Sept 2026

Added Fermaid-K to each pail and stirred.  Fermentation was running strong.

24 Sept 2026

Checked on fermentation, and started getting ready for first racking.  Measured and recorded the following.

11:30			Viognier	Pinot Grigio	Chardonnay
		SG	1.000	1.000	1.000
		pH	3.1	3.2	3.25
	added
		Sorbate	0.5	0.5	0.5	teaspoon
		meta bisulfate	0.25	0.25	0.25	teaspoon

25 Sept 2026

11:00 Racked all three to carboys. Added oak to the Chardonnay.

Now for settling and aging.

Chardonnay on left, with oak.  Pinot Grigio in center,  Viognier on right.

 

More to follow

 

Or my excursion into winemaking

If you have any questions or would like more information please contact me at:: info@smartdogwinery.com