> > Thanks Paul...
>
> > I remember reading and learning a lot from you
> > over the years!
>
> > I emailed MDcrush last year and have been
> > following their website and
> > newsletters. *Thanks for pointing me that way
> > ... I guess I didn't realize how close they (and
> > you) are to my son's house.
>
> > Due to the logistics of travel, I thought I'd go
> > with juice pails this year as it would probably
> > be easier than doing grapes that far from home.
> > My grapes (and house roof) got 90% destroyed by
> > golf-ball size hail this year, so I need to get
> > something and juice pails seemed like an easy
> > deal (we can't get CA grapes here ...without a
> > 900 mile drive).
>
> > I need to harvest my small (very small)
> > remaining crop before leaving for WV so I can't
> > get there any earlier. Luv-a-Bella will "hold"
> > juice pails for me till 10/31 so that will work
> > out okay. I'd prefer that they didn't "balance"
> > the juice or pre-innoculate with yeast, but that
> > is just the way the do it. I'll call them again
> > to see if they can tell me "how" they balance
> > their juice (tartaric or "other").
>
> > Thanks again for your help and if you can think
> > of anything else, let me know.
> > Roger
>
> If you wanted to go with concentrate (there are
> some good ones now these days) you could check
> out the store "Flying Barrel" in Frederick,
> Maryland. *That is only about 30 miles from your
> son and 15 miles from me here in Brunswick, MD.
>
> http://www.flyingbarrel.com/
>
> My backyard vineyard (110 vines) are doing fairly
> well this year - Merlot, Cabernet Franc and
> Cabernet Sauvignon - but I don't have any to
> spare and will be buying grapes - especially the
> whites for my fall wine making.
>
> Good Luck
>
> Paul- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks Paul...

Although I prefer fresh grapes/juice I have done several of the high-
end kits with grape skin packs and I agree they are pretty good ...
they have come a long way!!

I work (help out) at a few local wineries and get my white grapes
locally (which turn out prety good) but unfortunately our cold climate
does not allow us to grow viniferas and I still have not gotten used
to our cold climate red grape wines. I got spoiled living in
California and these cold weather grapes just aren't the same. That is
why I try to buy juice or grapes whenever I can.

On our last visit, two years ago, we tried to visit all the wineries
in Maryland and stopped in at the Flying Barrell... nice folks.

Last time we attended WICOMICO County Autumn Wine Festival on the East
Shore and had a great time. Unfortunately, it was the same weekend as
the Liganore Festival which we had to miss. This time we plan to
attend the Liganore festival (Oct 18 or 19th). We visited their
winery last time and really enjoyed it... and had a very long and nice
conversation with the winemaker.

Paul, thanks again for all your help.... I REALLY appreciate it!!