Home Winemaking

Juice For Home Wine Makers

Once again it is time to clean out the barrels and carboys and prepare for another grape juice season. The 2024 growing season exceeded expectations. Very dry conditions for the last two months have moved the season forward and my team is expecting an early harvest on all varieties.

Bud break on all varieties happened early this year but thankfully we were able to avoid any spring frost damage. Some vineyards, especially to the south, did see some frost but to the best of my knowledge, very few locations saw complete wipe out. A fair amount of fruit should be available across the state and into the Lake Erie Grape Belt.

Our Minnesota hybrids; Marquette, Frontenac Gris, and Prairie Star produced abundantly this year. I plan to reserve a drum of the Frontenac Gris and Prairie Star for home winemakers. Both hybrids tested in the 20 brix range prior to picking. It will be priced at $10/gallon and should be ready for pickup around September 6th when the Niagara and Delaware juices are available. The hybrid juices will be sold at a first come, first served till they run out.

With cooperative weather and no equipment breakdowns, the fresh concord juice for drinking should be at the bottler by the second week of September. The rest of the concord juice will be available for winemakers soon thereafter. All other varieties seem to be following their normal pattern. Juice prices have been held to last year’s level, but I couldn’t do the same for other supplies.

2024 Juice Schedule

Listed below is a tentative schedule for calling in orders. The dates listed indicate the earliest juice will be in stock. Appointments are required – anyone who arrives without an appointment is not guaranteed service. Please call 440-933-6666 between the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST Monday through Saturday to schedule. Minimum order is five gallons for any given wine juice variety, which will not be split into smaller vessels. Chambourcin is crushed grape must, and you're required to drop off your vessels at the winery before the grapes are crushed so that it can be filled for you to pick up. Plan your pick up asap afterwards to avoid wild fermentation progressing.

Juice Variety	Begin Calling	Price / Gallon
Delaware	9/6	$8.75
Niagara	9/6	$8.50
Freedonia	9/20	$8.50
Concord	9/20	$8.00
Vidal Blanc	10/14	$12.00
Catawba	10/5	$8.50
Chambourcin (crushed fruit)	10/5	$60 / 6-gallon

DISCOUNTS: 20 or more gallons of juice discounted 10¢ per gallon.

Orders for 50 or more gallons of juice discounted 20¢ per gallon.

Wine yeast ~ provided free.

Appointments A Must!

Juice sold for home winemaking has sulfite added at the crush and is chilled and settled for a nearly clean finish. In most instances, pectic enzymes are used to enhance the clarification. Sugar and acid levels are not adjusted. However, we will be glad to tell you what the sugar and acid levels are in the juice that you purchase. We do not sell plastic jugs, barrels or any home wine- making supplies, but we do supply the wine yeast at the time of your juice purchase.

Winemaking Supplies

Sold at the winery

Wine Yeast	Price
5 gram packets	$1.00

Bottles (per case price)	New	Used
750 ml. screw finish	$14.00	$3.00
750 ml. cork finish	$15.00	$3.00
3 liter	$14.00	$3.00

Caps/Corks	Each	Per 100
28 mm caps	$.25	$25.00
38 mm caps	$.20	$20.00
28 mm corks	$.25	$25.00

Seals/Capsules	Each	Per 100
28 mm seals	$.15	$15.00

Additional Wine Making Supplies Sold At:

Firelands Winery - 917 Bardshar Road, Sandusky, OH 44870 Ph: 419-625-5474

Presque Isle Wine Cellars - 9440 W. Main Road, North East PA 16428 Ph: 814-725-1314 www.piwine.com

Matus Winery - 15624 Gore Orphanage Road, Wakeman, OH 44889 Ph: 440-774-9463 www.matuswinery.us

Any of the above referenced sources for grapes and juice may also have limited supplies of their normal offerings. It would be best to call before proceeding to any of their facilities to check availability.