All Things Chap, Some Things Daddy
You built your backyard vineyard. You planted some vines. You trained them up the trellis for a year or two, harvested some grapes, and finally had the chance to crush them with family and friends on harvest day. You now Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Managing the Must
Harvest. It’s one of those words which, metaphorically, has come to symbolize so many other aspects of our lives. It represents the culmination of months of work and collaboration, is often a celebration between humans and nature, and is generally Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Harvest
One of the greatest aspects of backyard vineyard winemaking is your connection to – and awareness of – the cycle of the seasons. After the excitement of spring bud break, the hard work of summer maintenance, and the celebratory rush Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Winter Pruning
Of all your decisions for a backyard vineyard, one of the most important is choosing your harvest date. No matter how well you pruned the year prior, how good your soil may be, or how well you trained your vines Continue reading The Backyard Vineyard – Determining Ripeness
The Lower Loop Kakheti, the region encompassing the Alazani Valley, is the “wine basket” of Georgia. It is like the Napa Valley, but without the snooty people, outrageous prices, and weak pours. My kind of place and my kind of Continue reading Kakheti
In case you haven’t already heard, Tbilisi is amazing. Boasting a delightful balance of old and new, Eastern, Western, and outright Georgian qualities, the Georgian capital rarely disappoints. Don’t wait too long, though – Tbilisi is rapidly changing and accommodating Continue reading Tbilisi
Sighnaghi doesn’t really feel like Georgia. In fact, it feels like central Italy. And after a few glasses of wine, who cares? You’ve got mountain views, ancient churches, crumbling walls, and rolling hills. Life is good. Originally built in the Continue reading Sighnaghi
The Kakheti Upper Loop Wedged beneath the rolling green Gombori mountains to the west and the dark, menacing Caucasus mountains to the northeast (Georgia’s natural border with Russian Dagestan), Kakheti sits in an ancient valley filled with chocolate-cake colored soil, Continue reading Kakheti