Just as I love each of my two children for who they are as individuals, the same applies to a degree for each of my wines. There is normally no one ‘favorite’ because they are all unique and special. The challenge of parenting and winemaking is to guide and help each of your children and wines to let their best qualities shine as brightly as possible. Then it is time to stand back and appreciate the results.
Author: Judi Scherrer
Where ‘Substance meets Delicacy’
I look at wine balance in a general way, as having an equal presence of ‘angles vs. rounds.’ Structure from tannins and acids [angles] lessen as the fruit ripens and the counter-balancing glycerol [round] is produced [in lock-step with alcohol/initial sugar level] which ameliorates and balances these two opposing forces creating a ‘sweet spot’.
Advanced Winemaking: Fred Scherrer on Carbonic Maceration
Carbonic Maceration happens in many more wines than just Beaujolais Nouveau. Winemaker Fred Scherrer gives an in depth explanation of what is happening inside the grapes.
Wine Education 101: Fred Scherrer describes Cabernet Sauvignon
What is Cabernet Sauvignon? California Winemaker Fred Scherrer talks about the nature of Cabernet, it’s ability to age and some of the nuances that can develop with time.
What is Malolactic Fermentation?
Malolactic Fermentation is the conversion of Malic acid to Lactic acid in wines, but that is not all that is happening. Fred Scherrer of the Scherrer Winery gave us a detailed description of this process.
Was that a marathon or a sprint?
Instead, we saw a harvest season that in the beginning appeared very much like 2013 – early and compressed. However, it turned out to be very evenly paced and without undue crunch of time. Once again, it allowed me to focus on ‘outdoor things’ like sampling vineyards and planning the harvesting order rather than being stretched thinly between that and managing and performing ‘indoor winemaking things’ at the same time.
Pinot Noir Harvest: Sonoma 2013 – Gunsalus Vineyard
What is a day at a winery like during harvest? Fred Scherrer of the Scherrer Winery in the Russian River Valley walks us through his day, from a very early, pre-dawn alarm clock, all the way through bringing grapes into the winery and processing them.
Home Wine Making: Nutrient Additions
What nutrients are added to fermenting wines? Winemaker Fred Scherrer talks about why nutrients are added and what is added to the fermenting juice to help the wine go dry.
Home Winemaking: What is the ideal temperature for fermenting grapes?
What is the ideal temperature for fermentation of grapes into wine? Winemaker Fred Scherrer talks in detail about how he handles the energy that is created as yeasts eat sugar and create alcohol. This is intended to be helpful to all winemakers, but is part of our home winemaking series.
Wine Education 101: Fred Scherrer describes Zinfandel
What is Zinfandel? Winemaker Fred Scherrer, whose family first planted Zin in the Alexander Valley in the late 1890’s talks about the red and blue fruits that this grape can have, as well as the sort of foods that he likes to eat with Zinfandel.