BlueStem Winery

Enzyme Packet Usage with Crushed Grape Cellar Craft Red Wines

2009-12-17T11:34:00.009-06:00

Cellar Craft has recently started including an Enzyme Blend packet with all of their red wine kits which contain a bag of crushed grape skins. The packets received here at BlueStem Winery did not receive instructions on proper use but instructions have now been obtained from Cellar Craft.

There are several problems that this enzyme packet is designed to address among which is a problem with an oily film developing on the surface of the red wines and also a problem with wines not clearing properly.

Please note these points:

The enzyme is deactivated by the use of Bentonite so the wine must be racked prior to adding the enzyme.

The enzyme is most effective if added when fermentation is complete or nearly complete (specific gravity less than 1.000). The crushed grape wine kits benefit from extended contact with the grape skins so it is recommended by Cellar Craft that the first racking be delayed until day 10 to 12. The skins can then be discarded and the enzyme added to the wine.

Primary fermentation: As per normal instructions.

Secondary fermentation: On day 10-12 rack wine per instructions to clean carboy. Add enzyme after racking is complete.

Stabilization, clearing and bottling as per normal instructions.

If you have questions you can e-Mail BlueStem Winery at bluestemwine@mchsi.com or call us at (319) 346-1046 or (from the United States) you can call Cellar Craft direct at (800) 665-1136.

Immersion Wort Chillers

2009-04-05T11:58:00.003-05:00

When home brewing the results are much more satisfactory if the beer wort is cooled down rapidly after the boil is completed. One of the options available for this cool down is a piece of homebrewing equipment called an immersion wort chiller.

BlueStem Winery sells an immersion wort chiller (pictured at left) and has them available both in our store and on our web site. For the home brewer who wants to spend the time, this piece of homebrew equipment can be fairly easily fabricated at home with a coil of copper rubbing, a couple pieces of plastic tubing, hose clamps and hose ends.

Rapid cool down of wort helps prevent the formation of compounds which alter the flavor or your beer and it also brings the wort into the yeast pitching temperature range quicker. The earlier yeast can be added to the wort the less chance there is of bacteria being able to get a foothold.

Immersion wort chillers consist of a coil of metal (usually copper) tubing with a short piece of flexible tubing attached to each end with hose connectors on the ends of this flexible tubing. The ends of the copper coil are bent upward so they both end at the upper end of the wort chiller. This allows the wort chiller to be lowered into the beer wort with the two hose ends out of the brewpot. One end of the wort chiller is connected to a cold water source and the other end is taken to a drain. Cold water is run through the copper coil and this process of heat transfer warms the water in the coil (and cools the beer) and this warm water is run to the drain. The constant replacement of the water in the coil with cold water rapidly chills the wort.

Choosing the correct metal coil for your wort chiller is important. Both copper and stainless steel tubing work well but copper is typically less expensive. Using 3/8th inch tubing seems to work the best. This tubing is available in different thicknesses and the lighter the tubing used the greater the efficiency (more surface are in relationship to the volume of wort displaced).

You will need approximately 25 feet of copper tubing plus two hose clamps and either a short piece of garden hose (20 feet or so) or flexible tubing that will slide over the copper tubing and garden hose ends with compression fittings.

The first step in the manufacturing process is the bend the metal tubing into a coil of a small enough diameter so that it will easily fit into your brew pot and still allow at least a couple inches of clearance between the coil and the side of your brew pot. Two points to remember here: First, remember that if your copper coil gets a kink in it it will not pass water through fast enough to chill your wort, and second, plan on leaving enough metal tubing at each end to create a bend that will allow your chiller to hang on the edge of your brew pot. This way the hose clamps will be outside your brew pot and in the event of leaks it will leak outside of your brew pot and avoid contamination of your wort.

Metal tubing is typically in a coil when purchased. You can bend this tubing into tighter coils by hand (be careful not to kink it!). It will probably be easier if you find a cylindrical object long enough hold the coil being made and simply wrap the tubing around the object in a tight coil with each coil next to the previous one. Leave approximately two feet of uncoiled metal tubing at one end.

Next, bend the short end of the metal tubing out from the coil at a right angle to the coil. Then bend the longer end (the two foot section mentioned in the prior paragraph) so that it goes up the side of the coil toward the top of the coil and at the same position where the short end of the the metal tubing was bent outward, do the same with the long end so that two end resemble hooks that can hang over the edge of the brew pot.

Cut your garden hose (or flexible tubing) in half or in the lengths that will best suit your purpose. Slide a hose clamp over both ends of the metal tubing. Slip the hose endings over the metal tubing and tighten the hose clamps.

Your chiller is complete! Run one end of the chiller hose to your water source and the other to a drain and you are ready to being chilling wort. Sanitation of your chiller? Not a problem! Simply lower the chiller into your brew pot about 15 minutes prior to the end of the boil and the heat present in the boil will sanitize your chiller.

In need of homebrewing supplies or winemaking ingredients? BlueStem Winery stocks a complete line of beer ingredients and supplies for wine making at home. We also have our own line of home brewing kits known as BlueStems Best (available in many, many beer brewing styles) and we also stock a large inventory of winemaking kits from both WinExpert and Cellar Craft. Wine making was never so much fun! Cellar Craft wine kits and WinExpert kits are both very, very easy to use and always, if you have a question, the people at BlueStem Winery can help you solve your problem.

Adjusting Acid Levels in Wine

2009-03-27T09:54:00.002-05:00

Our recent winemaking blogs (the past 4) have dealt with various aspects of the acidity levels in wine. Now that we know the desired levels of acidity for various types of wine and the tools we need when making wine to determine the present level we also need to know how to raise and lower the acid levels if they are too high or too low.

Compare your acid test results with the desired acidity range for the type of wine that you are making. It is very easy to raise acid levels. You can use the acid blend that is available on the BlueStem Winery web site to increase acidity. The addition of 3.9 grams of acid blend will raise the acid level present in one gallon of wine by 0.1%. The type acids present in the acid blend you use is also important. BlueStem Winery custom blends its own acid blend and it consists of 50% tartaric, 40% malic and 10% citric acids. A large percentage of the acid blends sold by wine shops contain 50% citric acid (because it is cheap!) rather than the more desireable tartaric acid which is much more expensive. If you do not have a scale you can guesstimate by using a set of measuring spoons from the kitchen. A level full quarter teaspoon will weigh approximately 1.2 grams. A full teaspoon will weigh approximately 5 grams.

Increasing acid levels is easy. Having to decrease acid levels is a less desirable situation. Large decreases in acidity are very undesirable. BlueStem Winery has three products available for the decrease of acid levels. First there is either calcium carbonate or potassium carbonate (these can be used interchangeably) and then there is a product called Acidex.

Use the carbonates to reduce acid levels only if you are going to reduce acids by 0.4% or less. Two and one-half grams of carbonate will lower one gallon of wine by 0.1% TA. Use the instructions on the Acidex package for directions on its use. For those without a scale, a quarter teaspoon of carbonate weighs about a half gram and a full teaspoon weighs approximately 2.5 grams.

Enough on the home wine making for a few days. Our next blog articles will deal with some aspects of beer brewing including some home brew supplies and brewing equipment. My son is a big Guinness fan and I have to get my home brewing stuff out and get a batch of BlueStems Best Irish Stout in the works. A large number of our customers have said that this Irish Stout tastes better than Guinness and we'll put that theory to a major test with my son! Check out our complete line of beer making supplies and wine making kits on the BlueStem Winery web site. We carry both the WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine kits and either will make you a fine batch of homemade wine!

Measuring Wine Acidity Using a pH Meter

2009-03-26T12:07:00.003-05:00

This is the fourth (in a series of 5) blog articles relating to wine acidity issues when making wine. After our next home wine making article on wine acidity we will turn our focus onto an issue of interest to our home brewing clientele.

If you have access to a pH meter you can use this device to measure wine acidity in a method very similar to that accomplished using the acid testing kit described in our just previous blog article. Accuracy of your results would be the reason for purchasing a pH meter versus the testing kit. One of the problems with the test kit is that darker colored wines are very difficult to see at what point the color change occurs. This problem is eliminated with the pH meter.

What you do is start off the same way described in my previous post (add the color indicator to your wine sample). Start adding the reagent (the sodium hydroxide) to the wine/indicator solution a drop at a time. Swirl the mixture thoroughly after adding each droplet and take a reading with the pH meter. When the pH meter reads 8.2 (this would correspond to the timing with the acid test kit when the color indicator changes color). The number of droplets added will again indicate your acidity level.

Be careful with your pH meter! Be sure and clean the device thoroughly after each use, protect the probe from damage from mishandling and be sure and calibrate the pH meter each time you use it using fresh buffering solution.

BlueStem Winery is not only a licensed winery but also has a fully stocked store and warehouse of beer brewing supplies, winemaking ingredients and a large inventory of both Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine making kits. Although our name indicates that we are heavily into winemaking we do carry a significant amount of beer making supplies and have our own line of beer brewing kits known as BlueStems Best. We are a full service brewing supply store and welcome your visit (either in person or on-line) the next time you need brewing supplies or wine making supplies.

Using an Acid Test Kit to Measure Wine Acidity

2009-03-23T15:10:00.003-05:00

A simple and inexpensive way to measure the acidity level (TA) is to purchase a home wine making acid test kit from the BlueStem Winery web site. This acid testing kit uses a titration method to determine the acid level present. Without teaching a lesson in high school chemistry, titration testing involves the addition of a reagent (in this case it is sodium hydroxide) to a mix of your wine and a color indicator (phenolphtalein).

A wine sample (15ml) is drawn and placed in a test tube. Three drops of the color indicator are drawn and added to the wine sample. Swirl the test tube until the wine and indicator are thoroughly mixed.

Next a syringe is used to draw 10ml of the reagent. The reagent is added to the test tube containing the wine/color indicator at the rate of 0.5ml. After each addition the test tube is swirled to mix the reagent with the wine/color indicator. As the drops are added the color of the mix in the test tube will change. White wines will turn pink, red wines will turn gray/black. As the test tube is swirled the color change disappears. Keep adding the 0.5ml droplets until, when swirled, the wine/indicator mix does not go back to its original color. Each milliliter of reagent used indicates an acidity level of 0.1% TA. Correct acidity levels for various types of wines was presented in my just prior blog entry.

BlueStem Winery is a wine making and homebrew supply retailer located in Parkersburg, Iowa and on the web. BlueStem features a comple line of beer brewing and wine making equipment plus an excellent assortment of our own BlueStems Best home brewing ingredient kits and an extensive inventory of both Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine kits. You can expect that you will not be treated like a purchaser at a big box home brew equipment retailer. We offer beer ingredients, brewing equipment and beer brewing kits at reasonable prices but our time and advice provided in any quantity free of charge. We take the time to see you through any winemaking or homebrew problem.

Recommended Levels of Acidity in Wine

2009-03-21T10:53:00.002-05:00

When you drink a glass of wine, the acids which are present are what provide the crisp, tart taste. If a wine tastes flat it is because the wine has too little acid present. If your wine has too much acid present it has a sour taste (like a grapefruit). Wine which have what is referred to as proper balance are wines which have the correct level of acidity, alcohol, sugar, etc.).

Dry wines require a lower acidity level then sweet wines because the presence of sugar helps mask the tartness of the acids. Dry white wines should have an acidity level between 0.65% and 0.75% while dry red wines require a slightly lower acid level of 0.60% to 0.70%.

Sweeter white wines generally have an acid level between 0.70% and 0.80% or even slightly higher. Sweet red wines should have acid levels between 0.65 and 0.75% or slightly higher.

Wines made from lighter colored fruits (apples, pears, peaches, etc.) have a recommended acid levels between 0.55% and 0.65% while darker colored fruit wines (plums, raspberries, blackberries, etc.) need to have acid levels between 0.50% and 0.60%.

The percentages expressed are referred to as titratable acidity (or TA) by those making wine and are a percentage of volume.

For those who are wine making at home from wine kits such as the Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine kits that BlueStem Winery sells on our web site there is no need to test for acidity levels as the winemaking kits have been acid balanced when produced.

Our next blog article will provide information on how to measure the acidity present when you are making wine. The BlueStem Winery on-line wine making supply store has the acid testing kit you need.

In addition to keeping an inventory of everything you need for wine making at home our on-line store also has the supplies you need for making homebrew beer. Beer brewing is a great alternative to wine making with your finished product being ready for consumption in about 5 weeks (as oppposed to the much longer period required for aging wine).

Punching the Cap (Part 2)

2009-03-18T20:29:00.002-05:00

My blog article of March 16 provided information about punching down the cap (especially when making wine from one of our wine kits that has crushed grape skins or from fresh fruit of any kind). This blog article is a follow-up on that winemaking article and offers some hints for punching down the cap.

First, when starting a new batch of wine be sure and use a primary fermenter which is large enough for your batch. Keep in mind that when you are punching down the cap that you will be inserting a spoon or other stirring device into the must and then agitating it. If you are making one of our Cellar Craft or WinExpert wine kits which contain crushed grape skins you need a fermenter large enough to contain the 6 gallons of juice, the stirring device you will use and a 2 liter bag of crushed grape skins and still provide enough head space for the fermentation of the wine.

You can use a variety of utensils to punch down the cap. Examples would be spoons (solid or slotted) made of stainless steel or PVC plastic. Break up the cap and stir the cap down into the must until the cap is totally broken up and everything is moist.

Punch down the cap the first time right after you pitch your yeast. This will aerate the must and incorporate the yeast into the must. Fermentation will begin shortly and the carbon dioxide bubbles will cause suspended matter to be pushed to the surface which will form the cap. Punch the cap down at least three times (more is better) per day to keep the broken up and moist.

When fermentation begins to slow because the supply of sugar is decreasing the solid matter present in your wine must will sink rather than float (there is no longer enough carbon dioxide gas to push the solids to the surface).

BlueStem Winery is a full-service wine making and brewing supply outlet located in northeast Iowa and on the web. Although BlueStem Winery is a licensed winery our store offers both beer brewing and wine making supplies, brewing equipment, our own line of brewing kits known as BlueStems Best and wine kits from both WinExpert and Cellar Craft. We offer beer brewing equipment, beer ingredients and everything else you need for home brewing. Our website features shipping for only $8.95 to anywhere in the lower 48 United States for any quantity of beer kits, brewing supplies and wine making supplies you may wish to order. We can help you make great home brew beer or assist you in wine making at home.

Punching the Cap

2009-03-15T10:34:00.002-05:00

I do enjoy driving my Ford truck but this has nothing to do with Ford trucks or caps in the context of a baseball cap. When making wine the cap we are discussing is the layer of stems, seeds and bits of grape skins that are pushed to the surface of your primary fermenter by the carbon dioxide gasses being produced as the yeast consumes sugars present in the must. This cap is a layer of foam and the bits described previously that rise to the surface during fermentation. The term usually ascribed to breaking up this layer of foam and disbursing it back into the wine must is punching down the cap.

Why is it important for someone engaged in home winemaking to punch down the cap? If making wine from one of the Cellar Craft or WinExpert kits that we sell it is not as important (you can do it once or twice a day rather than 3 or more times per day) unless you are using one of the wine kits that include a crushed grape skin pack. Cellar Craft wine kits from their Showcase series of red wines all include a two liter package of crushed grape skins. Punching down several times (at least 3) a day when using one of these wine making kits is very important. It is also important if you are making wine from fresh grapes or any other fresh fruit and of lesser importance if the winemaking is done using juice or from one of our wine making kits which does not include grape skins.

Here is a concise list of reasons why you should punch down the cap when wine making at home:

1. Tannins and flavors and colors which are in this cap will be added back into your wine must.
2. The potential for bacteria formation in this layer of foam is reduced. Heat which is a natural product of fermentation is not allowed to be trapped under this layer. Warmth provides fertile ground for bacterial growth.
3. Yeasts which may be imbedded in this layer are moved back into the wine must.
4. By the very act of stirring and pushing down the cap oxygen (which is beneficial to your yeast) is introduced into the wine must.

BlueStem Winery offers a complete line of beer brewing and wine making supplies at our retail outlet in Parkersburg, Iowa. We are also on the web with our complete inventory of brewing equipment and winemaking ingredients. We feature both Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine kits for wine making and hour own line of home brewing beer kits known as BlueStems Best. Visit our website at bluestemwine.com and you will find friendly service, prompt delivery and knowledgeable answers to your home brewing and winemaking questions.

Yeast Nutrition

2009-03-11T19:25:00.002-05:00

For yeast to start the fermentation process and for it to continue the process through to a full fermentation it needs an environment rich in nutrients. If your must lacks proper nutrition you may have wine that does not begin fermentation or that becomes stuck (stops fermenting) or which develops a rotten egg smell (hydrogen sulfide develops which is caused by a shortage of nitrogen).

Nutrients which wine must requires include nitrogen (nitrogen produces protein which is required for the development of new yeast cells), oxygen (without getting too scientific, oxygen helps the initial yeast cells procreate rapidly) and trace vitamins and minerals (these include phosphorus, urea, citric acid, and amino acids among others).

BlueStem Winery markets it own line of beer brewing kits (known as BlueStems Best), home brew equipment, wine kits from both WinExpert and Cellar Craft for wine making at home, and home brew supplies from Muntons, Briess, Brewmart and others. Cellar Craft wines from their Showcase Collection produce world class wines as do wines from our selection of WinExpert wine kits. If you are looking at getting started in either the home winemaking or home brewing hobby, BlueStem Winery has the home brew supplies, homebrew equipment and winemaking ingredients you need for these great hobbies.

Choosing the Water to Use

2009-03-09T15:41:00.002-05:00

Whether your are home brewing or making wine from one of the WinExpert wine kits you are using water for the boil when beer brewing or you are adding water to the juice concentrate that is in your winemaking kit. How important is the choice of the water you use? The home winemaking and home beer brewing folks at BlueStem Winery believe your choice of which water to use can have a huge impact on the quality of your final product. You have made a significant investment in either your brewing ingredients or in one of our WinExpert or Cellar Craft wine kits and you do not want to put the quality of your home brew or wine at risk because you do not use quality water.

So what are your choices? If you live in a community of any size you most likely have access to municipal water. If you live in a rural area your water may very well come from a well. Distilled water can be purchased at most every grocery store and from many other sources. Bottled water (not distilled) is also available at grocery stores and many other places and in some areas you might also have access to spring water. Which should you use?

Municipal water (tap water) has typically been treated with chlorine tor chloramines to depress bacteria levels. If you can smell chlorine in a glass of warm city water you should not use the water without first boiling or filtering the water to remove the chlorine. Boiling water removes the free chlorine but not chloramines (call the city water folks and ask them whether they treat your city's water with chlorine or chloramines). Chloramines can be removed by filtering your water with an activated charcoal filter and then treating the water with 10 parts per million of sulfites. The fact that your brewing ingredients are boiled takes care of the chlorine (not chloramine) problem for any water used in the boil. Remember that water added after the boil could still have chlorine in it. An activated charcoal filter which has been impregnated with silver will remove bacteria and also flouride from your water. If using a water filtration system remember to change your filters often to prevent bacteria growth within the filters.

Well water has a whole host of problems associated with it including bacteria, iron, trace minerals, and in agricultural areas nitrates. Rural water is typically very hard and many people use a water softener and this infuses the water with sodium which creates another source for bad tasting wine or beer. Use an activated charcoal filter to remove particulates and a silver impregnated one will also remove bacteria. Our first recommendation if considering the use of well water is . . . don't.

The distillation process (or a reverse osmosis water filter) removes virtually everything from your water that can impact your wine or beer . . . both negatively and positively. Wine and beer needs some mineral content in the water to provide food for the yeast. If using distilled water use a small amount of yeast nutrient to provide food for your yeast.

Bottled water is typically water which has been purified but not distilled. Perfectly good for making wine or beer but not as good as using spring water (and usually more expensive!).

Spring water is an excellent water to use for either beer brewing or wine making. Spring water has the trace minerals necessary to provide food for your yeast but it does not have the flouride, chlorine or other contaminants. Purchased spring water has been tested for purity but not all water sold as spring water is really spring water. Some spring water is just tap water being passed off as spring water. Read the bottle label and look for the source of the water. Sometimes the bottler will use a code such as PWS as the source (Public Water Source). Actual spring waters will list where the water actually came from.

BlueStem Winery is a licensed and bonded winery located in Parkersburg, Iowa. In addition to marketing its own label wines, BlueStem carries a complete inventory of beer brewing equipment and supplies for wine making at home plus wine kits from both Cellar Craft and WinExpert and our own line of home brewing kits known as BlueStems Best. We would love to hear from you!

Paper (ur . . . Glass) or Plastic?

2009-03-04T18:42:00.004-06:00

BlueStem Winery (in addition to being a licensed winery) operates a full-service beer brewing and home winemaking supply store in Parkersburg, Iowa and on the web. Every once in awhile I have a home brewing or winemaking customer ask about using plastic carboys (the glass jug used as a secondary fermenter for making home brew beer or for wine making at home). Some brewers also use a larger carboy as a primary fermenter.

Although I never say never, at the present time BlueStem Winery does not sell nor do we recommend the use of plastic carboys as a secondary fermentation vessel for either wine making or for homebrew beer.

Both types of carboys have inherent advantages and disadvantages but in our opinion the advantages of glass outweigh the advantages offered by the plastic carboy and the disadvantages of plastic outweigh the disadvantages of glass carboys.

Glass carboys have a few very obvious disadvantages. The number one concern regarding this piece of wine making and beer brewing equipment is its weight. The glass carboys simply weigh quite a bit more than the plastic ones. The obvious disadvantage of glass is that it will break (shatter would be a better word and this comes from experience!). Obviously, both of these disadvantages of the glass carboys are advantages for the plastic version.

Another advantage touted about the plastic carboys is that they are cheaper to purchase than plastic. I tend to agree (partially) with this statement. The carboys themselves are cheaper but they also require quite a bit of peripheral equipment that dollars up fairly fast.

Glass carboys offer the following advantages over plastic:

1. Glass is easier to clean and sanitize than plastic and will not scratch when cleaned (every scratch is a potential hiding place for bacteria);

2. It is easier with glass to get a good seal between the carboy and an airlock. Bad seals equal potentially bad wine (it is called oxidation but it tastes like vinegar);

3. Glass is not capable of transferring a chemical or solvent from within the glass itself. Plastic can possibly leach solvents (and bad flavors) from its own chemical composition into the wine;

4. Plastics are not immune to the passage of air through the very plastic itself. Although this is probably of very little consequence during a brief fermentation period it can have negative effects during long term storage. In this sense, plastic would be more viable as a secondary fermentation vessel used for beer (where secondary fermentation is a short period of time) as compared to the secondary fermentation of wine.

Looking for a reliable source for purchasing your beer ingredients or your wine kits? BlueStem Winery is a great place to purchase your home beer brewing equipment, supplies and ingredients. We also stock a great line of winemaking ingredients, supplies and equipment plus a super lineup of both Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine kits.

Beer Brewing 101

2009-03-01T15:13:00.002-06:00

Home brewing is a four step process (but most home brewers only do three of the four).

Malting is the first step and is also the one that most home brewers do not do themselves. They instead allow a malting company to do this for them. After the malting process is complete the grains are kilned (dried) which allows for longer storage times. They drying also enhances flavors and aromas which are then removed in the brewing process.

Mashing is the second step. The grains are soaked in hot water which dissolves the starches. Maltose (the most prevalent sugar produced in this process) and other malt sugars are what the yeast converts to alcohol during the fermentation process. This mashing process has been done for you, too, if you use malt extracts (liquid or dry) instead of grain when you brew.

Step 3 is the boil. Malt sugars, water and other ingredients are combined in a brewpot to make what is called wort (beer before it is beer). Boiling sanitizes the beer ingredients. Hops are added at various times with the first hops providing bittering (the boil removes oils from the hops to do this). Later hop additions provide both flavor and aroma. After the boil (usually about 60 minutes) the wort is cooled and yeast is added.

Usually within about 12 hours the yeast will be at home in the wort and it will begin to convert the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This fermentation process will take from four to seven days. Some beers (especially lagers) may take several months to fully ferment. When fermentation is complete the beer is ready to bottle or keg.

If you would like to brew your own beer, BlueStem Winery has the brewing equipment you need and will assist you in your beer brewing endeavors.

BlueStem also stocks everything you need if your preference leans toward making wine. BlueStem stocks wine making kits from both Cellar Craft and WinExpert and is always ready to answer your winemaking questions.

Removing Labels from Recycled Bottles

2009-02-28T13:36:00.003-06:00

Soak . . . scrub . . . rinse . . . soak . . .

Yes, BlueStem Winery sells new wine and beer bottles as part of our inventory of wine making and beer brewing equipment inventory but we have also acquired many used (recycled as we call them) ones over the years and have spent spent a significant amount of time removing the labels so the bottles can be reused.

Some of them just darn near refuse to let you have your way!

Whether you are using new bottles or bottles with a little experience, the most important thing is that you get these bottles clean and sanitized. Inside! Outside! Period!!

The easy labels can be removed by simply filling a large sink or tub or basin with warm water and letting the bottles soak. Be sure to fill the bottles with water so that they will remain submerged.

Most labels will peal off fairly easily (or if necessary you can scrub them a little with a Scotch Brite pad).

The more difficult labels require a little persistence. If they are plastic you will need to get under them with a sharp knife and peal them off. If they are just stubborn you will need to soak them and then peal off the outer layer (sometimes this layer is metallic) and then soak them again. If a persistent glue residue remains use products such as Goo Gone (available in most hardware stores) to soften up the glue and then remove it. Read and follow the safety instructions for the product you are using as some will require the wearing of gloves or that you use the product in a well ventilated area.

Or . . . you can purchase new bottles from our inventory of beer making supplies and winemaking supplies. Our beer bottles are available in several sizes and styles, including the E-Z cap bottles (like a Grolsch bottle). Our wine bottles are available in several sizes, shapes and colors and with cork or screw top finishes.

Try out one of our BlueStems Best beer making kits which are available in many beer styles or if you are into wine making at home you can purchase ingredients for numerous fruit wines or try your favorite grape wine with one of our wine making kits from either WinExpert or Cellar Craft. The WinExpert wine kits produce world class wine if you have patience to wait through the aging process. The Cellar Craft wine kits are first rate with all of the Showcase Series reds featuring a 2-liter bag of crushed grape skins for on the skin wine making!

Sanitation is Essential for Making Good Wine (or Beer!)

2009-02-26T14:51:00.003-06:00

Wine (and beer) is created when yeast converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide.

The environment created when you mix sugar and water and put it in a warm place is perfect for beer brewing or winemaking but it is also a perfect place for the growth of bacteria.

The way to make sure that it is your brewer's or wine yeast that gets a good start and not a bacteria culture that can overwhelm your beer, make sure that you take extreme care to sanitize everything that comes in contact with your wort (beer before it is beer) or must (wine before it is wine).

Wash (with dish soap and water), then rinse with clear hot water and then soak your equipment in sanitizing solution for 10 minutes (or longer). Fill your fermenter with sanitizing solution and then place all of your equipment into the fermenter to soak.

When ready to use a piece of equipment remove it from the fermenter and rinse it with very hot water (unless you are using a no rinse sanitizer such as Easy Clean).

BlueStem Winery is a full service home brewing supply retailer located in Parkersburg, Iowa. In addition to stocking a complete line of beer brewing kits, supplies and equipment, BlueStem also stocks a large inventory of both WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine kits for the person who enjoys making wine at home.

Stop in the store in Northeast Iowa or visit the BlueStem Winery website for all your homebrew beer and winemaking equipment.

What You Should Know About Acid Blend

2009-02-24T13:17:00.002-06:00

BlueStem Winery opened for business in mid-2004 selling a complete line of beer brewing ingredients and supplies for making wine. One of the items we purchased from our wholesaler was their acid blend product.

Without the appropriate level of acid wines can taste stale (flat) so it is important during the winemaking process to check acid levels and adjust to the recommended level. There are typically three types of acid used to prepare the typical acid blend. Our wholesaler was using 50% Citric Acid, 40% Malic Acid and 10% Tartaric Acid.

I used this mix myself when doing some home wine making from fruit and thought that my wines tasted a little too much like a grapefruit or a lemon. I did some on-line investigation and discovered rather easily that acid blend has changed a little over the years. Years ago acid blend was typically made with a 50/50 mix of Tartaric and Malic Acids or a 40/40/20 blend of Tartaric, Malic and Citric Acids. Why the change?

In an effort to control costs the Acid Blend was made using a much larger amount of Citric Acid and less of the Tartaric Acid which is the more expensive of the three acids.

BlueStem Winery started blending its own mix of Acid Blend for wine making shortly after that. Our Acid Blend is a 50/40/10 blend of Tartaric, Malic and Citric acids. A little costlier to prepare but with the makings for a much better wine.

BlueStem Winery is a licensed and bonded winery with (at present) a total of six BlueStem label wines for sale: Once in a Blue Moon is our Riesling dessert wine, Red Crescent is our Cabernet Franc dessert wine, Dark Side is a dry Montepulciano, Prairie Fire is our off-dry Riesling, Feelin' Groovy is an off-dry Gruner Veltliner, and Crystal Moon is our Gewurztraminer dessert wine. We will have an off-dry Gewurztraminer, a Late Harvest Riesling and a Blush Zinfandel on the wine racks before summer's end.

BlueStem presently carries wine making kits from both Cellar Craft and WinExpert and a very nice line of beer making kits, brewing equipment and everything else you need for home beer brewing. We are looking to expand our line-up of wine kits by slightly expanding our line Cellar Craft wine kits, greatly expanding the number of Winexpert kits that we inventory plus possibly carrying the Mosti Mondiale line of 23 liter pure juice wine kits. We will also be expanding our line of brewing supplies later in 2009 as we finish our new warehouse.

BlueStem Wine Featured in Navy News

2008-09-01T10:14:00.002-05:00

BlueStem Winery has truly gone international this month as an article appeared in Navy News which featured both BlueStem Winery and its relationship with the British Navy destroyer HMS Wizard.

If you have been a long time reader of my blog you will remember articles that I have written about my father and the fact that he was a prisoner of war of the Japanese during World War II. He was stationed on Corregidor Island in Manila Bay at the start of the war and from May of 1942 until September of 1945 he was a prisoner of the Japanese. His final prison camp address was at Nagoya Camp No. 3 located near Funatsu, Japan.

When the war ended my father was transported to Nagoya, Japan by rail and then was transported by the British destroyer HMS Wizard from Nagoya to Tokyo. Several years ago I wrote an article and provided photographs for a website done by a Roger Mansell which provides information about Japanese prisoner of war camps. Through this article contact was made with a lady named Adeline Medford of Wales in Great Britain whose husband John had been a crewman on the HMS Wizard when my father was rescued.

I recently named one of my beer brewing kits in honor of the crew of the Wizard (the kit is called HMS Wizard Magic Circle Mild Ale) and shipped ingredients for 100 bottles of beer to Wales. The ingredients were brewed in England, bottled and enjoyed at the last reunion held by former shipmates of the HMS Wizard. The article in Navy News retold this story.

In addition to HMS Wizard Magic Circle Mild Ale, our brewing supply store features approximately 30 other beer brewing ingredients kits, plus a complete line of home winemaking kits from both WinExpert and Cellar Craft.

Our blog provides beginning and advanced information about both the home brewing and home wine making process and brewing and home winemaking problems and their solutions. Making wine is our specialty and we can help with your selection of either a WinExpert of Cellar Craft wine kit but we also provide information about home brewing.

Welcome aboard!

BlueStem Winery in Make Mine Wine

2008-08-10T13:47:00.004-05:00

BlueStem Winery is featured in two articles in the Summer 2008 edition of Make Mine Wine magazine, a publication which explores the midwestern wine scene. The first article (starting on page 26) titled Homemade Wine: Make Some Magic!! explores home winemaking using backyard fruits and vegetables and provides step-by-step instructions for making wine. The article also features using WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine kits as an alternative to wine making using fruits and vegetables. The second article features the national and international aspects of BlueStem Winery's business with its sales of wine making ingredients, home brewing supplies and brewing equipment plus the sales of Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine ingredient kits via their website.

BlueStem Winery was also recently featured in the pages of The Insider which is published on Wednesdays as a supplement to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. This article also provided information about BlueStem's business selling homebrewing equipment, homebrew supplies, and everything needed for home wine making including both Cellar Craft kits and WinExpert wine kits. In addition to beer brewing supplies and wine making supplies and its large inventory of Cellar Craft and WinExpert kits, BlueStem also manufactures its own line of beer brewing ingredients kits known as BlueStems Best.

If you are interested in either wine making or beer brewing as a hobby, contact Vern via the BlueStem Winery website.

Feelin' Groovy

2008-08-07T06:58:00.003-05:00

Besides marketing wine making supplies, homebrew equipment, home brewing ingredients plus both Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine kits, BlueStem Winery is also a licensed and bonded winery. Our store, which features everything you need for making wine and also home brew supplies, opened in 2004, but our wine making activities did not start until 2006 and our first wine was not available for sale until May of 2007.

Our fourth wine is now ready to be bottled. The labels (pictured at left) have been approved by the government and have been ordered so within just a few weeks this wine will be available. The wine is an Austrian Gruner Veltliner (pronounced Feltleener) and is an off-dry wine. If you cannot remember Gruner Veltliner just think Gru-V and thus the name Feelin' Groovy.

Three more wines (all whites) should be available shortly as they are all ready to be bottled. We are working on the label for number five and need name ideas for six and seven. Number five is an off-dry Riesling and will be called Prairie Fire. These two will join Once in a Blue Moon (a Riesling dessert wine), Red Crescent (a Cabernet Franc dessert wine), and Dark Side (a Chilean Montepulciano dry red).

If you are interested in making great wine at home, contact us a bluestemwine@mchsi.com. BlueStem Winery offers a large selection of both WinExpert and Cellar Craft ingredient kits and we would be more than pleased to help you get started with your new wine making hobby. For several years we carried only the WinExpert kits and were very pleased with the selection and quality of these kits. In 2007 we expanded our inventory to include Cellar Craft kits and have been very pleased with the response our customers have given our selection of Cellar Craft wine kits. Home wine making is a great hobby which has the benefit of providing great wine at a very minimal cost per bottle.

Ford Mustang Owners / Restorers Beware

2008-08-02T12:31:00.004-05:00

As anyone who reads my blog articles knows, BlueStem Winery is in the business of wine making for retail sale but we also operate a retail store and web business for marketing winemaking ingredients and homebrew supplies plus the WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine ingredient kits we stock. If you have been following our blog and website you are also aware that we are huge Ford Mustang fans as is my son and his wife. My daughter-in-law's parents are also Mustang fanatics. I have also written blog articles and have published information on my website about the huge F5 tornado that destroyed a third of our town on May 25 of this year.

So what am I blogging about today? Well, quite some time ago while we were rebuilding a Mustang to race at the drag strip, we purchased (on eBay) a pair of motor mounts from a company in Elkton, Virginia. The owner's name is John and that is who we dealt with. Several days after purchasing the parts and after hearing nothing from them I sent an e-mail inquiring about our parts. John took offense that we would even question him about this and proceeded to unleash a series of profane e-mails. As I said, this all occured quite some time ago.

So, a week or so ago I revised my website and put an article on the site about the tornado and how it destroyed my son's home, damaged ours and pretty much destroyed our collection of Mustang automobiles plus several other vehicles.

So, a few days ago, I get a message (through eBay) from John and here is the text:

I am glad to hear that God took care of such horrible people like you. If anyone deserved to have their vehicles destroyed it was you. It is nice to see that karma really works!!

I am not sure which God John is referring to as karma is not necessarily a Christian belief but that is irrelevant. I also find it hard to believe that anyone with any faith at all would even write such a message. I also find it hard to believe that if he has a business worth tending to that he has the time to monitor my website and then take the time to send a message which now tells the world what a low life he really is.

My message: If you are a Ford Mustang enthusiast and want good parts from a reputable parts dealer, you need to look at sources other than Elkton, Virginia from which to purchase your parts. Contact the Western Virginia Better Business Bureau for additional comments from other purchasers as to the way this business conducts business or go on-line to various chat rooms and do a search and see what other Mustang parts purchasers have to say about this dealer. It is an eye opener! So, a word to the wise, if you are a Blue Oval Mustang owner then you need to be aware that one of the industries real dirt bags is out there trying to sell his junk to you. He is probably okay, as long as you never contact him or question any of his less then reputable business tactics and dealings.

If you are looking for home brewing equipment, home brew ingredients, any supplies necessary for home wine making, or either Cellar Craft or WinExpert kits for making wine, then BlueStem Winery is your go to place. You will be treated with respect, your purchase will be well packed and it will be shipped promptly. Any questions you have about either WinExpert kits or Cellar Craft kits or any general questions about home winemaking or home brewing will be answered quickly and professionally.

How does anyone even stay in business treating customers in the way that this business does? Go figure!

Acidity in Wine: Part 5 (Final)

2008-07-25T15:22:00.004-05:00

After you have completed your acid testing you will have determined the acid level present in your wine sample. Recommended acid levels for various types of wine were provided in Part 2 of this series on wine acidity.

If you need to increase the acid level in your wine to meet the recommended level you can add acid blend. It takes one gram of acid blend to increase the acidity in one liter of wine must by 0.1%. Thus, if you have a 6-gallon carboy (23 liters) you would need to add 23 grams of acid blend for each 0.1% increase in acidity desired.

No scale? No problem! A level tablespoon of acid blend weighs approximately 15-1/4 grams, a level teaspoon would weigh approximately 5.1 grams, and a quarter teaspoon would tip the scales at approximately 1.2 grams.

Having to decrease acidity in wine must is not usually where you want to be. Increasing acidity is easy, decreasing it is possible but the results can be less than satisfactory.

The addition of calcium (or potassium) carbonate will reduce the total acidity (TA) of your wine but should never be used to lower the TA by more than 0.4% as the carbonate can taint the flavor of your wine. It takes approximately 2/3 gram of carbonate to lower the TA of one liter of wine must by 0.1%. The maximum dosage (to lower TA by 0.4%) is thus 2-2/3 gram per liter. If you do not have a scale you can approximate the proper dosage of carbonate by knowing that a level teaspoon of carbonate weighs approximately 2.6 grams.

Rules of the Road:

Test twice prior to adding anything to your wine must; and

Additives should be mixed into your wine must in very small quantities as it is easier to add more then to remove excess; and

Test after each addition to determine whether additional quantities are required.

BlueStem Winery is your source for home wine making and homebrewing supplies. Centrally located in the heart of the Midwest, BlueStem ships your purchase of wine making equipment, home brew supplies or your purchase of WinExpert or Cellar Craft wine kits promptly.

BlueStem Winery inventories a wise array of both Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine kits plus a complete line of both brewing supplies and and everything you need for making wine. New to wine making? Drop us an e-mail at bluestemwine@mchsi.com and we'll explain the nuances of home winemaking and we'll be happy to recommend one of our WinExpert kits or one of our Cellar Craft kits to get you started. Both the Cellar Craft and WinExpert ingredient kits are the best of the best. One of BlueStem's regular customers just won the People's Choice Award at the Benton County (Iowa) Fair. His kit of choice: WinExpert's Riesling Ice Wine Style.

Acidity in Wine: Part 4

2008-07-23T15:33:00.005-05:00

Instead of using the titration method for measuring acidity as described in Part 3, you can also use a device called a pH Meter to measure wine acidity. A pH meter is more expensive ($50 to $60) than using a titration kit but it is more accurate and will last a long time if well taken care of.

When using a pH meter you add a reagent to your wine sample until the pH meter reads out at 8.2. The reason that 8.2 is the magic number is that 8.2 is the pH level at which phenolphthalein changes color.

There are a few things to know about a pH meter:

First, do not drop the device and be extra careful that you do not damage the probe. Second, keep the device clean. Third, it important that the device be calibrated (using fresh buffering solution) prior to every test. Fourth, be sure to mix your sample thoroughly between each addition of the reagent. Last, be sure that you take care of your pH meter in between usages (store according to the manufacturer's instructions). If you take good care of your pH meter, it should last a long time.

BlueStem Winery is your source for both quality wine making and home brew supplies. BlueStem stocks a large variety of both WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine kits in addition to all of the home winemaking and homebrew equipment in inventory. If in the northeast Iowa area we welcome your visit to our store where you can make your personal selection from our homebrewing ingredients, wine making supplies or choose one of our Cellar Craft or WinExpert kits.

We will increasing our inventory of WinExpert wine kits in October of this year and will greatly expand our selection of Cellar Craft kits with our factory order in September. Give us a try! Our BlueSaver Shipping gets your order (no matter how large) to you for only $7.95 if you are located in the lower 48 United States.

Acidity in Wine: Part 3

2008-07-12T12:03:00.003-05:00

Acidity in wine can be measured easily and inexpensively. Our acid titration kit is part number 03-54000 and can be found in the testing section of the BlueStem Winery website (www.bluestemwine.com).

Titration is simply the process of determining the concentration of a substance in a liquid. When testing wine for acidity you are trying to determine the acid concentration present in your wine sample. Two chemicals are used in this process. The first is Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) which is the reagent (base) in this test. The second is Phenolphthalein with is used as the indicator. A small amount of the color indicator (the Phenolphthalein) is added to your wine sample. The reagent (NaOH) is then slowly added to the sample until white wines turn pink/red or until red wines turn blue/grey/black.

Using a plastic syringe (included with the testing kit), measure 15cc of wine or juice into the test bottle (also provided). Add three drops of the Phenolphthalein color solution to the sample.

Draw 10cc of the Sodium Hydroxide into the syringe. Avoid contact with your skin as this solution burns.

Add the Sodium Hydroxide in very small increments to the wine sample. Agitate the sample after each addition. Keep doing this addition until there is a slight color change and it remains after agitation. Continue the small additions (continue to agitate after each addition) until a deep, dark color change is noted and it does not diminish with agitation. This indicates that the end point has been reached.

Each 1cc of the Sodium Hydroxide which was required to get to this point indicates 0.1% of acid (expressed as Tartaric) present. If 5cc of the neutralizer was required the acid level is 0.5%.

You can adjust the acid level upward to the desired level by adding one teaspoon of Acid Blend (per gallon of wine) to raise the acid level by 0.15%.

Dispose of the sample used (do not add this back into your wine).

When making wine at home you should always test for acidity levels prior to starting your fermentation. The exception to this would be if you are using one of our Cellar Craft or WinExpert wine kits as the juice concentrate used in these kits has been balanced as part of the manufacturing process.

BlueStem Winery operates a retail store and a web presence from 305 Third Street in Parkersburg, Iowa. BlueStem specializes in providing high quality wine making equipment, ingredients and supplies plus we carry a complete line of homebrew supplies, home brewing equipment and beer brewing ingredients. BlueStem inventories a large selection of wine making kits and features both WinExpert and Cellar Craft kits. We manufacture our own line of homebrew ingredients kits known as BlueStems Best.

Both our WinExpert kits and our Cellar Craft wine kits provide the home winemaking enthusiast with the very best quality wine concentrate kits available on the market.

Acidity in Wine: Part 2

2008-07-09T15:39:00.004-05:00

Recommended acidity levels in wine varies by the type of wine being made and also by the sweetness level the winemaker is aiming for. This is not to say that individual vintners cannot vary from the recommended levels based upon their own taste.

Sweeter wines will tolerate higher levels of acidity as the sugar masks the acid present in the wine.

The level of acidity that BlueStem Winery recommends for various styles and sweetness levels is:

Dry white grape wines in the .65% to .75% range, dry red grape wines in the .60% to .70% range, sweet white grape wines in the .70% to .85% range, and sweet red grape wines in the .65% to .80% range. White wines which are made from fruits or vegetables other than grapes should be in the .55% to .65% range and non-grape red wines should be in the .50% to .60% range. These percentages are what is known as titratable acidity (or T.A.) and represent acidity as a percentage of total volume.

As mentioned in our first article about acidity in wine, you can be less concerned about the acidity in your wine if you are making your wine from a commercial wine kit such as the WinExpert or Cellar Craft wine kits sold on the BlueStem Winery website as the acid levels have been balanced during the manufacturing process. More about acids in wine with our next blog article.

BlueStem Winery operates both a retail store and a website for the marketing of winemaking equipment, ingredients and supplies, homebrewing supplies, homebrew ingredients, beer brewing equipment, our own line of beer brewing ingredients kits known as BlueStems Best plus both Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine kits.

Wines made from Cellar Craft kits and WinExpert kits make absolutely delicious wines and the odds for failure are extremely small. If you can read and follow directions and keep your equipment clean you too can me fabulous wine at home. If you are thinking about making wine at home or learning to brew your own beer, let BlueStem Winery be your source for home brew supplies and all of your home winemaking needs. We ship brewing supplies and home wine making materials all over the world and can be your source for everying you need in the way of beer brewing supplies and wine making ingredients, equipment and supplies.

Acidity In Wine: Part 1

2008-07-06T08:47:00.003-05:00

This blog article is the first of several articles which will be written about acidity in wine. If you make all of your wines from commercial wine kits such as the WinExpert or Cellar Craft wine kits that are sold on the BlueStem Winery website, then the articles may be of interest to you but the measurement of the acidity in your wine will not be necessary as both the Cellar Craft and WinExpert ingredient kits are acid balanced to guarantee that your wine has the proper level of acidity when it is finished. If your home wine making involves making wine from fresh grapes or from backyard fruit then the articles will not only be interesting but the processes involved will need to be followed to help your home made wines obtain the proper acid balance.

The acids present in wine provide the slightly tart taste you notice when the wine is on your tongue. Wines that have too little acidity taste stale and flat while wines which have too much acidity leave your palate feeling like you have been sucking on a very strong lemon. Excellent wines have obtained a balance between the acid level and the other characteristics present in the wine (alcohol, sugars, etc.).

Tartaric, malic and citric acids represent the majority of the acids found in grape wines. Other acids are found in fruit and vegetable wines and in varying quantities. Citrus fruits obviously have much more citric acid then other fruits and vegetables while oxalic acid is present in rhubarb (oxalic acid is toxic in large concentrations and is used in products such as bleaches, stain removers, and can be used as a sanitizing agent for home winemaking and home brewing equipment).

If your wine has low acid levels it is easy to increase the acidity through the addition of tartaric, malic and citric acids or you can use a product sold on the BlueStem Winery website known as Acid Blend. Most commercially prepared acid blends consist of tartaric acid (10%), malic acid (40%) and citric acid (50%). Research we have done indicates that years ago commercially prepared acid blends were made in approximately the following ratio: Tartaric acid (40%), malic acid (40%) and citric acid (20%). The reason for the change is simple: citric acid is cheap, tartaric acid is much more expensive. For your information, BlueStem Winery blends their own acid blend and uses the much more desirable tartaric acid at 50%, malic acid at 40% and the less desirable citric acid at only 10%.

More on the testing of your wine and the addition of the proper level of acids to follow in future blog articles.

BlueStem Winery is located in the tornado ravaged community of Parkersburg, Iowa (but the winery survived intact) and markets winemaking supplies, WinExpert wine kits and Cellar Craft kits. In addition to all things necessary for wine making, BlueStem also carries a complete inventory of homebrew supplies, brewing ingredients and beer brewing equipment.

The Water You Use

2008-07-05T12:47:00.003-05:00

Many home wine makers use grape concentrate kits such as the Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine ingredient kits that are sold here at BlueStem Winery. As part of the process of making wine from concentrates, it is almost always necessary to add water to the kits to bring the juice back to the same brix (sugar concentration) as when the grapes were harvested and crushed.

The water you use can come from a variety of sources and have many varied characteristics and we at BlueStem Winery believe that the water you use can impact the quality of the wine you make.

The sources of water available to the home winemaking enthusiast (or home brewer for that matter) typically are the municipal water you get from your tap, the water from a well if you reside in a rural area, spring water, bottled water which has been purified (but not distilled) and distilled water.

Most municipal (what we call tap water) has been treated with chlorine to manage bacteria levels. You can contact the city clerk or the water works where you live to determine whether chlorine has been added to the water but you can usually smell or taste it in the water. This tap water can be used for your wine making but only after boiling the water to remove the chlorine. An alternative to boiling is to filter this water through an activated charcoal filter. Some communities treat their water with chloramines rather than with chlorine. Chloramines will not be removed by boiling and should be removed by filtering through an activated charcoal filter and then treating with sulfites at the rate of 10 parts per million. Again, talk to the city clerk or the water department where you live to find out how your local water is treated.

The use of water from a well presents a whole array of potential problems as rural water (especially in highly agricultural or industrial areas) can contain many types of bacteria, minerals, and other contaminants. Here in Iowa with our huge agricultural economy rural water has many sources of contamination. Have this water tested to see what is present in the water (a good idea even if you are not making wine!).

After testing, use an activated charcoal filter to remove many of the contaminants. A silver-impregnated charcoal filter does an even better job of removing bacteria. Keep in mind that you should change these filters regularly to prevent bacterial build up.

Rural water is many times also high in iron content. Water which has been softened to reduce iron content is high in sodium which, too, can affect the ultimate flavor of your wine.

My general recommendation for home wine making clients who have well water as their primary source of water is to purchase bottled spring water (it is cheap and you avoid the possibility of contamination in your wine).

Spring water is great for making wine at home as contains no chlorine, chloramines, flouride and yet has a few trace minerals that help give your wine must the nutrients it needs to make your yeast get off to a good start. If you don't have a ready natural source for pure spring water then your local grocery can be the answer. Bottled spring water is inexpensive but make sure that you read the label. Some spring water is nothing more than bottled tap water. Verify the source of the spring water you are purchasing. Codes like MTW on the container indicate that the water is nothing more than municipal tap water! The water should be great for wine making if you can verify that it is pure spring water and that it has been ozonated.

Bottled water is water that has been purified but not distilled. Although it can certainly be used for wine making it lacks many of the trace minerals found in spring water and is generally a little pricier than bottled spring water.

Distilled water is water which, through the distillation process, has had all trace minerals removed from the water. We recommend not using distilled water when making wine.

BlueStem Winery specializes in making limited quantities of very high quality wines. Our wines our marketed only through our store front in Parkersburg, Iowa and to a limited number of states which we have determined that we can ship to. We also operate both a retail and web based business marketing wine making ingredients, homebrewing equipment, home brew supplies, and both WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine kits.

For all of your home winemaking and home brewing supplies plus either WinExpert or Cellar Craft kits for making wine you can count on friendly, prompt and professional service from BlueStem Winery. If we don't have the brewing equipment or one of the WinExpert wine kits you need we will be happy to get the item you need quickly.

The Importance of Punching Down

2008-07-04T18:41:00.005-05:00

When making a big red wine (such as a Cabernet, Barolo or Zinfandel) from either fresh grapes or from one of our WinExpert or Cellar Craft ingredient kits which include a two liter packet of crushed grape skins, it is necessary to regularly perform a procedure known as punching down. Failure to punch down your wine will most like result in a wine which lacks astringency, taste and color.

When fermenting wine on the skins as you would with fresh red grapes or as you would with one of our Cellar Craft or WinExpert wine kits which include the two liter packet of crushed grape skins a cap of grape skins, stems and seeds will float to the top of your primary during fermentation. To obtain the flavors and colors present in this mass of pulp floating on the top of your fermenter you need to break up this mass and push it under the surface so that it stays moist. This breaking up of the cap and the process of pushing it under the surface is called punching down.

As mentioned previously, your wine will benefit from this process with more flavor, astringency and a richer color.

Other benefits derived from the punching down process include helping to keep bacteria from forming on this crusty surface, yeast which is trapped in the crust is mixed back into the must, punching down introduces oxygen into the must which provides a healthy environment for your yeast to thrive, and it helps dissipate heat which can build up during fermentation (warmth provides a healthy environment for bacterial growth).

The use of a stainless steel spoon (slotted preferred) or a masher of some type works well. Break up all the clumps so that the surface of your wine is smooth and all floating matter is thoroughly moist when done. Punch your wine down as soon as you have pitched your yeast and do so every six to eight hours throughout the primary fermentation process.

Maintain a temperature slightly cooler than maybe you normally do during primary fermentation. Keep your ambient temperature around 65 degrees Fahrenheit if possible and try hard to not let your temperature exceed approximatly 70 degrees.

As fermentation slows there will be less carbon dioxide being generated (the carbon dioxide rising to the surfact of the wine must is what causes the pulp to float to the surface). When the mass of pulp disappears (sinks) it is time to press out the pulp and remove it from the fermenter.

BlueStem Winery would like to be your source for all the wine making supplies, home brewing ingredients, WinExpert wine kits and Cellar Craft kits that you need. We stock an extensive array of homebrew equipment and equipment for making wine in addition to a large inventory of WinExpert kits and an even larger supply of Cellar Craft wine kits. So, if you are a veteran home brewer and need to order home brew supplies or whether you are a novice to home winemaking and need some help getting started, we can provide the help you need.

Possible Reasons For Your Wine Not Finishing

2008-05-14T06:55:00.002-05:00

I know! For all my avid readers out there (both of you), it has been just a few days since I have posted. I had three tractor trailers deliver merchandise to BlueStem Winery including a truck just chock full of Cellar Craft wine kits and another from my Ohio wholesaler loaded with winemaking equipment, brewing supplies and WinExpert wine kits. I have pretty much put everything on hold for a few days as I try to unpack, check merchandise and re-stock shelves. Oh, yes, the third truck. Actually, Cellar Craft got one of my pallets on the wrong truck and it went to Texas instead of to Iowa. The store in Texas just kept the pallet and a new pallet of Cellar Craft kits arrived a few days later from Ontario to replace the wayward one.

A question was received from one of my customers who lives in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio is one of my favorite cities, mostly because it was the only duty station I had other than my year at DaNang, South Viet Nam during my four years in the Air Force. If I remember right, downtown was a mass of one way streets which all met in the center of town. One giant traffic jam! The other thing I remember is gun racks in the back window of every pickup truck. Most likely loaded!

Anyway, my question was as to why my customer's wine was not finishing. When making wine, the wine is usually fermented down to a specific gravity of 1.000 or slightly less and then it is transferred from the primary fermenter (usually a plastic bucket) to the secondary fermenter (usually a 6-gallon glass carboy). The wine then finishes in the carboy down to a specific gravity of 0.992 to 0.994. My customer's wine would ferment down to the 1.000 mark and it (the wine) would be transferred to the carboy where it would ferment down to 0.996 to 0.998 and then stop. It would not finish. He wanted to know why.

There are several reasons why one of our Cellar Craft or WinExpert kits might not finish.

The first (or most common) reason is temperature. My customer, however, was maintaining a temperature of 75 degrees F. where the wine was being fermented and this is warm enough. The temperature was being maintained, too. Fluctuations in ambient temperature (as little as 5 degrees F.) can put wine yeast into shock and poor performance (a stuck fermentation) can result. We do not believe either of these to be the cause.

The variety of yeast being used can also be a factor. There are numerous types of wine yeast available and each has its own fermentation character. I know that Cellar Craft typically uses Champagne yeast because it is very forgiving and is very neutral. Champagne yeast can also tolerate wider temperature ranges, high alcohol levels (excessive amounts of alcohol present can also cause a yeast to stop fermenting) and produces smaller amounts of unwanted by-products.

Timing is also important. It is important that home winemaking enthusiasts rack (move their wine from primary to secondary) at the right time. Different wines have different points at which the movement is more advantageous but in this case the target was a specific gravity of 1.000 or less. Try to make this move as close as possible to 1.000 (not over but under 1.000). Above 1.000 can result in excessive foaming. Too far below 1.000 can result in a stuck fermentation right at the end of fermentation. This is very much a possibility for my customer!

Besides racking the wine at the most optimum time as described above, another thing that can be done is to not be too careful when racking the wine. In other words, do not try to totally avoid racking all of the sediment present in your primary fermenter into the secondary fermenter. Let some of this sludge (sediment) siphon over into your carboy. This small amount of sediment will help provide nutrients for the yeast during this final fermentation stage.

BlueStem Winery is your full service source for both WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine ingredient kits and also for homebrewing supplies, homebrew ingredients and beer brewing equipment. In addition to our full line of home brew supplies, BlueStem Winery also stocks a complete inventory of equipment, supplies and ingredients for your home wine making hobby. We welcome your visit to the BlueStem Winery website.

Decanting Wine (or Aeration vs. Oxidation)

2008-04-27T14:22:00.002-05:00

A quiet spring Sunday at BlueStem Winery. April is always a quiet month as people start to get yard work done after a long winter. We received a large shipment of Cellar Craft wine kits last week and we have more Cellar Craft ingredient kits coming in on Tuesday. Our new supply of WinExpert kits along with a resupply of wine making supplies, homebrew equipment and home brewing ingredients will arrive tomorrow.

Yesterday's blog visited the importance of using a good cork when making wine. Today we are going to talk about removing the cork and enjoying the wine.

So, you have made 30 bottles of either WinExpert or Cellar Craft wine from a kit and you bottled it and you have waited the appropriate time and it is now ready to enjoy. I don't like to generalize but my rule of thumb on white wines made from either WinExpert or Cellar Craft kits is that you should wait a minimum of six months after bottling to enjoy the first bottle and a year is better. On red wines made from either Cellar Craft or WinExpert wine kits you should generally wait a minimum of a year and two is better.

But, as I said, you have waited the appropriate amount of time and it is time to enjoy. You have been told that oxygen is the enemy of wine and during the wine making you diligently tried to isolate your wine from oxygen as much as possible. Now it is time to drink your first bottle and I am going to tell you that prior to drinking your wine you should mix oxygen with it.

Yesterday we talked about corks and how a poor cork could lead to the oxidizing of your wine. There is a difference between oxygenation and aeration. Oxidized wine is wine which has been allowed to come in contact with oxygen during its storage life. Oxygen has attacked the wine and ruined its flavor and this wine can no longer be enjoyed.

Aeration is the mixing of oxygen with wine just prior to enjoyment. Wines which have been in storage will develop a smell which does not mean spoilage, it just means that we are unaccustomed to this aroma because we are used to smelling food which has been in contact with air, not isolated from it. Wines which have been in long-term storage may have chunks of sediment in them and will also have this slightly foul aroma. Use a special wine funnel which has a screen in it to do two things. Filter out the chunks and mix oxygen with your wine. This aeration will, in a few minutes, remove the unpleasant aroma. Will it damage your wine? No! Oxidation takes a little time, maybe hours and maybe a day. Open your wine, aerate it and enjoy!

As always, BlueStem Winery not only carries the winemaking supplies you need for your home wine making hobby but we also carry a complete line of home brew supplies for our home brewers. Our website is open all day every day or if in the area please feel free to drop in even if just to say hello!

The Importance of a Good Cork

2008-04-26T11:05:00.004-05:00

It is a good day to write a little bit about the importance of a good cork when bottling wine. It is a Saturday, the store is open but not yet busy, and on Monday I will be getting in a shipment that includes WinExpert wine kits, winemaking equipment and home brew supplies. On Tuesday I am expecting in the second shipment of Cellar Craft wine kits in the last week. These two shipments might must keep me too busy to write blog articles so best get it done today.

I know there are many home wine making people out there and you use a number of different kinds, styles, lengths, and diameters of corks when you bottle one of your Cellar Craft or WinExpert kits or some of your backyard fruit wine. When people are in the store my criteria for helping them select corks initially centers on what type of corker they own or wish to purchase. If they own (or want to purchase) a plastic hand corker (or what I call the brute force method of putting a cork in a bottle) I recommend either the #7 or #8 diameter corks. The #7 corks are the smallest diameter corks and are also the lowest quality. The #8 corks are a medium diameter cork and are of marginally better quality. Why do I recommend these two corks if they are of lower quality? Mostly based on the corker itself. The #9 corks are the largest diameter corks but are virtually impossible to insert into a bottle using this corker. The #7 and #8 corks also have chamfered ends which assist in insertion. We do sell one style of #9 cork with chamfered ends but these are of the same grade as the #8s.

The next choice in corkers is to purchase either a Portuguese or Italian double lever corker. They operate on the same principle (tapered sleeve for the cork to slide through prior to insertion) as the plastic hand corker but instead of pounding on the top of the corker with your hand or a rubber mallet, you pull two levers apart which in turn drives a plunger downward which pushes to cork through the tapered sleeve and into the bottle. Do they work well? No! I personally like the plastic hand corker better. Do they work with a #9 cork? Maybe if you are Hercules!

If your hobby is important enough to you to own a floor corker then the choice of corks comes down to style and quality as opposed to diameter. A floor corker will insert a #9 cork into the bottle easily. Pick the quality cork that you need based on the length of time your wine will be in the bottle. Cork choices range from first quality corks (these are the same grade as the #8s) to winery grade twin disc which are an agglomerated (compressed ground up cork) cork with a disc of natural cork on each end to Altec corks which are agglomerated suberin (this is the highest quality cork available) to synthetic corks. I personally use either the twin disc corks or the Altec corks for bottling our wine here at the winery.

So what is the importance of a good cork?

The whole purpose of the cork is to establish closure. Closure to me is defined as the ability to seal the bottle so that air does not transmit from outside the bottle to inside the bottle. Please do not believe anyone who tells you that a cork breathes! This would imply that air passes through the cork and this simply is not true! Air can pass by the cork if your cork is of a smaller diameter or if it is damaged in some way or if your corking process puts a crease down the side of the cork. If corks did breathe then I would not be in the business of making wine. I would be in the business of making a liquid that had a taste similar to vinegar!

If wine does aerate because of a poor quality cork or a leaking cork the wine will oxidize and in turn it will lose the protection of the free SO2 (sulphites) and then the tannins, pigment and polyphenolic protections of the wine will leave followed by the loss of flavor and discoloration of the wine.

My advice is to purchase the very best corker that you can and then purchase the very best corks to put in your wine bottles. Lots of cork shoved into a very small space makes for longer lasting wine.

Not to forget our beer brewing customers, BlueStem Winery carries a complete line of homebrewing supplies, homebrew ingredients, and home brew equipment in addition to our fine line of WinExpert and Cellar Craft kits and other home winemaking supplies. Our beer brewing supplies inventory has grown significantly and we look forward to serving either your home brew or wine making hobby!

Number 2 On The Shelf!

2008-03-28T14:00:00.002-05:00

BlueStem Winery started marketing the second of our wines just a couple of days ago. It was a long time between Number 1 and Number 2. Our first wine (Once in a Blue Moon) was out for sale in May 2007. It took us all the way to March 2008 for our second wine (Red Crescent) to be put out for sale. However, things will be happening rapidly over the next few months as our third wine (Dark Side) will be on the shelves most likely by May 15 with four more wines scheduled to be available during the summer months.

Once in a Blue Moon is a Canadian Riesling dessert wine. Red Crescent is a Cabernet Franc dessert wine with the grapes coming from Washington state. Dark Side is a Montepulciano wine whose grapes were grown in the Andes in Chile. Our other wines (as yet unnamed) coming this summer will be a Gewurztraminer, a Riesling, a Gruner Veltliner and a Gewurztraminer dessert wine.

King George has done his best to screw up the American economy but whatever is happening seems to have helped BlueStem Winery. Our sales on the internet and our store sales were both up about 35% over last year. We have been running an inventory reduction sale on both our WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine ingredient kits and these have been moving out the door rapidly in anticipation of our restocking in late April. Out with the old and in with the new!

Home brew supplies sales have been brisk . . . probably our largest increase in traffic for the month. I think the downturn in the economy has people looking at saving a little money by making wine and purchasing beer brewing equipment to cut back on the cost of their indulgences.

Home winemaking using WinExpert wine kits or Cellar Craft ingredient kits almost always results in some very, very good wine if the wines are allowed to age just a little bit prior to enjoying them.

One of my favorite stories here at the winery involves a couple from Cedar Falls, Iowa who were in the store several years ago. They purchased a WinExpert Selection Original Gewurztraminer kit and I told them that when the kit was finished that they should put it in the basement and forget that they owned it. Two weeks after the wine was bottled Barb e-mailed me and told me that the wine was not very good. I reminded her that she should put the wine away and forget about it. I told her that she needed to wait at least six months. Well, in six months I got another e-mail from Barb saying the wine was good and getting better every bottle. They later came in and purchased a Liebfraumilch and even later a Riesling wine kit. Barb's husband was in the store one day at a point in time where the Gewurztraminer was now 15 months old. I asked him how the Gewurz was doing and he replied that they "had one big problem". It seems that they were down to only ten bottles remaining and it was the best they had ever had in their lives.

So, if you want great wine, get on the BlueStem Winery website and purchase a wine making equipment kit and maybe one of our WinExpert wine ingredient kit s or one of our Cellar Craft wine kit s or maybe round up some backyard fruit and some winemaking ingredients and get a batch started. A six gallon batch will yield 30 bottles of wine and with a little patience you will be rewarded with some great sipping pleasure.

No patience? Then how about some home brewing equipment and homebrew supplies (also available on the BlueStem Winery website). It only takes about five weeks from start to enjoyment when brewing your own beer.

Hops are a little expensive right now but you only use a couple of ounces per batch and the other brewing supplies you need are relatively inexpensive.

About $30 will purchase beer brewing supplies for a 5-gallon batch. Wine making ingredients are very inexpensive if using backyard fruit and the WinExpert kits and Cellar Craft kits are available in the $80 to $150 range and will net you 30 bottles of wine per kit. Both the winemaking equipment and homebrew equipment kits are approximately $100 (or more if you want all the bells and whistles).

So, if you need a way to forget that the economy is a shambles, that gas prices are rocketing toward $4 a gallon or that your grocery bill is going out of site, then we can help. Relax and have a home brew (or some home made wine!).

Wine Making for the Future

2008-03-23T20:37:00.002-05:00

My son and I disagree on a lot of things! We get along, we just disagree. We agree to disagree. The only thing we really argue about is politics and I can live with that. I don't know where he went astray. My first clue should have been when he voted for Bush. My personal opinion is that King George II will go down in history as the worst president . . . period! Whenever I mention his name in a sentence the word moron is usually also in that sentence. Just what has this administration done right? Really!

Anyway, the other day my son begins talking with me about one of the few things we really like to visit about. Wine! The other thing we talk a lot about is our Ford Mustang drag cars (a whole nuther story!). Nick (my son) has been purchasing wines as investments. He reads about these wines in Wine Spectator. He purchases these wines with the intent of keeping them for a few years and then reselling them. One of his most recent purchases was a 2005 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. So, he comes to me with the idea of BlueStem Winery making a reserve wine. Since Cabernet Sauvignon is his wine of choice he also suggested that this Reserve wine by a Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

So, we are now looking for all things wine making for our Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. We have found a source for the juice we need and we will have a little bit of winemaking equipment in addition to what we have. Then it will be just a matter of working our way through the process of fermenting, oak aging and bottle storage for about 3 years. We will probably limit production to about 20 cases per year with the first wines being ready for sale in 2011.

We are being pleasantly surprised this month. We the economy seemingly in turmoil (thank you, King George!) we have been expecting a downturn in sales for our wine making ingredients and home brew equipment store. Instead, we have had our best March ever and still have over a week to go in the month.

We had sold more of our Cellar Craft and WinExpert wine kits in the first nine days of the month than we had in any full month since we opened our store. Store traffic has been brisk and I have been extremely pleased with the volume of homebrewing ingredients being sold in the store. Our stock of both WinExpert kits and Cellar Craft wine kits is getting very low as we try to sell out our inventory prior to restocking in April (when the ice is gone and the ground has firmed up enough to get our forklift out to unload a truck). If any of our store or on-line customers are reading this tidbit, thanks for your business! We are looking forward to having another 9 months of great business serving you in 2008.

The Fascinating Business of Wine Making

2008-03-17T20:14:00.002-05:00

A fellow blogger left a comment on one of my previous blog posts today about how she had always been intrigued with the winery business. I guess I was intrigued with this business at one time, too. 80 hour weeks making wine and running a retail store selling brewing supplies and winemaking supplies can sure make it unintriguing (apparently that is not a word, my blog's spell checker just hiccuped!).

In my prior life I was a combat flier in the Viet Nam, taught high school and was a commercial banker. The flying was exciting (and slightly dangerous), the teaching was interesting (maybe even more dangerous), the banking was tedious (and the hours were long) and the wine making is a fascinating way to make a living (but the hours are very, very, very long).

Mondays are spent packaging beer brewing supplies, winemaking supplies, and WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine kits which were sold on via the internet over the weekend. Any time left over is spent checking our in process wine, and restocking our retail store shelves with winemaking equipment and home brew supplies. Restocking can be a time consuming process as many of the wine making ingredients must be weighed, labeled and packaged. If we have sold some of our BlueStems Best home brewing ingredients kits then replacement kits must be packaged and put out for display. This can take a great deal of time as the grains must be milled, weighed and packaged and the hops must be weighed and packaged, too. The shelves for our Cellar Craft and WinExpert ingredient kits need to be restocked, too.

Tuesdays are spent doing more of the same with less packaging and more of the other things. If we are going to start fermenting a new batch of wine we will start this when my wife gets off from her high school teaching job. It usually takes about four hours to get a 150 gallon batch of wine in the fermenters. Evenings are also when we will typically rack wine from one tank to another tank to get it off its sediment.

From Wednesday through Saturday we are open from 11 to 5 so I spend my time in the store. I spend time between customers vacuuming (isn't that intriguing!), restocking shelves and heaven forbid, dusting! Early mornings are spent packaging the website sales of homebrewing equipment and home winemaking supplies plus any WinExpert wine kits or Cellar Craft kits sold overnight. Evenings are sometimes spent racking wine or filtering wine or adding needed additives to wine in the secondary fermenters.

Sundays we are open from Noon until 4 and we actually have a little shorter day at the store. Unless we are going to bottle wine! If we have wine to bottle we usually have one person watch the store while we get the crew (myself, my wife, my son and his wife, my daughter-in-law's parents and anyone else we can corner) together to bottle wine. It takes the crew about six hours to bottle and cork 1,600 bottles of wine.

The fascinating business of making wine! Between the homebrewing ingredients and homebrew equipment and the Cellar Craft wine ingredient kits and the other wine making supplies we find the time to put together tanks of wine, rack the wine from tank to tank, filter the wine, and bottle it. If my calculations are right, our average week is 70 hours or so. Banking? Hell no! Teaching? Maybe. Climbing back into an EC-47 and flying over northern South Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia? Absolutely (especially if we can just go do the flying and leave out the shooting part!). Making wine? Intriguing, fascinating, and even though it is week after week of very long hours, it is the best job I have ever had. I especially like the not having a boss part of doing this job!

Acid Reduction in Wine through Malolactic Fermentation

2008-02-16T10:36:00.002-06:00

Malolactic fermentation is an effective way to reduce both malic acid and citric acid levels in wine. This article will not discuss the procedure for conducting a malolactic fermentation (a subject for a leter blog article) but will only provide background information.

A malolactic fermentation reduces total acidity (TA) in wine and when conducted, its goal is to reduce the harsher malic acid concentrations into lactic acid which is a much softer acid.

It is virtually impossible for home wine making enthusiasts to determine the levels of malic acid present in their wine. The only method of determining the effect on the wine is to take a TA measurement prior to conducting the malolactic fermentation and then take another reading post fermentation. The difference between the initial reading and the final reading is the amount of TA reduction which has occurred. If acid levels have been reduced too far it can be increased by the addition of acids or by blending with higher acid wines. If the acid level has still not been reduced to the desired range, then other acid reduction methods including blending, the use of potassium bicarbonate, dilution with water or cold stabilization can be used to further reduce acid levels.

BlueStem Winery is a full service retail and web source for winemaking supplies, wine making equipment and ingredients for making wine. BlueStem Winery also carries a large inventory of WinExpert wine kits and Cellar Craft kits for the wine making hobbyist who enjoys making their favorite varietals from around the world.

BlueStem Winery also carries a large inventory of homebrewing supplies, homebrew ingredients and brewing equipment for the zymergy enthusiast. Our own line of beer brewing ingredients kits is known as BlueStems Best. We are the only source for home brewing supplies in northeast Iowa and continue to increase our American and worldwide sales of beer brewing supplies via our website.

If you are a beginning home brewer and need a basic home brew supplies setup, we can provide the equipment and ingredients you need and also the expertise to help you get started. If you are a beginning vintner, we recommend our WinExpert kits and Cellar Craft wine kits because you will enjoy fantastic wine with your very first attempt at home winemaking.

Wine Number 2 Gets Label Approval

2008-02-15T16:00:00.002-06:00

BlueStem Winery's second wine will be available for retail sale very, very soon. Our label application to the federal government for this wine named Red Crescent was approved today and we should be able to have the artwork on the way to our printer early next week.

Red Crescent is a dessert wine made from Cabernet Franc grapes raised in the Yakima Valley of Washington state. A very smooth after dinner sipping wine with a fairly solid punch to it! We are hoping that this wine will be on our shelves for sale by mid-March 2008 followed shortly thereafter by our third wine which is a dry red which will be named Dark Side.

BlueStem Winery is a licensed and bonded Iowa winery. Our business consists of the winery plus a retail and web outlet which features winemaking supplies, homebrewing supplies, wine making ingredients, brewing ingredients, home brew and wine making equipment and WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine kits.

Wine making is our livelihood but we also enjoy a good home brew on occasion. Our store and website feature our own line of beer brewing ingredients kits known as BlueStems Best where you can choose from approximtely 30 different beer styles with pre-measured ingredients provided in the kit.

If you are into home winemaking we will always recommend one of our Cellar Craft or WinExpert wine kits and you will not be disappointed. World class! For all of your home brewing supplies and supplies for making wine, look to BlueStem Winery.

Acid Reducing Solutions for Wine Making

2008-02-14T14:27:00.002-06:00

Both potassium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate solutions can be used to reduce acid levels in finished wine. The preferred of these two is the potassium solution because the calcium carbonate solution results in an unpleasant taste to the wine.

When adding either of these solutions to wine, the wine maker should realize that the first acid that the solution will lower is the preferred acid, tartaric. The wine maker must take care that the tartaric acid present is not eliminated completely from the wine.

Reduction in acid levels in finished wine are accomplished at about a 1:2 ratio. Total acidity is reduced by 1g/L for every 2g/L of bicarbonate that is added to the wine. Dissolve the bicarbonate in a small quantity of wine and then add the solution to your wine. If your initial acidity reading indicates that you need to reduce the total acidity by 2g/L, do not make a solution totaling 4g/L (remember the 1:2 ratio) and add it to your wine all in one swoop. Instead, make small incremental additions of the solution and taste and take additional acidity measurements in between each further addition of solution.

BlueStem Winery operates a retail store in Parkersburg, Iowa selling winemaking equipment plus ingredients and supplies for home winemaking. BlueStem also carries a large inventory of both WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine kits to enhance your home wine making experience. If you are a brewer and not a vintner, BlueStem also carries a large inventory of homebrewing supplies, homebrew equipment and home brewing ingredients.

Making wine for the first time? Let us help you through the entire process. We offer expert guidance and we are only a phone call or an e-mail away from helping you make world class wine with one of our WinExpert wine kits or one of our Cellar Craft kits.

We can also assist if you are wanting to start brewing at home. Our homebrewing equipment is first rate and we keep an ample amount of homebrew supplies and beer brewing ingredients in stock.

On the web 24/7 at the BlueStem Winery website and available for telephone assistance during store hours. See our website for details.

Acid Reduction by Blending

2008-02-09T09:40:00.000-06:00

When you are attempting to increase (or decrease) the acidity of wine by blending two wines together, the first step is to determine the titratable acidity (TA) of both wines. The second step in this process is to determine the volume required of the blend wine which will be required to raise (or lower) the TA of the wine you are trying to alter.

The formula for determining the volume of blend wine required is:

Z = X * (DTA - W) / (Y - DTA) where

DTA = Desired Total Acidity
W = TA goal of wine to be modified
X = Volume of wine to be modified
Y = TA of blend wine
Z = Volume of blend wine

Example: If you had 6 gallons of wine (X) with an existing TA of 6.2 and you desired to raise the TA of this wine to 6.5 (DTA) by blending an unknown volume of wine (Z) which has a TA of 7 (Y) your formula would look like this:

Z = 6 * (6.5 - 6.2) / (7 - 6.5) or

Z = (6 * .3) / .5 or

Z = 1.8 / .5 or

Z = 3.6 gallons of blend wine with a TA of 7 will be required to increase the TA of our 6 gallon batch of wine with an existing TA of 6.2 to our desired TA of 6.5.

BlueStem Winery is your full-service source for wine making equipment and homebrewing supplies in beautiful, downtown Parkersburg, Iowa. Our store hours are posted on the BlueStem Winery website and we are on the web 24-7 with a complete line of wine making and homebrew supplies.

If you are home winemaking or want to order beer brewing ingredients and have questions, do not hesitate to call us at 319.346.1046 during business hours or you can e-mail us at any time at bluestemwine@mchsi.com.

BlueStem Winery stocks a large of inventory of WinExpert wine kits and we also have a growing inventory of Cellar Craft kits. Cellar Craft wine kits and WinExpert kits are industry leaders in excellent quality kits for making wine at home.

The next time you purchasing winemaking supplies, home brewing supplies, brewing equipment or ingredients we will be ready to meet your needs. Excellent products, prompt shipping and knowledgeable, friendly service.

Increasing Total Titratable Acidity in Wine

2008-02-07T20:28:00.000-06:00

One method of increasing total titratable acidity in wine is with the addition of acids in the form of either tartaric acid or with the addition of what is called an acid blend. The preferred additive is tartaric acid, especially if the vintner is planning for the wine to undergo a malolactic fermentation. Acid blend is a mixture of tartaric, malic and citric acids. Many acid blends sold through home wine making shops is a 10-40-50 blend of tartaric, malic and citric acids. The acid blend that BlueStem Winery sells (mixed here at our store) is a 50-40-10 blend. Instead of the heavy concentration of citric acid that is in most shops (citric is cheap), BlueStem's acid blend is heavy on tartaric acids. Heavy concentrations of citric acid tend to give your wine a sharp, citric acid bite (similar to tasting a grapefruit).

BlueStem Winery urges caution in the use of acid blends (especially those prepared with large concentrations of citric acid). Acid blend should never be used with wines planned to undergo a malolactic fermentation.

Making wine at home with one of the WinExpert or Cellar Craft wine kits from BlueStem Winery? Then you won't have to worry about total acidity. Both Cellar Craft and WinExpert kits are acid balanced and will be perfectly balanced when you make them.

Need any other winemaking supplies or home brewing ingredients? BlueStem Winery would be happy to supply you with what you need. We stock a large inventory of wine making ingredients and home brew supplies and have the expertise to help you if wine making or beer brewing is a new hobby.

Our homebrew equipment is top drawer and comes from the best suppliers BlueStem can locate. Whether it is beer brewing supplies or one of our superb WinExpert wine ingredient kits, we can have your order on its way tomorrow!

Acid Reduction in Wine

2008-02-02T19:09:00.000-06:00

Four different acids can be typically found in wines during fermentation. These include tartaric, citric, malic and lactic. Acids in too high quantity have an adverse affect on the taste (and quality) of wine. Whereas increasing the acid levels in wine is a relatively easy process, reducing acid levels in wine can be difficult.

Over the next few days a discussion will be held about procedures for reducing or increasing the various acid levels.

A summary of these articles is as follows:

Addition of tartaric acid will result in an increase of the tartaric acid levels (that one was pretty obvious!);

Addition of acid blend will increase the levels of tartaric, malic and citric acid;

The blending of other wines with the wine in question can either increase or decrease the levels of tartaric, malic, citric or lactic acids;

The addition of potassium (or calcium) bicarbonate will decrease the level of tartaric acids;

Causing the onset of a malolactic fermentation will decrease the tartaric and malic acid levels while increase the lactic acid level;

Cold stabilization will decrease the level of tartaric acids;

Use of products known as ACIDEX or SHADEX will reduce the levels of tartaric and malic acids; and

The addition of water will decrease the levels of tartaric, citric, malic and lactic acids.

BlueStem Winery is a purveyor of wine ingredient kits from both WinExpert and Cellar Craft. These kits allow you to make excellent wines with never a worry about tartaric, malic, citric or lactic acids as the kits are acid balanced to assure you a perfect wine every time. Making wine could not be easier and the results are world class. WinExpert wine kits have been part of BlueStem's inventory for almost four years and our customers have expressed nothing but satisfaction with these fine kits. We added Cellar Craft wine kits about eight months ago and the reports coming back from customers have been nothing but fantastic!

BlueStem also has a full array of winemaking equipment, wine making supplies, homebrewing ingredients, homebrew supplies and brewing equipment.

Today was a fun day at the store with two couples getting started with their new wine making hobby and another couple purchasing beer brewing supplies to start their new hobby. I always tell my new customers that home wine making is the greatest procrastinator's hobby that there is. Other than the first week when you have to stay pretty close to the schedule it is a hobby that you can attend to with quite a bit of variance in timing.

Need home brewing supplies? A good Cellar Craft wine ingredient kit? Our website features one low cost shipping fee per order. We would very much like to ship a new hobby to you and are more than willing to support you with answers to your questions after you get started.

Long Term Home Wine Storage

2008-01-30T19:40:00.000-06:00

My son is becoming quite the collector of wine. Personally, if I part with cash to purchase a bottle of wine I like to enjoy that wine sometime in the not too distant future. Nick (my son), on the other hand likes to have some wine that he imbibes and other wine that goes onto the shelf to enjoy (hopefully) in the distant future. This brings us to our topic for today . . . storing wine.

Wine storage does not have to be expensive but it does need to be done properly.

Three elements can affect the future well being of your wine collection. These three things are air, heat and light. Wine will rust (I mean oxidize) if exposed to air.

Minimizing air contact is accomplish by purchasing wine which has been corked with high quality cork and then by laying the wine on its side to keep the cork moist. Corks which dry out (caused by the wine bottle being stored vertically) will allow air to pass through.

Red wines are typically bottled in dark green bottles and many whites are bottled in cobalt blue or dark amber bottles. These bottles reduce the amount of ultraviolet light that the wine is exposed to. Ultraviolet light can break down the structure of the wine. Heat can also potentially damage wines.

So, to reduce the chance of environmental damage to your wine, follow these suggestions:

1. Purchase wine with quality closures and store corked bottles on their sides.

2. Purchase wines which are bottled in darker colored glass and store your wines where it is generally dark.

3. Store your wines in a cool place (not too warm, not too cold).

This cool location for wine storage is best if the temperature remains fairly constant and there is a reasonable amount of humidity (too dry and corks will suffer). A good temperature range for basement storage is from a minimum of about 40 degrees (F) to as high as 65-70 degrees. Most homes will not maintain a constant temperature but if the changes in temperature are gradual this type of storage will suffice.

A more expensive way to approach wine storage is creating an area which is both temperature and humidity controlled but in some locations this could be the only alternative for long term wine storage.

BlueStem Winery operates as a licensed and bonded Iowa winery and also operates a retail store selling beer brewing supplies, homebrew ingredients, homebrewing equipment, winemaking supplies, wine making ingredients, equipment for home winemaking, WinExpert wine kits and and also ingredient kits for making wine from Cellar Craft.

Have the perfect place to store your wine but have no wine? Let us show you the how to's of home wine making. If you want an easy way to get started in this hobby, let us help you decide on either a WinExpert ingredient kit or a Cellar Craft wine kit and with a little bit of patience you can have your wine storage full and still have wine to enjoy. Prefer a cold one? Bluestem also can help you with home brewing supplies and home brew ingredients and can help set you up with brewing equipment to get started on another fulfilling hobby. Cheers!

To Samsung or NOT to Samsung!

2008-01-25T14:58:00.000-06:00

Andy at The Big Bald Blog got me revved up about Samsung again. His blog article yesterday about his vacuum cleaner experiences with Sears (where not to buy anything that SUCKS because it won't). You can read Andy's blog for his slant on vacuum cleaners . . . my experience is with over-the-range microwave ovens.

Yes, I know, this blog is supposed to be about BlueStem Winery, selling home brewing supplies and making wine but my tag line also says that I sometimes rant and rave about things that make me angry (or make me feel good). Today it is angry!

Apparently Samsung feels that before you purchase one of their over-the-counter microwave ovens you should read the warranty so that you know that if you install the oven and it does not work that you are responsible for paying the bill to install it, remove it and then reinstall another one. Apparently I did not understand that because Samsung makes junk and then sells junk this somehow becomes my problem.

I guess if you are big enough you obtain a license to dump on your customers at will. I operate a small winemaking supplies and homebrew ingredients store and we also retail our own label Iowa wines. If one of my customers bought something that was defective, even though they opened it in the process of finding out that it was defective, I would take responsibility for the item sold and replace it or refund the money. No cost to my customer!

We (my wife and I) bought a Samsung over-the-counter microwave oven with the thought that it would work at least for a reasonable amount of time. Silly me! It didn't work long enough to heat up one slice of cold pizza. In fact, we never were able to use it at all. But . . . we paid $268 (plus sales tax of $19) to Lowe's and then paid $140 to have the microwave installed. This was a fairly major job as we had to disassemble part of our kitchen cupboards to get the thing in. So, we are now in this for a total of $427. Before I forget, Samsung treated us like crap, Lowe's treated us with a tremendous amount of respect.

Never fear, the goods are under warranty. This means that Samsung will repair, replace or refund. Well, it turns out that there isn't a Samsung repair facility within a hundred miles so that takes out option 1. Option 2 was replacement. Now why on God's green earth would I want to replace this Samsung beauty with another one of their pieces of junk. Remember, it cost me $140 to put it in. Now I get to pay another $80 to remove the bad one plus another $140 to put in the replacement. We took Option 3. Not because it was a good option but because I was sick and tired of dealing with the morons at Samsung Customer Service. Do me a favor! Ship these peoples jobs off to some non-English speaking place. I couldn't have been near as mad if I had not been able to understood what they were trying to tell me as they were screwing me over!

So, we now have a new microwave oven. The total damages were zero as regards to the microwave. We paid $268 and we got back $268. But . . . we are out the $19 sales tax, the $140 for install, the $80 to remove, about $6 postage because we had to mail in the cord for the defective microwave (like I was going to fix it myself or something!) and another $20 plus gas to haul the damn thing to the landfill and dispose of it. That little Samsung gem didn't heat up even one bowl of soup and it cost me $265 plus fuel to the landfill and a whole bunch of frustration.

Thinking of buying a microwave? I think you know what my advice is. In case you don't, let me remind you that SAMSUNG SUCKS! Maybe they should start making the vacuum cleaners that Andy needs. After all, if they can make a microwave that SUCKS making a vacuum cleaner should be a piece of cake!

Looking for a great deal on some beginning wine making equipment to begin a home winemaking hobby or some homebrewing supplies to continue your beer brewing hobby? We can help you and when you call with a problem, you won't get the crap that Samsung hands out from their customer service department in New Jersey. You get to talk to me. No lies, no excuses, no problems! If it is broke we will fix it. If FedEx breaks it we will replace it (not meant to be a slam against FedEx as they do a marvelous job handling my shipping needs).

In addition to homebrew supplies and brewing equipment BlueStem Winery is a retailer for WinExpert wine kits and for Cellar Craft wine kits. Both WinExpert and Cellar Craft ingredient kits make world class wines and it is a great hobby. Where else can you spend so little (a maximum of $4 per bottle) and have a wine that is truly first rate to drink and share with your friends. Lots of friends! The more wine you make the more friends you will have! It works the same way if you are buying beer brewing supplies . . . just more friends.

Procrastinator? Then Making Wine is Your Hobby!

2008-01-19T20:32:00.000-06:00

When a couple comes into our store and I start talking with them about making wine as a new hobby, I usually tell them that women make better winemaking hobbyists then men because there are only two simple rules: Keep your equipment clean and read and follow directions. Women are better at both!

Another attribute that makes helps when wine making is the ability to procrastinate! The great thing about wine is that if it is good today, it will be better tomorrow. This statement is for the most part true but during the very initial stages in the winemaking process you do have to stay on schedule in the addition of the various additives and moving the wine to a clean vessel when necessary. Once the process is a few weeks on its way the calendar becomes more flexible and you can go through the various stages with quite a bit of variance in the timing of the winemaking steps. In fact, I have delayed bottling wines for up to two years but for a very good reason. Wine that is stored in bulk ages about 50% faster then which which has been bottled. Here is a time when dallying is a good thing!

BlueStem Winery carries both WinExpert wine kits and Cellar Craft wine ingredient kits and both make superb (even world class!) wine. We have had customers make various kinds of kit wines which they declare are the best they have ever had.

One of our special wine kits this year is one Cellar Craft's Limited Edition kits, the Super-Tuscan Rosso Fortissimo Reserve Cuvee. This kit provides twice the amount of Tuscan Sangiovese juice than Cellar Craft's Showcase Rosso Fortissimo. The crushed grape pack is 30% larger at 2.6 liters and the crushed grapes have been upgraded to Walla Walla Appellation Quality grapes.

This Rosso Fortissimo is truly special and would be a great way to start your wine making hobby.

In addition to the WinExpert wine ingredient kits and the Cellar Craft wine kits we carry, BlueStem Winery also carries its own line of homebrew ingredients kits known as BlueStems Best. BlueStem carries a complete line of wine making equipment, winemaking ingredients, and wine making supplies plus all of the homebrew supplies, home brewing ingredients and beer brewing equipment you need for these great hobbies.

Remembering (those who rescued) Dad!

2008-01-13T19:25:00.000-06:00

For several months now I have been writing sometimes daily blog articles about making wine an selling home brew supplies here at BlueStem Winery. Occasionally I would write about some other event or life experience that didn't relate to wine making supplies or beer brewing equipment and the other day I wrote a short blog article about my Dad and just a little, little bit about his experiences as a soldier with Battery Chicago of the 60th Coast Artillery on Corregidor Island in the Philippines prior to World War II and his subsequent imprisonment in several Japanese POW camps in the Philippines (Cabanatuan, Bilibid, Palawan) and then his transfer by hellship (the Canadian Inventor) in 1944 to Moji, Japan and then on to Nagoya Camp No. 3 at Funatsu, Japan for the remainder of the war.

Several months ago I started making up my own brewing ingredients kits at BlueStem Winery and I started to name a few of them after experiences my Dad had during the war. But, I digress! There is a story to tell before I get to naming a beer!

When my father was released from captivity he was transported by train to Nagoya harbor on the east coast of Japan. After a short medical examination he was issued a new set of clothing (to replace the rags he had worn for the last 3-1/2 years) and taken by U.S. Navy barge out into the harbor and taken aboard the British destroyer HMS Wizard (pictured above).

The Brits promptly had the ex-POWs throw their new clothes over the side. Dad was not happy! But . . . the Brits then deloused their new charges and collected extra clothing from the crew to outfit the newly freed POWs. Then it was off to the mess! Dad said they started eating breakfast in the morning and were still eating breakfast well into the evening.

Anyway, I knew that Dad had been aboard the Wizard for a short trip from Nagoya to Tokyo and when I wrote a brief article for Roger Mansell's website about Japanese POW camps, little did I know how small the world really is.

Not too long after Roger published my photos and information about Dad I received an e-mail from England. A member of the HMS Wizard Reunion Society had found the article and had read them at a meeting of the Society. It seems that a lady who attended the meeting wanted to correspond but did not have e-mail and so they had contacted Roger who provided my e-mail address and contact was made. I have been corresponding with Adeline Medford from Wales ever since. Ady's husband was a crewman on the Wizard the day they picked my Dad up off the coast of Japan!

So, my first beer brewing ingredients kit was named Morrison Hill Pale Ale (after the hill on Middleside on Corregidor where my father's battery was stationed) and I then wrote to Ady and asked for the help of the Wizard in naming the second beer. Although Ady reports that some of the ideas were a bit bawdy, the final decision was to name the brewing ingredients kit HMS Wizard Magic Circle Mild Ale.

So, in a fit of excitement over the naming of my beer, I wrote to Ady and told her that I was going to send enough ingredients to England for everyone to have a beer at the next meeting.

Soon I received a package from Ady with a Wizard silk necktie and a certificate naming me as an honorary member of the Wizard Reunion Society. Before this all could go to my head, Ady told me that she thought the the honor had little to do with the service of my Dad or her husband but more to do with free beer!

So, while I remembered by Dad in my blog article the other day, today I remember the brave crew of the very small British warship H.M.S. Wizard and all they did in the service of their country and in the rescue of my Dad from the shores of Japan. Cheers, mates!

BlueStem Winery is a full-service winemaking equipment and homebrewing supplies store located in Parkersburg, Iowa. While we are purveyors of home winemaking and homebrew supplies and both WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine kits we also are busy wine making, too! Our own label BlueStem wines are about to become 3 with the soon to be released Number 2 (Red Crescent) and Number 3 (Dark Side) to join our first issue Once in a Blue Moon. Blue Moon is a Riesling dessert wine, Red Crescent is a Cabernet Franc dessert wine and Dark Side is a Chilean Montepulciano.

Remembering Dad

2008-01-10T13:58:00.000-06:00

It is slow at BlueStem Winery today which isn't really unusual for a Thursday afternoon in January! My normal blog writing consists of writing about our home brewing supplies and wine making equipment business here in Parkersburg, Iowa and trying to get as many links from my blog back to my website as is humanly possible without being too redundant. To be honest, that really gets kind of boring.

It has been almost 66 years since my father (Holger Larsen Holm) left the family farm in Grundy County, Iowa (in February 1942) and went to Fort Des Moines to take his army physical and then come home to await his call to active duty. That never happened! The coming home part, that is. After taking his physical he was put on a troop train bound for San Francisco and soon was aboard the USS Republic on his way to the Philippine Islands.

I have bumped into (well, figuratively anyway) several bloggers from the Philippines while blogging around on EntreCard and it just reminded me again of Dad. To make a very long story short, Dad wound up stationed on the tiny fortress island of Corregidor in the mouth of Manila Bay, served with Battery Chicago of the 60th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft), was awarded three Silver Stars, a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts in about a 30 day period of time in late April and early May of 1942 prior to the surrender of Corregidor.

He then was imprisoned for about 3-1/2 years at Cabanatuan, Bilibid and Palawan POW camps in the Philippines and was transported by hellship (the Canadian Inventor) in mid-1944 to Mogi, Japan and then on to Nagoya Camp No. 3 at Funatsu, Japan. Links are provided to articles about Cabantuan and Bilibid. Dad was lucky enough to be sent away from Palawan prior to the murder of the POWs remaining there. A link is provided for reading about this atrocity by the Japanese, too. A special link is provided for information about Nagoya Camp No. 3 including information I provided to Roger Mansell who maintains this site about Japanese POW camps.

You know, wine making is my job. Selling homebrewing supplies, brewing ingredients, and beer brewing equipment is something I also do. Teaching people about home winemaking using either Cellar Craft or WinExpert wine kits is fun . . . but, that whole thing pales in importance when I think about the sacrifices my father (and his whole generation) made by bringing the Germans, Italians and Japanese to their knees during World War II.

Somehow, talking about WinExpert kits, Cellar Craft wine kits, winemaking supplies and home brew supplies just is not too significant in comparison. Dad has been gone since 1995 but he always was and always will be my hero. He won 4 very distinguished medals for bravery in combat and won 2 medals for being wounded and he never fired a shot himself! He was a lineman who repaired the wires in the communication equipment so that the anti-aircraft batteries would fire in unison. If what had happened to Dad had happened to me, I would have hated the Japanese for the rest of my life. Dad never felt that way. In fact, my brother's son lives on Okinawa (he is a civilian employee of the US Air Force there but had been stationed there previously with the Marines) and is married to a lovely Japanese girl. So, Dad, if you are watching . . . it has been 12 years . . . and I still think of you every day.

Wine Clarification -- Filtration

2007-12-29T15:53:00.000-06:00

The final method of wine clarification for home winemaking that we will discuss is filtration.

To filter or not to filter is a frequent debate among wine makers. Some believe that when wine is filtered that the process removes flavor and color from the wine and the fact is that high quality wines are most often not filtered and that wines will maintain a higher level of quality if they are fined and not filtered.

Lower quality wines are usually produced with the intention of bringing them to market quickly and the purchaser of this type of wine does not like sediment deposits in their wine. Purchasers of high quality wines realize that the wines which have been aged for a significant length of time will throw sediment.

When wine making and when the intention is to filter your wine, this process is typically done after the wine has been stabilized and has been aged. Filtration is the immediate prelude to bottling.

BlueStem Winery is a full-service wine making equipment, winemaking supplies and ingredients retailer located in Parkersburg, Iowa. Our inventory also includes homebrewing supplies, home brew ingredients and homebrew equipment. We also stock a very large inventory of WinExpert wine kits and also an inventory of Cellar Craft kits plus our own line of beer brewing ingredients kits known as BlueStems Best.

We would encourage you to visit us on our website for your next WinExpert or Cellar Craft wine kits or any of the brewing supplies you may need. We promise knowledgeable advice, friendly service and prompt delivery of any homebrew supplies, beer brewing equipment or any ingredients, supplies, or wine kits you need for making wine.

The Crossing Paths of Holger Larsen Holm and the H.M.S. Wizard

2007-12-23T18:28:00.001-06:00

It is Christmas Eve 2007 and it was a little over 62 years ago that the paths of my father, Holger Larsen Holm and that of the British destroyer H.M.S. Wizard crossed paths. Our business is making wine and selling winemaking supplies and homebrewing supplies so my blogs just have to be about beer brewing ingredients or wine making equipment but this blog is about a not so long ago war, heroes and eventually, beer.

Holger Larsen Holm was born in October 1916 to Peter Holm and Karoline Swensen Holm. Peter and Karoline immigrated to Iowa from Denmark in the early part of the 20th Century and purchased an 80 acre farm in northeast Grundy County, Iowa about 3 miles southwest of New Hartford. Peter and Karoline were always known as Bestefa and Bestamor to me (Grandpa and Grandma in Dane). There children were Martin, Mary, Carl, Peter, Eva and my father, Holger.

In early 1941 my father enlisted in the United States Army. He traveled to Fort Des Moines for his physical and thought he would be home for a little while waiting to ship out. Instead, with no chance to say good-bye he was placed on a troop train and was on his way to San Francisco where he boarded the S.S. Republic and sailed for the Philippine Islands.

Holger (aka Dad) took his basic training in the Philippines and was assigned to Battery C (Chicago) of the 60th Coast Artillery and was duty stationed on Morrison Hill (hence the name of one of our beer brewing ingredients kits known as Morrison Hill Pale Ale) on Corregidor Island. It was an island paradise until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7 (Dad always said it was December 8 where he was at!), 1941. The war came quickly to the Philippines and to Corregidor with the Bataan Peninsula surrendering in early April 1942 and Corregidor surrendering in early May. Dad spent time in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps at Cabanatuan, Bilibid and Palawan in the Philippines and in 1944 was put aboard the Hell Ship Canadian Inventor and sailed for Mogi, Japan. From there Dad was sent to Nagoya Camp No. 3 at Funatsu, Japan where he spent the remainder of the war as a slave laborer at a Japanese zinc mine.

With the war's end in August of 1945 the camp was liberated and the prisoners were taken by train to Nagoya harbor on the east coast of Japan. After a brief physical the now ex-prisoners (about half Americans and the other half British and Australians) were issued new clothing, placed aboard a U.S. Navy barge and taken out into Nagoya harbor where Dad's path crossed with that of the H.M.S. Wizard.

The Wizard had been charged with transporting the ex-prisoners to Tokyo. The ex-P.O.W.'s were taken aboard the Wizard and were immediately told to strip and throw their new clothes into the harbor. Lice! Dad was very unhappy with losing his new clothes. After delousing the men were issued a new set of clothes (extra clothing given to them by the crew of the Wizard). They were then taken below to the mess. Dad said they started eating breakfast at 0930 and 12 hours later they were still eating breakfast with many getting quite ill from the overindulgence.

After sailing to Tokyo the prisoners were taken ashore and Dad's trip home via Guam began. Imagine the joy of the family back home as the first word they received of Dad's survival of the war came with a phone call to his brother Martin when he docked in San Francisco.

Several years ago I was surfing the web and found a website built by Roger Mansell which was a compilation of information about all of the Japanese P.O.W. camps. Nagoya Camp No. 3 at Funatsu (click on the link for photos and information at the Mansell website) was listed but that was it. I e-mailed Roger to tell him that I enjoyed his site but was disappointed that there was no information posted about Funatsu. Roger promptly replied and I soon was e-mailing what information I had to him.

And soon my path would cross with H.M.S. Wizard. A couple of years after the information I had provided to Roger was posted on the web I received an e-mail from Great Britain. A member of the H.M.S. Wizard reunion society had seen the website, contacted Roger to get my e-mail address, and had printed copies of the website and had shown them at a reunion meeting. He wanted my address because a lady from Wales wanted to correspond with me and did not have the internet.

Shortly I received a letter from this lady from Wales and so I now gained a friend. Adeline Medford's husband had been a crewman on the Wizard and this initial contact has made us pen pals and we have written back and forth many times over the past five or six years.

When my wife and I started our new wine making and beer brewing supplies store in 2004 I soon started developing beer recipes for homebrew ingredients kits that I sell. I began naming a few of them in honor of my Dad's war experiences with the first being Morrison Hill Pale Ale (a clone of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale) and when I started looking for a name for the second home brew ingredients kit I looked to Adeline and the Wizard reunion society. The second brewing ingredients kit was named by the Wizard group as HMS Wizard Magic Circle Mild Ale.

Adeline forwarded to me a blazer patch (pictured above) and when she informed me that she had read my letter to the reunion society that a beer had been named in their honor and that I was going to ship the ingredients to Britain so all could have a beer on me she said that it was moved and seconded and I was unanimously voted in as an honorary member of the H.M.S. Wizard Society. She also said that my being honored so probably had more to do with free beer than with the service of my father or her husband! Thanks, Ady!

Anyway, the home brewing ingredients will soon be on their way to Wales so that when the next reunion meeting is held in April 2008 a toast can be made to my Dad and to all the brave men who fought in World War II and especially to the crew of the H.M.S. Wizard.

BlueStem Winery offers a complete line of wine making equipment, winemaking supplies and ingredients for making wine along with all of the homebrewing equipment, home brewing supplies and home brew ingredients you need to make your own H.M.S. Wizard Magic Circle Mild Ale, Morrison Hill Pale Ale or any other recipe that you choose to make (or you can purchase the home brew ingredients kits we call BlueStems Best from the BlueStem Winery website.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading this brief account of the crossing of paths of an Iowa farm boy turned American soldier and that of the Royal Navy destroyer H.M.S. Wizard. If you desire to read additional information about what my Dad and so many others endured, click on this link and also search for information about the atrocities committed by the Japanese on the island of Palawan (this link will tell you about Glenn McDole of Des Moines, Iowa, who was a friend of my Dad's at Palawan and after the war) where approximately 150 soldiers, sailors and Marines were murdered. Fortunately, my father had been transported out of this camp several months before these brave Americans were murdered by the Japanese.

Are you making wine this winter? Would you like to get into wine making this winter? BlueStem Winery has all of the wine making supplies and winemaking equipment you need and our WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine ingredient kits are the very best! We have sold WinExpert ingredient kits from the day we opened our store and just about six months ago we started offering the Cellar Craft wine kits. There are none better! Excellent products with easy to understand instructions and the wine (with a little patience!) ages into some of the best wine you can imagine.

Wine Clarification -- Liquor Quik Super-Kleer K.C.

2007-12-23T14:06:00.000-06:00

Liquor Quik Super-Kleer K.C. is a 2-stage Euro-fining which BlueStem Winery has come to recommend to its wine making customers in most circumstances.

This fining contains two pouches, one of kieselsol and another of chitosan. This fining works by creating both strong positive and strong negative charges in the wine. This creates larger yeast clumping and faster clearing.

The type of fining has been used successfully in commercial wine kits such as WinExpert and Cellar Craft wine kits for years and has been a staple at BlueStem Winery since we opened our store.

LQ Super-Kleer can be used when making wine and should also be kept on hand as one of your standard home brewing supplies as it can also be used to help clear beer.

Add the kieselsol packet to your carboy. It is recommended that this 2-stage fining be added to your carboy prior to racking. Stir gently and bring the sediment up from the bottom of the carboy. Dissolve the chitosan packet in one fluid ounce of warm water and then add this to the carboy. Again, stir gently. Attach bung and airlock and wait from 12 to 48 hours (or longer). This product may not clear pectin haze or wine or beer made with hard water (water high in dissolved minerals).

BlueStem Winery recommends the use of LQ Super-Kleer for use with any of the Cellar Craft or WinExpert wine kits that it sells and it can also be used with any wine made from concentrates or fresh fruit juices.

Are you looking for a good selection of winemaking equipment or homebrew supplies? We may be what you are looking for! BlueStem Winery offers everything in wine making equipment and home brew supplies that the amateur vintner or brewer needs. If you find a piece of homebrewing equipment or some brewing supplies or some WinExpert ingredient kits that we do not have we will be happy to accommodate you by ordering the homebrewing supplies or the kits you want.

In addition to home winemaking kits we also stock a complete line of winemaking supplies for the vintner who wants to make their wine from fruit or concentrates. Ditto for the homebrew enthusiast. We have our own line of beer brewing ingredients kits called BlueStems Best or you can choose a recipe of your own and purchase the beer brewing supplies and brewing equipment you need to make it.

Stop in if you are in the area or we are open 24 / 7 on the web and can have your purchase on its way right away.

Blogging Away!

2007-12-19T14:51:00.000-06:00

First, let me tell you that I am computer illiterate! When I sent to college (then known as State College of Iowa or S.C.I. and later as University of Northern Iowa or U.N.I.) my computer programming class consisted of punch cards! Although I have used computers and the internet with great frequency over the years at work and at home I am most happy when the thing works the way it is supposed to! If it doesn't I am usually in trouble.

We built our first website for our wine making equipment and homebrew supplies store in 2005 and all that I learned was that you have to be careful who you choose to build your site! Anyone choosing a web developer out of Clear Lake, Iowa should use extra caution. After building this site we very shortly contacted a second web development company out of Waterloo, Iowa and it has made a huge difference! Andy Mullinex at Impact Marketing built us a great site that is very easy to maintain and update and he is a constant supplier of ideas to promote our winemaking ingredients and homebrew equipment site. The Clear Lake web developer had lots of great ideas to take our money away but did very little to earn it! If anyone tries to sell you on the idea of website optimization just give me an e-mail. It is easy to do yourself and you will probably do a better job, too!

Andy's latest ideas have been linking my blog into Technorati and yesterday he e-mails me about linking my blog into EntreCard. Although I have linked to Technorati I really haven't done anything to take advantage of it yet. I signed into EntreCard yesterday and have been inundated with requests to advertise on our blog. My only goal is to drive as much business as possible to the BlueStem Winery website and ultimately to sell as much wine making supplies, homebrewing equipment, home brew ingredients, WinExpert wine ingredient kits, Cellar Craft kits and our own line of home brewing ingredients kits (known as BlueStems Best) as possible. If doing all of this linking and exchanging helps to promote our blog and ultimately our website then let's do it!

In addition to selling winemaking equipment, winemaking supplies, homebrewing supplies and other products for making wine and beer, BlueStem is also a licensed winery and we are busy with our own wine making endeavors quite a bit of the time. So, if you are into home winemaking or need home brewing supplies we are the ones to see. We can also help you find the right Cellar Craft of WinExpert kits to try when you are looking to expand your wine horizons.

Beer Brewing Ingredients Shortages

2007-12-18T19:27:00.000-06:00

Panic! Panic! Panic! Everyone in the homebrewing supplies industry is very concerned about two of the basic ingredients needed to brew beer: hops and malt.

My wholesaler has been in contact with me several times recently announcing the allocation of hops for the 2008 season and are attempting to spread the supply of hops among its retailers as fairly as possible.

But . . . there is panic buying going on at all levels of the hop industry with some elements trying to corner the market by purchasing large quantities of hops from retailers. BlueStem Winery's first step to regulate the panic buying of hops was to remove all hops from our website. We are gradually adding hops back to our site as the market stabilizes but will continue to limit hop purchases, especially to customers who have not purchased from us before and who want to jump in and buy only hops from our website. Our first loyalty will be to our prior customers!

On the malt side of the equation, the continued deterioration of the dollar has put an inflationary spin on the price of malts and malt extracts.

This all mean that brewers may need to alter their purchases of brewing supplies and move toward brewing less hoppy beers until the hop situation is corrected.

BlueStem Winery will do its best to maintain a good selection of home brewing ingredients, including malt and hops but we will not be able to control all aspects of this situation.

In addition to offering a complete line of homebrew supplies, BlueStem Winery also inventories a complete line of brewing equipment and beer brewing ingredients. On the wine side of the business, we stock wine making equipment, winemaking supplies and home wine making ingredients plus a super array of WinExpert wine ingredient kits and we have just recently added Cellar Craft kits to our wine making lineup. We have marketed WinExpert kits since our opening in 2004 and added the Cellar Craft ingredient kits in mid-2007.

Our beer brewing ingredients kits are headlined by our selection of BlueStems Best kits (about 80% of these are clones of the Brewers Best kit line while the other 20% are kits designed by BlueStem).

BlueStem has recently implemented a discount program on all home brewing supplies and winemaking equipment purchased on the website. All purchases accumulate towards larger discounts. BlueStem wants to be your regular source for home brew supplies and wine making ingredients.

Wine Clarification: Pectic Enzymes

2007-12-16T19:35:00.001-06:00

Pectins present in wines can cause the wine to remain cloudy. Excess pectins are removed by the addition of pectic enzymes and this treatment is effective for red wines, white wines and for fruit wines. The addition of pectic enzyme prior to fermentation will, in addition to clarification, increase juice yield.

The pectic enzyme powder should be dissolved in water and added prior to fermentation when used to increase juice yields and and as a haze prevention. It can also be added after fermentation to reduce existing haze. Pectic enzymes are most effective at a minimum temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

If the haze persists you can test to see if the wine still contains excess pectins by adding your wine to methanol at a rate of 1:4. If a heavy, off-white precipitate forms the wine contains excess pectins and it should be treated again with pectic enzymes. If the problem continues it will most likely be necessary to filter the wine.

BlueStem Winery is your full-service supplier for winemaking equipment, wine making supplies, WinExpert ingredient kits, Cellar Craft kits, and all of your other home wine making needs. BlueStem also provides its home brewing clients with a complete line of homebrewing supplies, beer brewing ingredients, and brewing equipment plus we are your exclusive supplier of our own BlueStems Best brewing ingredients kits.

Whether you are making wine from backyard fruit, a WinExpert or Cellar Craft kit or brewing your own beer, we can help you with homebrew supplies or wine making advice. We look forward to being your source for home winemaking ingredients or home brew supplies.

What's Hot at BlueStem Winery!

2007-12-13T18:43:00.001-06:00

Wine Clarification -- Gelatin

2007-12-12T21:02:00.000-06:00

Powdered gelatin finings is a good red wine fining agent. If red wine has excessive tannins gelatin finings make an excellent fining as it will reduce tannins in addition to clearing the wine. Dosage for gelatin finings can vary considerably based upon the concentration of suspended particles and on the amount of tannins present. Gelatin exhibits good less compactness traits (see December 8, 2007 blog article regarding lees compactness).

BlueStem Winery has operated a wine making and beer brewing supplies store since mid-2003 at 305 Third Street in Parkersburg, Iowa. Our website became operational approximately a year later and has given us a large gathering of new friends from all over the USA and Canada and from many countries all over the world.

Our speciality is wine as we are a licensed winery and we specialize in WinExpert kits and Cellar Craft kits for our home winemaking customers. We started from square one with the brewing supplies end of the business as I had never brewed beer previously. My first experience was making an Amber Cerveza Brewers Best kit. We carried the Brewers Best line for quite some time but found it a better fit to clone the Brewers Best line with our own BlueStems Best homebrewing ingredients kits.

We stock a complete line of winemaking equipment, homebrew supplies, home brewing ingredients and beer brewing equipment. For making wine, our wine making equipment is first rate and we pride ourselves on prompt service and professional packaging. Our homebrewing supplies are fresh as are our homebrew ingredients. BlueStem has recently implemented a great new discount program for whole line of homebrew supplies and wine making ingredients for everything purchased from our website. That plus free shipping on everything on our website including brewing equipment and beer brewing supplies.

Wine Clarification -- Isinglass

2007-12-11T18:04:00.000-06:00

Isinglass is a super pure form of gelatin which is made from fish bladders. Isinglass is a very quick acting fining agent which is most effective on white wines. Is is very poor as to lees compactness as it creates a heavy deposit (see December 8, 2007 blog article regarding lees compactness).

The Isinglass sold by BlueStem Winery is in liquid form and is in a 45mL packet. At the recommended rate of 1mL/L this packet would be adequate to treat two 6-gallon carboys. Isinglass is also marketed in a powdered version.

After fermentation is done, mix liquid Isinglass with a small portion of wine and then stir this mixture into your carboy. Allow wine to clear for two or more weeks and then rack to a clean carboy.

BlueStem Winery is into making wine but we do home brewing as a special hobby! Our retail store at 305 Third Street in Parkersburg, Iowa offers a complete inventory of brewing equipment, home brew supplies, homebrew ingredients, winemaking ingredients, wine making equipment, winemaking supplies, BlueStems Best homebrewing ingredients kits, Cellar Craft ingredient kits and WinExpert ingredient kits.

Today was the last day to pre-order WinExpert kits for their Limited Edition lineup for early 2008. If you missed the deadline, BlueStem has ordered several extra kits and will have these available on a first come, first served basis until they are gone! Cellar Craft limited edition kits will continue to be available with deadlines for each type of wine expiring monthly from December, 2007 to March, 2008.

If you need brewing supplies, beer brewing equipment, homebrewing ingredients, or wine making supplies, winemaking ingredients or wine making equipment for your home winemaking or homebrew hobby, look to BlueStem Winery for all your needs.

Wine Clarification -- Egg Whites

2007-12-10T19:02:00.001-06:00

One common household item that works well for fining red wines is egg whites. Egg whites are not suitable for fining white wines. Egg whites provide good lees compactness (see blog article from December 8, 2007).

The use of egg whites for fining wines is usually appropriate only for wines made from grapes. Egg whites help alleviate astringent flavors from your wine.

The procedure for using egg whites as a fining agent is as follows:

1. Separate the egg white from the yolk (use 1 to 2 egg whites per 100 liters of wine).
2. Add the whites to salt water (dissolve a pinch of salt in 100mL of water for each egg white used).
3. Add mixture to wine and stir thoroughly.
4. Rack wine not later than 7-10 days after addition of egg whites.

BlueStem Winery is your winemaking supplies source! BlueStem also stocks a complete line of home brew supplies. Our homebrew ingredients line features our very own line of partial mash ingredient kits called BlueStems Best. Some of the ingredient kits offered include Amber Cerveza, American Amber, American Cream Ale, American Light and American Micro Style Pale Ale. Our lineup of WinExpert kits includes wine kits from the following series: Selection Estate, Selection Original (aka Selection Premium), Selection International, Vintners Reserve, Island Mist and Selection Speciale. BlueStem also carries kits from the Cellar Craft Showcase line and from Cellar Craft Classics.

BlueStem Winery also carries a complete line of winemaking ingredients for making wine from your own backyard fruit or grapes. We are committed to our wine making and beer brewing customers and stock wine making equipment. ingredients and supplies plus homebrewing supplies, equipment and ingredients.

Wine Clarification -- Bentonite

2007-12-09T20:10:00.000-06:00

Bentonite is an effective wine clarifier for all grape wines but it is especially useful in white wines because it helps prevent haze caused by proteins present in white wines. Bentonite provides poor lees compactness (see blog article from December 8, 2007).

Bentonite is most effective if added prior to the start of fermentation. When I use bentonite I typically dissolve the clay in hot water and put this solution in the primary fermenter prior to any of the other ingredients, including the juice itself. It can also be added to wine which is fermenting after the first or even the second racking.

Use bentonite in a range from 1 to 4 grams per gallon of wine must. Add bentonite to warm water at the rate of 1 gram of bentonite per 12.5ml of water. Heat the water on the range and stir until the bentonite is completely dissolved. Then pour the bentonite into the primary fermenter and continue the addition of the other wine ingredients. If adding bentonite at any time other than pre-fermentation you should use one half of the above recommendation. Wines treated with bentonite should be kept within a temperature range of 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

BlueStem Winery offers a wide range of WinExpert wine ingredient kits and a selective line of Cellar Craft kits. Both WinExpert and Cellar Craft ingredient kits are excellent choices for your wine making hobby.

You can purchase all of your winemaking equipment and brewing supplies at any hour of the day or day of the year from our website. Your wine making supplies or beer brewing equipment will be shipped promptly and if you have questions we will be more than happy to assist.

Our homebrew ingredients and wine making ingredients are fresh! Home winemaking or home brewing are great hobbies and we will be more than happy to get your started.

Wine Clarification

2007-12-08T12:42:00.001-06:00

When home wine making is done using fresh juices or grapes it is usually desirable to fine your wine to clarify (or clear) your wine. Fining is usually necessary because of the high amount or proteins present.

There are quite a few fining agents available for the wine making hobbyist to choose from including Bentonite, egg whites, gelatin, Kieselsol, Isinglass, pectic enzymes, Chitosan, Sparkolloid, grape tannins and my personal favorite, LQ Super Kleer (a dosage of Kieselsol and a dosage of Chitosan). Wine can also be filtered in lieu of using a fining agent.

Fining agents which are not liquids should be dissolved in water prior to introduction into the wine. After fining, kit wines should stand for at least two weeks prior to stabilization, wine from juice should be allowed to clear for at least four weeks and wines from grapes should be allowed to clear for approximately eight weeks prior to stabilization.

A review of each of these fining agents will be done over the next few days beginning with Bentonite the next time I write a blog article.

When choosing a fining agent to use you should consider whether the agent works well with white wine or red wine or either and also you should consider the density of the lees which will result from the use of different agents. Fining agents which do poor job of lees compaction will result in a larger amount of sediment. This will possibly result in a second racking being required and ultimately a reduction in wine quantity. This aspect will be reviewed as we write about each of the fining agents.

BlueStem Winery is a licensed and bonded Iowa winery. We have been making wine professionally since 2005 and as wine making enthusiasts for over 30 years. We operate a retail store selling homebrewing supplies, wine making equipment, our own line of brewing ingredients kits called BlueStems Best and home winemaking kits from both WinExpert and Cellar Craft. WinExpert kits have been a staple at BlueStem since we opened in 2003 and we have just recently added the Cellar Craft kits to our winemaking supplies inventory.

We stock a complete line of winemaking equipment, homebrew supplies, beer brewing equipment, homebrewing ingredients plus wine making ingredients and supplies.

BlueStem prides itself on prompt shipping of your brewing equipment and home brew supplies purchases and on knowledgeable, friendly service. We will always take the time to help you with any problems or concerns.

Rotten Eggs in Your Wine

2007-12-07T12:57:00.000-06:00

I am pressed for time today but wanted to quickly address a problem that one of my home wine making customers is fighting today. This problem is the presence of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in your wine must.

The key to solving this problem is early detection. Detection is easy because the aroma produced by the presence of hydrogen sulphides is that of rotten eggs.

There are several possible causes but I will refer you to the How To page on our website where there is a link to a .pdf file which more fully explains the causes and how to deal with this problem. The most common method of eliminating the problem is to aerate your wine must (the offshoot of this is a possible oxidation of your wine) by racking it several times and allowing as much splash as possible. Another solution can be found in the website article.

BlueStem Winery is your source for winemaking supplies both in the store and on the web. We specialize in wine ingredient kits from two of the world's best kit suppliers: WinExpert and Cellar Craft! WinExpert kits were our first order of business when we opened and about four months ago we added Cellar Craft kits to our inventory. We have posted articles on our blog about all of the Cellar Craft ingredient kits we carry and will soon be posting descriptions of all of our WinExpert kits on our blog.

Cellar Craft kits we have written about include:

Showcase Amarone
Showcase Rosso Fortissimo
Showcase Cabernet-Shiraz
Showcase Chateau du Pays
Washington Reserve Late Harvest Riesling
Showcase Yakima Valley Merlot
Showcase Yakima Valley Syrah
Showcase Viognier
Showcase Lodi Old Vines Zinfandel
Showcase Cabernet-Merlot
Showcase Gewurztraminer-Riesling
Showcase Yakima Valley Pinot Gris
Italian Reserva Nebbiolo
Porto Corinto
Washington State White Merlot
Classic Port
Italian Reserva Pinot Grigio

Our website features pricing with all shipping expense included for our winemaking equipment and home brew supplies to anywhere in the lower 48. The price shown on the website is exactly what you will pay for any homebrew ingredients or wine making equipment purchased with no additional charges for shipping (other than the one time per order $6.00 handling fee).

We specialize in prompt, friendly and knowledgeable service to our wine making and home brewing customers. Beer brewing supplies can be purchased for your own recipe or you can purchase pre-packaged kits easy to make extract kits from Muntons, Coopers, and others. Partial mash kits pre-packaged at BlueStem Winery (our own BlueStems Best beer brewing ingredients kits) are also available in may different beer styles or if you are a whole grain brewer we stock a complete line of malted grains and other home brewing ingredients for your personal recipes.

Samsung -- HOW NOT TO CARE FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS!

2007-12-05T21:30:00.000-06:00

Today I cut the cord on Samsung! Literally! We (my wife and I) purchased an over-the-range Samsung microwave oven a couple of months ago. It took us a few weeks to get a carpenter hired to install the microwave and when it was installed (after removing half of our kitchen cupboards to install it) the fan would not quit running.

I called the Samsung Customer Care Center in New Jersey and was, after several phone calls, told that Samsung did not have a service tech within our area and so our only choices were to return the microwave for exchange or to get a cash refund. Neither of these choices was really acceptable as they kind of ignored the fact that they had sold me a piece of junk, could not service it (apparently) and it was just my tough luck that I had hired a carpenter to install it, then to have it removed, and then to reinstall another one. Basically it comes down to the fact that I will have more in carpenter expenses then what the microwave cost to begin with by the time we get done.

We opted for the refund (don't want another Samsung product -- ever!) and were told that it was only going to take them 5 or 6 weeks to process the refund. They can build another thousand or so defective microwaves during that length of time but they cannot write a check any too fast. So today, at Samsung's instruction, I literally cut the cord off the microwave and mailed it to them (apparently they don't want me to attempt to fix the thing!). Now I can also pay to dispose of the thing at the land fill! Go Green, Samsung!!

I think it takes a lot of moxie to actually call their service center a Customer Care center because I have never seen a company who really cared less about their customers (or in my case, former customer!). Never . . . never . . . never again will I purchase anything that says Samsung on it. They probably make a good product, at least occasionally, but I don't want to ever have to deal with the people in New Jersey again. For once, I wouldn't mind a company moving a few jobs to India or wherever.

What makes me mad is that there are companies who treat their customers like this. Well, rest assured that our company does not treat our clients in any way even remotely similar to the way Samsung treated us. We pride ourselves on friendly, knowledgeable, and honest dealings with our customers . . . before, during and after the sale!

Looking for the equipment, supplies and ingredients your need for home winemaking or home brewing? Either (or both) is a great hobby and where else can you produce something so good?

Our winemaking supplies and homebrew ingredients are the best and we are always willing to take the time to help you through the bumps! I chart the progress of my beginning wine making and beer brewing customers by the number of phone calls (or e-mails) that I get asking for help! Sometimes they start at several calls a day and then gradually taper off as they get comfortable with the whole process.

We stock a complete line of home brew supplies and wine making equipment and we are always at your service. No former Samsung employees working here! We know how to treat our customers . . . like friends! Relax . . . have a home brew (or a big glass of home made wine!).

Check out our super line of WinExpert kits and Cellar Craft ingredient kits plus our own line of beer brewing ingredients kits called BlueStems Best. WinExpert wine ingredient kits and Cellar Craft kits make absolutely super wine and the beer you brew with our homebrew ingredients kits are superb! Cheers!

Stuck Fermentations and How to Deal With Them

2007-12-03T14:36:00.000-06:00

When fermentation ceases and all of the available sugars have not been converted to alcohol, you have what is called a stuck fermentation.

Why? What do you need to do to finish the fermentation?

I have had stuck fermentations and I have also thought that I had a stuck fermentation when I really did not. For the latter, there was an occasion when I did not get the lid securely sealed on my primary fermenter and the gases were escaping around the lid rather than through the airlock. There was another occasion when I did not have a good seal around the airlock stem and gases were passing between the grommet and the airlock rather than passing through the airlock. I also had a customer recently who did not put liquid in the airlock. He was quite frantic thinking that the fermentation was not going to start when in fact it was completely done.

The proof of whether you actually have or have had a stuck fermentation lies in using your hydrometer. You can go to the How To links on our website for instructions on how to use and read a hydrometer.

By taking hydrometer readings on consecutive days you can figure out if your sugar content is decreasing as it should. Instead of being stuck, your wine (or beer) may simply being slowing down as the amount of available sugar decreases. It is also possible that your fermentation is complete.

The presence of bacteria, temperatures which are too cool or too warm, and poor yeast nutrition can all lead to an unfinished fermentation. Yeast needs lots of food, good sanitation and a temperature suitable for the variety of yeast being used.

A complete list of causes of stuck fermentations is available on our website (go to the How To page and click on the link to visit our explanation about Stuck Fermentations).

BlueStem Winery is a full service retailer of home brewing supplies, wine making equipment, our own line of beer brewing ingredients kits called BlueStems Best, plus Cellar Craft kits and WinExpert kits for your wine making hobby.

Homebrew equipment and winemaking supplies are always on hand for immediate shipment and we do pride ourselves on the very prompt delivery of your purchases. We feature friendly and knowledgeable service along with our fresh homebrewing supplies and a large inventory of wine making supplies.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Regional Classics Italian Riserva Pinot Grigio

2007-11-28T08:45:00.000-06:00

This Cellar Craft wine ingredient kit features a star variety from the Alto-Adige area in the far north of Italy. This medium-bodied wine features lively, fresh citrus notes and a subtle spiciness. Italian Riserva Pinot Grigio is usually enjoyed young but it may also be aged for several months.

BlueStem Winery is your complete source for both Cellar Craft kits and WinExpert wine ingredient kits along with all of the winemaking supplies and brewing equipment you need.

BlueStem stocks a very good selection of WinExpert kits and a growing inventory of kits for making wine from Cellar Craft. We feature our own line of beer ingredient kits (BlueStems Best) and have a full array of wine making equipment and homebrew supplies.

Relax! Have a home brew (or a glass of homemade wine!). Now is the perfect time to get started, to reinvigorate a hobby you have let go for awhile or to accelerate your production to meet the growing demands of your friends! Winemaking equipment and home brew supplies are in stock and ready to ship within 24 hours of your order. Our beer brewing supplies are fresh and our home brew equipment packages are just what you need for Christmas! Have a Happy Holiday season from BlueStem Winery.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Classic Port Specialty Dessert Wine

2007-11-27T12:37:00.000-06:00

Cellar Craft's Specialty Dessert Wine Classic Port, in the Portuguese tradition, is made from a blend of several grape varietals.

This wine exhibits intense fruit character and depth of flavor at bottling. Like any port, however, you will be rewarded if you can keep some bottles in the cellar for a year or two.

This kit produces up to 17.5% alcohol. Brandy may be added to elevate the alcohol even further and add to the true Port taste.

This Cellar Craft wine ingredient kit along with many others from both Cellar Craft and WinExpert kits are available both in our store and on our website. BlueStem Winery inventories a large number of WinExpert ingredient kits and will be expanding our line of Cellar Craft kits in the near future. Both Cellar Craft and WinExpert limited edition kits for 2008 are now available for pre-order on our website.

In addition to the WinExpert wine ingredient kits and the Cellar Craft kits, BlueStem Winery also carries a complete line of homebrewing supplies, home brew equipment, our own line of beer brewing ingredients kits (BlueStems Best), plus all of the winemaking supplies and wine making equipment needed by the home brewing or wine making enthusiast.

We specialize in personal, prompt, knowledgeable and friendly service for our purchasers of winemaking equipment and home brewing supplies. Stop by the store if possible! We love to visit with our friends about making wine and beer brewing!

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Regional Classics Washington State White Merlot

2007-11-26T09:17:00.001-06:00

This salmon colored Washington State White Merlot is one of the wines in Cellar Craft's Regional Classics white wine collection.

All the essence of a fine Merlot but with the freshness and softness that comes from juice which is quickly separated from the skins. Incredibly fruity! This is a blush wine you simply must try!

Are you interested in making really fine wine at home? BlueStem Winery has the winemaking equipment you need plus we stock a very large selection of WinExpert kits and Cellar Craft kits for your wine making enjoyment!

If you prefer to home brew, BlueStem also stocks a complete line of homebrewing supplies and home brew equipment. Beer brewing ingredients stocked include malts (grain, liquid and dry), yeast, hops and other additives.

Whether is its home brewing supplies, brewing ingredients or the stuff you need for making wine, we hope you will look to BlueStem Winery for your hobby needs.

Check out our latest How To article on our website on dealing with stuck fermentations.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Specialty Dessert Wine Porto Corinto

2007-11-25T09:11:00.000-06:00

One of Cellar Craft International's Specialty Dessert Wine series is Porto Corinto (exclusive to Cellar Craft!).

This wine is a full-bodied, slightly oaked ruby port infused with the flavor of black currants. Intense, rich, and savory sweet! 16% alcohol.

This classic dessert wine can be enjoyed within two to three weeks of bottling but its best after a year! Cheers!

BlueStem Winery features several dessert wines including Porto Corinto and Classic Port from Cellar Craft and WinExpert's Selection Speciale Cabernet Franc Icewine, Cream Sherry, Port, Millennium Sparkling Wine, and Riesling Icewine.

Great customer service, prompt shipping, knowledgeable advice, homebrew supplies, wine making equipment and making wine are what is important at BlueStem Winery! Our customers are first . . . always! Our specialties are WinExpert wine ingredient kits, Cellar Craft ingredient kits, winemaking supplies, homebrewing equipment and home brew ingredients. We also dabble in Iowa soy products, antiques, Amish quilts, and gourmet foods (when we have time!).

Beer brewing supplies are fully stocked for the amateur Zymergy enthusiast and our pantry is always full of WinExpert ingredient kits and winemaking equipment. If you are an amateur wine making enthusiast or an avid homebrew hobbyist please look to BlueStem for your hobby needs. Our web prices include shipping to your door anywhere in the lower 48 and we ship worldwide.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Regional Classics Washington Reserve Late Harvest Riesling

2007-11-24T11:04:00.000-06:00

Mature grapes from Cherry Hill Vineyard in Washington provide the foundation for Cellar Craft Classics Washington Reserve Late Harvest Riesling.

Yours truly made this wine as one of the first ones tried when we started carrying the Cellar Craft line and it is absolutely delicious! No waiting! We started drinking this wine when it was very young and it was luscious right from the start!

Notes of honey, apple and apricot dominate the aroma and taste! A long rich finish makes this late harvest wine special. On a scale of zero to ten with zero being dry and ten being an ice wine, this wine would rate a six. Although we have been carrying the Cellar Craft line for only about four months we have customers coming back for seconds on this wine already! Delicious!

BlueStem Winery is a licensed and bonded Iowa winery making our own label BlueStem wines. In addition, we carry WinExpert wine ingredient kits and also Cellar Craft ingredient kits. Our shelves are stocked with a complete line of winemaking supplies and homebrewing equipment and we are always willing to take the time to teach you about wine making or beer brewing. Our ingredients are always fresh and our service is always knowledgeable, courteous and prompt.

Shipping of our wine making equipment and homebrew supplies is by either FedEx or the post office (based on package size and weight) and we try to ship within 24 hours of your purchase. If you have questions about our winemaking equipment or homebrewing supplies please do not hesitate to ask.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Regional Classics Italian Reserva Nebbiolo

2007-11-23T08:56:00.001-06:00

Cellar Craft Regional Classics Italian Reserva Nebbiolo comes from Italy's most noble red grape. This grape comes from the central Piedmont area of Italy and is the grape of the great Barolos and Barbarescos.

Ruby in color with a soft and moderate body with suggestions of violets and raspberries. Accented by French oak, this wine benefits from aging for 12 months or more.

BlueStem Winery offers a large number of both WinExpert kits and Cellar Craft kits for the discerning home wine making enthusiast. Winemaking supplies and home brew equipment are featured parts of our business along with making wine varietals from all over the world.

Whether it is winemaking equipment, homebrew supplies or ingredients to put together your own recipe, BlueStem Winery has what you need and will deliver it promptly. We stock a complete line of homebrew equipment and home brewing supplies and are always at your service with friendly, knowledgeable service.

So, if you are shopping for brewing equipment, home brew supplies, beer brewing ingredient kits such as our own BlueStems Best, or a superior winemaking ingredients kit from either Cellar Craft or WinExpert we hope you give BlueStem Winery a try. Our website pricing includes shipping to anywhere in the lower 48.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Valley Pinot Gris

2007-11-22T10:24:00.000-06:00

Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Valley Pinot Gris provides notes of green apples and lemons against a floral and honey background. The flavor reserve package provided with each kit creates a rich mouth-feel with tangy fruit acid balanced by a hint of sweetness.

The wine's character become most apparent after several months of bottle aging and this wine should show well for up to 18 months.

A great choice to accompany dishes rich in butter and oil, garlic and spices. Serve just slightly chilled.

BlueStem Winery features wine ingredient kits from both Cellar Craft and WinExpert. A fairly complete line of WinExpert wine ingredient kits features wines from their Vintners Reserve, Selection Premium (sometimes called Selection Original), Selection International, Selection Estate, Selection Speciale, World Vineyard, Island Mist and Selection Limited Edition series. We have just begun marketing the Cellar Craft ingredient kits and feature wines from their Showcase Collection, the Cellar Craft Classics premium 6-week line and from the Specialty Dessert Wine kits. More of the Cellar Craft ingredient kits will be added in the future for your home wine making enjoyment. WinExpert ingredient kits and Cellar Craft kits are among the industry leaders for superior quality wine ingredient kits for the home wine making enthusiast.

In addition to wine making supplies and winemaking ingredients, BlueStem Winery also offers a complete line of homebrewing supplies, homebrew ingredients and homebrew equipment. Our brewing ingredients include an ingredient kit line called BlueStems Best which are ingredient kits which are complete right down to the bottle caps.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Gewurztraminer-Riesling

2007-11-21T14:39:00.000-06:00

One of our store favorites!! Peach and melon from the Riesling blend beautifully together with the spice, mango, and grapefruit of the Gewurztraminer in Cellar Craft Showcase Gewurztraminer-Riesling. Elegant with a hint of sweetness! Enjoy this wine young and fresh or cellar it for a more harmonious profile. Extremely food friendly!! Enjoy this one just slightly chilled.

BlueStem Winery is your retail source for both Cellar Craft kits and for WinExpert kits! BlueStem stocks a complete line of winemaking supplies and winemaking equipment and for our beer making clients we stock a complete line of homebrew supplies and brewing equipment, too.

Even though we are a licensed and bonded winery, home brew supplies and homebrew ingredients are stocked at the same inventory levels as our wine making equipment. Our beer making ingredient kits are our own BlueStems Best kits with over 20 different ingredient kits to choose from and more to come.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Cabernet-Merlot

2007-11-20T13:18:00.000-06:00

Bare Ridge Vineyard in Walla Walla, Washington is the grape source for Cellar Craft Showcase Walla Walla Cabernet-Merlot. Walla Walla reds were what first put Washington on the world wine map. Washington reds are now grouped with world standard reds from Bordeaux, Napa and Sonoma. Walla Walla Cabernets and Merlots are consistently in the top ten of the finest wines from America.

This wine is a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet and Merlot but it also typifies the unique Walla Walla profile of intense fruit and spice flavors and aromatics. Subtle currant, cherry and plum notes are backed by hints of black pepper, anise and coffee. The wine is oaked in a two-stage process using French and Hungarian oaks which very nicely mellows the tannins and adds jut a hint of toastiness.

BlueStem Winery features both Cellar Craft kits and WinExpert kits in their wine making product inventory. We also feature a complete line of winemaking supplies and brewing equipment in our Parkersburg, Iowa store.

Beer brewing supplies and winemaking equipment are available Wednesday through Saturday from 11-5 or Sunday Noon-4 at the storefront location or on BlueStem Winery's website 24/7.

Just got to have some homebrewing supplies or homebrew equipment and its Monday or Tuesday? Give us a call! We are usually in the store working with our wine or packaging internet sales. If we are in the store we are open for business!

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Lodi Old Vines Zinfandel

2007-11-19T10:12:00.000-06:00

Direct from Ferrero Vineyards in Lodi, California comes wonderful Cellar Craft Showcase Lodi Old Vines Zinfandel wine bursting with concentrated and complex flavors. Sandy, clay loam soil, hot days and cool nights combined with 35 year old vines produce this unique grape wine.

It starts up-front with aromas of blackberries and cherries. Blueberries, raspberries, cranberries and dried plums follow. Beneath this are hints of chocolate, almond and exotic spices. This all finishes with an unmistakable sensation of black pepper.

You can enjoy the first bottle of this wine when it is only two to three months old. The fruit flavors will dominate at this point in its life. Cellar some for months (or years) more to experience a more refined balance and complexity.

BlueStem Winery is your home for Cellar Craft ingredient kits. We feature this kit and many others with more to be added approximately May 1, 2008. Pre-order now to purchase this year's line-up of Cellar Craft Limited Editions. WinExpert Limited Edition kits are also posted on our website for pre-orders. BlueStem Winery features Cellar Craft kits and WinExpert ingredient kits for our wine making clients and BlueStem's Best ingredient kits for our home brewing customers. Our website features a complete line of home brew equipment, home brewing supplies, winemaking equipment and winemaking supplies. Our web store is open 24/7 and we promise prompt, friendly and knowledgeable service.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Viognier

2007-11-18T08:51:00.000-06:00

Me either! The first time I saw this wine I had not a clue how to pronounce Viognier! The correct pronunciation is vee-yon yay. Now you know!

This is one of the Cellar Craft ingredient kits and is part of their Showcase collection. The grapes used for this wonderful white are from the Yakima Ridge Vineyard in the Yakima Valley of Washington.

Full-bodied and aromatic with a creamy mouth-feel, the unbelievable aromas and flavors of apricot, mango, pineapple, guava, kiwi, tangerine, orange blossoms and spiced pear dazzle your senses. The provided flavor reserve pack balances the grape's edge and creates a full, off-dry lingering finish.

If you drink it on its own, one glass will almost exhaust your palate. Pair it with spicy Asian foods and it is magic! Drink this one while it is young and don't over-chill it!

BlueStem Winery is your full-service source for both Cellar Craft kits and for WinExpert kits. Located in northeast Iowa, we are centrally located for shipment anywhere in the lower 48. We also ship homebrew equipment and winemaking supplies to Canada and to other international destinations. Winemaking ingredients and home brew supplies are our specialty! We are large enough to stock the items you need while small enough to take the time to help you.

Making wine is also part of who BlueStem is! We are a licensed and bonded winery with our own "Once in a Blue Moon" (a Riesling dessert wine) on the wine rack already and two more scheduled for very early 2008 ("Red Crescent" is a Cabernet Franc dessert wine and "Dark Side" is a dry Chilean Montepulciano). We will also be releasing Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Gruner Veltliner wines and a Gewurztraminer dessert wine in mid-2008 and a Zweigelt in early 2009 as these wines mature.

Wine making is a great hobby as is beer brewing! We have the Cellar Craft ingredient kits (or the WinExpert wine ingredient kits) you need and we also have a full line of homebrew supplies.

Don't know how? Not a problem! We will take the time to nurture you through the process (phone calls and e-mails are never a problem!). Cheers!

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Valley Syrah

2007-11-17T08:00:00.001-06:00

Cellar Craft Wine Ingredient Kit Showcase Yakima Valley Syrah is bold and lively and easily in a league with wines from the northern Rhone and southern Australia. Richly perfumed with a kiss of elegance.

Experience a blast of red and black fruits, chocolate, coffee and licorice followed by the black pepper spiciness of this Washington State Syrah. Two-stage oaking keeps the fruit in check and adds great structure.

A deep-purple wine which shows well after only three months, this Syrah benefits from extended aging. One or two years in the cellar will allow this wine to reach its full potential.

Homebrew supplies and homebrew equipment along with wine making equipment and winemaking supplies are specialties at BlueStem Winery. We feature both WinExpert wine ingredient kits and Cellar Craft kits for home winemaking and our own BlueStem's Best beer brewing ingredients kits including our very special Morrison Hill Pale Ale (a Sierra Nevada clone). At your service 24/7 on the web or stop by our store at 305 Third Street in Parkersburg, Iowa for all your home brew supplies, winemaking ingredients or even to purchase a bottle of BlueStem label wine. We feature knowledgeable and friendly service with prompt shipping of your website order.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Yakima Valley Merlot

2007-11-16T15:37:00.001-06:00

Elegant and bold, this Yakima Valley Merlot from Cellar Craft is big and full of up-front waves of raspberry, blackberry and plum. Subtle notes of cedar and mocha follow the fruit and over time, the flavors harmonize while the oak contributes a tempering vanilla note.

Dark, rich, intense! This wine is worthy of aging and will continue to improve for a least two years in the bottle.

BlueStem Winery is a full-service distributor of Cellar Craft Ingredient Kits and is also a full-service distributor of WinExpert Wine Ingredient Kits. A complete inventory of winemaking equipment, supplies and ingredients is available along with our line of home brew equipment, supplies and ingredients. We also feature our own BlueStem's Best beer ingredient kits. Drop by our store Wednesday through Saturday from 11-5 (Central) or on Sunday from Noon-4 or visit our always open web store at www.bluestemwine.com!!

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Chateau Du Pays

2007-11-14T07:46:00.001-06:00

Cellar Craft Showcase Chateau du Pays builds its complex character from Syrah, Carignan and Grenache grapes and is fermented with a two liter crushed grape pack of Syrah and Grenache grapes.

Rich flavors in the style of the fine wines of the southern Rhone Valley suggest cherry, raspberry, blackberry and plum combined with notes of pepper and chocolate.

The finish is subtly herbaceous with suggestions of cedar and violets.

This wine can be enjoyed after as little as three months but is its harmonious best if you cellar it for nine months or longer.

BlueStem Winery is a full service winemaking supplies retail outlet (we also carry winemaking equipment and ingredients) located at 305 Third Street in Parkersburg, Iowa. BlueStem also stocks a complete line of home brew supplies and equipment. Home winemaking classes (or home brewing classes) can be scheduled at your convenience. We are on the web 24/7 and we specialize in prompt friendly service.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Cabernet - Shiraz

2007-11-13T18:49:00.000-06:00

From the White Sands and Rattlesnake Valley Vineyards located in Washington's Yakima Valley comes Cellar Craft Showcase Cabernet-Shiraz. Yakima Valley Cabernet and Syrah (Shiraz) are many times compared to the great wines from down under, but they also have their own, perhaps more sophisticated, charm.

Cabernet-Shiraz starts with a rush of blackberries, plums, cherries and candied orange fragrances. These bouquets are followed by the flavors of currants, figs, cedar and spice entwined with a balance of toasted oak with a rich, elegant finish.

After two to three months of aging the powerful fruit flavors start to come together. After six to twelve months the tannins soften and the elegant charm of this wine starts to reveal itself. This wine can be cellared for more than two years.

BlueStem Winery features home brew equipment, supplies and ingredients in addition to our complete line of wine making equipment, supplies and ingredients. Open from Wednesday through Saturday 11 to 5 (Central) and on Sunday from Noon to 4, our on-line store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We specialize in knowing our customers and prompt, friendly service. Check out our 2008 line of Cellar Craft Limited Edition winemaking ingredient kits and our 2008 line of WinExpert Limited Edition winemaking kits.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Rosso Fortissimo

2007-11-12T08:05:00.001-06:00

Cellar Craft Rosso Fortissimo is their original crushed grape pack wine. Rosso Fortissimo is a super-Tuscan style wine vinted from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and other Italian varietal grapes.

Cellar Craft's Rosso Fortissimo is fermented on a 2-liter package of Yakima Valley crushed Merlot grapes.

Big, full-bodied with solid structure and combined with plum and cherry notes balance the bold tannins. French and American oaks add toasty vanilla flavors and greater depth to this intense red wine.

Like all of Cellar Craft's wines made with crushed grape packs a minimum of six months aging is necessary to let this wine begin to develop. A year is better and two years will yield a very special wine indeed.

BlueStem Winery specializes in homebrew equipment, ingredients and supplies along with stocking a full line of wine making equipment, ingredients, supplies and both Cellar Craft and WinExpert ingredient kits. We are centrally located in northeast Iowa for quick shipment to any location in the lower 48. We ship internationally with clients in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Malta, Greece, Pakistan, Canada, Peru, Great Britain and others. We are large enough to carry the inventory you need yet small enough to take the time to cater to your individual needs and concerns.

Featured Wine Ingredient Kit -- Cellar Craft Showcase Amarone

2007-11-11T08:36:00.000-06:00

This is the first in a series of blog entries featuring the wine ingredient kits marketed by BlueStem Winery. Our first featured kit is also one of our favorites!

Cellar Craft Showcase Amarone originates from the Valpolicella area of Italy. It is a bold, assertive wine with a distinct and unique character that derives from the addition of dried grapes during fermentation. The result is a wine with the depth of a Port or Late Harvest wine but without the sweetness.

Showcase Amarone from Cellar Craft has its foundation in Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes from Veneto. The must is fermented on crushed grapes from over ten pounds of fruit plus four pounds of whole grapes which have been sun-dried to perfection. A double dose of untoasted oak balances the wine and with aging tames the natural tannins present in this wine.

This wine is very full-bodied, dry and is a deep garnet color. Hints of plums, sour cherries, raspberries and vanilla blend with into the anise, bitter chocolate, coffee, tobacco, leather and fig flavors which develop with aging. This wine features a long, lingering finish and an alcohol content which should exceed 15%. This wine is best if aged for at least a year.

BlueStem Winery is located in beautiful, downtown Parkersburg, Iowa in America's heartland. We are centrally located for quick delivery to anywhere in the lower 48. Our website features pricing which includes delivery expense so you have no question about what our products are going to cost delivered to your door. We feature a complete line of winemaking equipment, homebrewing supplies, winemaking ingredients, home brewing equipment, wine making supplies, beer making ingredient kits (we feature our very own BlueStem's Best line), winemaking ingredient kits including Cellar Craft and WinExpert plus all of the winemaking ingredients (a complete line of yeast, additives, wine labels, corkers, fruit wine bases and corks) and beer brewing ingredients (a complete line of malted grain, dry malt extracts, liquid malt extracts, yeast, adjunct grains, and additives). Visit our store or shop with us on the web. You will always find prompt, knowledgeable and friendly service. Advice is free and freely given.

Enjoying Wine 101

2007-11-03T10:04:00.000-05:00

So you want to get started enjoying wine but don't have a clue about what makes a good wine or where to find out what makes a good wine.

Not a problem! No one can really tell you what kind of wine (white, red, blush, fruit, dry, sweet, or in between) you will like most. Everyone's taste for wine is different. We do tastings in our winery and long ago I gave up on trying to tell people what they should or should not enjoy. Everyone is different and everyone's taste for wine is different, too!

Start your wine testing by enjoying wine by the glass rather than by purchasing an entire bottle of something you may not enjoy. By keeping a diary of which wines you like or don't like you will soon see a pattern develop and this will help you with future wine purchases.

We have many people who purchase wine for health reasons and it is true that wine does have certain benefits to the circulatory system. Red? White? Both are beneficial in this regard. Instead of debating the benefits of either, choose a wine which you enjoy.

In addition to marketing our own label of wines (BlueStem Winery), we also operate a wine and home brewing supplies store. We market winemaking ingredient kits for both WinExpert and Cellar Craft and currently have in stock approximately 100 different types of wine kits. We can definitely help you with the equipment you need and also assist you in choosing a wine to make that you will enjoy. Beer brewers, we have what you need, too! Our own line of BlueStem's Best homebrew ingredient kits plus malt extracts, malted grains, hops and yeast are always available. Our website features pricing with all shipping included in the item cost. No guessing on what it will cost to ship direct to your door.

Homebrewing Equipment Needed

2007-09-27T11:57:00.000-05:00

Time gets away from me! It has been two weeks since my last daily blog post. My webmaster is going to be all over my case about taking some time off! Actually, when you own a winery, there are times when other duties call and we have been busy filtering several tanks of wine and getting ready for a large bottling project.

Anyway, our latest blog posts have been focusing on homebrew ingredients and the steps involved in the beer brewing process and today we are going to focus on the homebrewing equipment you will need.

BlueStem Winery has several equipment packages that range in price from the mid-$50 range up to the mid-$80 range and these kits include all the basic equipment required for homebrewing with the exception of a brewpot, a floating thermometer and bottles (or kegs).

Since we are focusing on beginning beer making we will itemize only the basic equipment included in these homebrewing equipment kits. Basic equipment included with our beer making kits include various combinations of the following equipment:

6.5 gallon primary fermentation bucket;

6.5 gallon bottling bucket;

Bottling Spigot;

Bucket lid, drilled & grommeted to accept an airlock;

5-gallon Secondary Fermenter (glass, also known as a carboy);

Easy Clean (a no rinse cleanser);

5/16" Auto-Siphon (other kits may contain a Racking Cane instead);

5/16" Siphon Hose;

Bottle Filler;

Triple Scale Hydrometer;

Beer Bottle Brush;

Red Baron Twin Lever Bottle Capper;

Liquid Crystal Thermometer; and

a Home Beermaking text.

The primary fermentation bucket, the bottling bucket and the lid for these are all food grade plastic. The primary fermentation bucket is where your beer is placed after the boil has been completed and you are ready to begin fermenting your beer (known as wort until it ferments). The fermentation process is completed in this container and then, if you have a secondary fermenter, the beer is siphoned to it. If you do not purchase equipment which includes a secondary fermenter (glass carboy) then you would siphon the beer from the fermentation bucket to the bottling bucket when fermentation is complete.

The bottling bucket has been pre-drilled to accommodate an Italian Bottling Spigot. The siphon tubing is attached to the nozzle on the spigot and when you are ready to bottle you can gravity-flow your beer from the bucket, through the spigot and tubing and through the bottle filler into your bottles. Our Bottle Filler is the spring-tip type which requires that you press down on the bottle filler to begin the flow of beer into the bottle. If you prefer, you may remove the spring and beer will flow as soon as the valve tip touches the bottom of the bottle.

Our kits all included 8 ounces (enough for about 16 gallons) of Easy Clean cleansing powder. All equipment used should be washed with dish soap and then rinsed with water. You may then rinse your equipment with cleansing solution and begin making your beer. Everything you use must be washed, rinsed and sanitized prior to it touching your beer. Many other cleansing products are available (some much stronger than Easy Clean). I have used Easy Clean for many batches of wine and homebrew and have yet to have a bacterial infection get started.

Some of our kits include an Auto-Siphon and others include a Racking Tube. The racking tube requires the attachment of siphon tubing and that you suck on the end of the tubing to get your siphon started. The auto-siphon also requires a length of tubing but it is a simple pull-push on the center section of the siphon which starts the process (very easy!).

The airlock is filled with water to the line and is attached to the bucket lid (through the grommeted hole) or is attached to a bung which is then inserted into the top of the carboy. This device allows for the escape of carbon dioxide gases created during the fermentation process while keeping pesky critters who like sugar away from your beer.

The Hydrometer is your most important tool. This is used to measure the beginning sugar content of your wort (expressed as specific gravity) and also measures the progress of the fermentation by measuring the decrease in specific gravity as the sugars ar fermented into alcohol.

The Beer Bottle Brush is exactly that. A brush for scrubbing out used beer bottles. Remember to sanitize these, too!

The Liquid Crystal Thermometer is attached to the side of your primary fermenter and is used to monitor the ambient temperature of your wort.

The Red Baron Bottle Capper has a magnet to hold the bottle cap and when tipped on top of your beer bottle, the twin levers crimp the bottle cap in place.

The text provided is a beginning brewing text. We always suggest that as you develop in this hobby that you purchase (available on our website) a copy of Charlie Papazian's text, the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing.

We look forward to hearing from you. We publish a newsletter quarterly on our BlueStem Winery website in addition to doing sometimes daily blog articles on either brewing or winemaking. We stock a complete line of home brewing equipment and home brew supplies plus a complete line of winemaking ingredients, equipment, supplies plus many, many wine ingredient kits from both WinExpert and Cellar Craft.

Making Beer 101

2007-09-10T20:09:00.000-05:00

Home brewing is a four step process (but most homebrewer's do only three).

The first step is called malting and is usually done by malting companies. This process begins by activating enzymes in the grain so that during the malting process. After the malting process the grains are dried (called kilning) which makes it possible to store the grain for a longer period of time and it also enhances the flavors and aromas that are removed in the brewing process.

The second step in the home brewing process is called mashing. Here the grains are soaked in hot water. The starch present in the grains dissolve in the hot water. The most prevalent sugar produced in this process is maltose and these malt sugars are what the yeast feeds on during fermentation. If you brew with malt extract this mashing process has been done for you (the syrup is condensed (and possibly dried) malt sugars).

The third step in the brewing process is the boil. Water, malt sugars and other ingredients are combined in a brewpot (usually stainless steel) to make what is called wort (beer before it contains any alcohol). The process of boiling the wort sanitizes the ingredients. Hops are added to the wort (at different times in the boil). The earliest hops added are the bittering hops and the boiling process removes the oils from the hops which bitter the beer. Hops added at later stages in the boil are to add flavor or aroma. When the beer has been boiled (usually for approximately 60 minutes) the wort is cooled rapidly so that yeast can be added to the mix.

And finally we are ready to convert our wort into beer. When the yeast has been cooled the yeast is added (or pitched). Usually within 12 hours the yeast will have found a home in the wort and will begin the fermentation process (conversion of the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide). For most beers that a home brewer makes this fermentaton will take from just a few days to approximately a week. Other beers (including strong ales and lagers) may take several months to fully ferment. When fermentation is complete the beer is ready to either bottled or kegged.

Looking for a source for your home brewing supplies or your winemaking ingredients? You can count on BlueStem Winery to be courteous, prompt and knowledgeable. Your home brewing ingredients are a phone call or a web order away. Our web prices include shipping (store pricing is somewhat cheaper) and we keep a well-stocked warehouse of home brewing supplies and wine making equipment.