The Wine Maker's Toy Store™
Bringing family and friends together...One sip at a time!
Welcome to Pressing News, the monthly newsletter
published by Fine Vine Wines, LLC, designed exclusively to assist
the home vintner in the pursuit of their hobby!
THIS MONTH ON THE VINE!
- Welcome
- Enhancements to Online Ordering System
- Customer Referral Program
- Customer Appreciation Program - FVW Growers Club
- Retail Store Information and Expansion!
- Home Wine Making Awards
- Online Discussion Forum
- Tim Vandergrift is coming to Dallas!
- Featured Article - Crushendo!
- Toy of the Month
- New Products
- Call Us!
- Wine of the Month
- Customer Feedback
- Unsubscribe
WELCOME
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome to Fine Vine
Wines, LLC, "The Wine Maker's Toy Store". Whether you
need products or just need information, we are here to serve
you. I want to extend my thanks again for making The Wine Maker's
Toy Store your home for your wine making and beer brewing needs.
It continues to be my hope is that everytime you visit our web
site or retail store, you find something of value.
As a reminder, we continue to add products and content to the web site; therefore, if you have any special requests, please let us know. We like to hear what you have to say about our site, our products and/or our customer service, good or bad. Please send your comments and/or suggestions to winemaster@finevinewines.com.
ENHANCEMENTS TO ONLINE ORDERING SYSTEM
In our continuing effort to improve our web site, we are in the process of making several inhancements to our online ordering system to make it faster and easier for you to place your order. Some of the changes we are making are listed below:
- Even though you may not have started your order, the system will now capture the part number and take you to the create order screen. Once you start your order, the first product you selected will be available for you to order.
- After you order an item, the system will take you back to the last page of products you visited. For example, if you ordered Acid Blend from the Acid page, the system will take you back to the Acids Page. If you were looking at Winexpert Selection Estates, it will take you back to that page. If you want to go to a different page, just click on the Online Catalog.
Number 1, above, is complete and we are about half-way through number 2. In the process of making these changes, we found some bugs in the system, which we think we have corrected.
In addition, although I try to test and re-test the system to make sure it is functioning properly, I may not find every bug. if you notice a problem with the online ordering system or anything with the web site, PLEASE let me know. The problem you discover may be affecting numerous visitors.
CUSTOMER REFFERAL PROGRAM
In case you missed it, we have a customer referral
program that provides for additional discounts to registered
users. We will give you a coupon worth 10% of the first order
placed by any person that you refer to our web site. The stipulations
are as follows:
- You must be a registered user of finevinewines.com,
- The person placing the order must register and provide your name in the appropriate field on the registration screen, and
- The discount is only good for future orders with finevinewines.com and is not redeemable for cash.
That's all you have to do to get another discount from finevinewines.com.
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PROGRAM - FVW GROWERS CLUB
Please check out our FVW Growers Club. You can get all of the details on our web site, but the bottom line is we want to buy your loyalty! Once you spend $500 with us, you get a 5% discount on everything you buy from us. Find out more on the web site.
RETAIL
STORE INFORMATION - WE ARE EXPANDING
We are happy to annouce that we are going to
double our retail store floor space and add additional signage.
For those of you that have visited our store, you know how badly
this needs to be done! Not only will this give us more room to
display our products, it will also allow us to offer home wine
making and beer making classes, as well as, tasting parties.
We had hoped to complete our expansion by Labor Day 2005; however,
as with all construction projects, we were overly optomistic.
Watch the web site and listen to WBAP in Dallas to learn more.
The good news is that the new signs are up!
We have also moved back closing time on Fridays and Saturdays to 6pm. More information about our retail store, including
hours, location and maps can be found on our Retail
Store Information page.
HOME WINE MAKING AWARDS
Several of our customers have enjoyed the satisfaction
of winning a medal for one of their home made wines. Some of
the medal winning wines were from fresh ingredients and others
were made from a wine kit. At The Wine Maker's Toy Store we would
like to recognize our winners and encourage more of you to enter
your wines into competition.
The first thing we are going to do is build
a web page devoted to our medal winners. On this page, we will
list our medal winners and the medals they have received. In
addition, we will publish a list of the recognized wine
competitions in the United States.
Secondly, Winexpert has a program that will
give you a free wine kit if you win a medal with one of their
wine kits in the Annual WineMaker Magazine competition. We would
like to improve that offer by giving you a $25 gift certificate
for any wine for which you win a medal in a recognized public
competition. In order to receive this gift certificate for your
medal winning wine, you must list Fine Vine Wines as your sponsor/retailer
on the entry form. When you win, send us a copy of the entry
form and the list of the winners which shows your name and the
medal you received. We will then issue you a $25 gift certificate.
If you have any questions about entering a wine
into competition, please contact us. Watch the web site for more
information. Good luck and you may be surprised with your results.
FORUM
The discussion forum continues to grow. We
have 200 registered users, including some extremely knowledgable
wine makers and loads of valuable information, that have contributed
over 6,500 posts. Whether you are an expert or a novice, it
is an excellent place to ask questions, exchange ideas and meet
other home wine makers. It is rumored that even Tim Vandergrift
makes an occassional post!
If you haven't logged into the forum, try it sometime. I think you will find it most informative and enjoyable, as well as, a great place to meet fellow wine makers.
TIM VANDERGRIFT IS COMING TO DALLAS!
It appears that the earliest we will be able
to get Tim is spring 2006.
Winexpert is in the middle of rolling out a new program to Canada.
As a result, Tim's time is very limited. When we do finally get
him, the event will probably occur during the week
as he reserves his weekends for his family.
For those of you that do not know, Tim is the Technical Services Manager for Winexpert and his job is to design and test all of the wine kits made by Winexpert. Before joining Winexpert, Tim held a comparable position with RJ Spagnols for 10 years. In addition, if you have ever picked up an issue of WineMaker Magazine, you will have found an article by him. He is one of the home wine making gurus!
As soon as I have more information, I will post in on the web site and in the monthly newsletter.
FEATURED
ARTICLE - CRUSHENDO
During the month of July, I traveled to Kent, Ohio for the
annual LD Carlson Retailer Conference. Several people were
there from Winexpert, as well as, the staff of LD Carlson.
The primary purpose of this conference to inform the retailers
about new products and provide information on the home wine
making and home brew markets. Winexpert also used this forum
to show us how to make a Crushendo kit, so I decided to share
my training.
For those of you that do not know, the Crushendo is the
new wine kit from Winexpert that come with 18 liters of juice
and a package of processed grape skins. Unlike other brands
which just include unprocessed grape skins, stems and leaves,
the Crushendo grape pack is processed to the point where all
you have is the skins. The have also been processed in a way
to maximize the results from using the grape skins which include
increased body, flavor and aroma.
A Crushendo is made like every other Winexpert wine
kit except you perform an additional racking BEFORE you add
the stabilizers and fining agents. This step is necessary due
to the significant increase in sediment created from using
the grape skins.
When
you start your kit, you add the bentonite and juice and fill
the bucket to the 23 liter mark. Then you add the grape pack
which gives you about 25.5 liters of liquid. As a result, do
not use the 6.5 gallon bucket for a Crushendo. It will overflow
during fermentation and you will have a mess. After you have
stirred your must, take your specific gravity and add the oak.
Then pitch your yeast and wait 3-5 days.
The tricky part of a Crushendo is the first racking, due to
the grape skins. The kit contains a package with 2 different
size filters for your racking cane or auto siphon. The small
filter will work with a 3/8" racking cane, while the larger
filter will work with each the 1/2" racking cane or the 3/8"
auto siphon. A filter for the 1/2" auto-siphon is not included
as test performed by Winexpert indicate the flow is too fast
which causes the filter to plug up and stop the siphon. Their
recommendation is the 3/8" auto-siphon. It is important that
you only put the filter on far enough to hold it in place.
You want as much filter exposed to the wine as possible.
You can probably get about 5 gallons transferred using the
siphon method. When the siphon stops, you will still want to
get more juice. Winexpert recommends using a funnel with a
screen in it. Simply place the funnel with the screen in place
in the top of the carboy. Gently pour the wine into the funnel,
trying to not disturb the sediment. If you have a 1-gallon
jug, you can use it for the remaining juice and you can use
this later for topping off. Be sure to put an airlock and stopper
on the gallon jug.
One week later, you will need to rack your wine again before
adding the stabilizers and fining agents. This is an additional
step from the other winexpert kits. After you have added the
stabilizers and fining agents, use the wine in the 1-gallon
jug to top off. Wait 1 week, then rack your wine into a clean
carboy and allow to clear.
I have personally made 2 of the Crushendo kits, the Corvina
Classico di Veneto and the Santa Ynez Valley Syrah and the results
have been excellent. I am starting the Montagnac Vieux Chateau
d’Oc, this week and will pass on my comments when available.
To encourage you to try one of these outstanding kits, I have
all three on special this month for $109.99 which is $30.00
less than the suggested retail price and $15.00 less than my
normal price. In addition, I have the 3/8" auto sipon on special
for $8.99 ($2.00 off), 5/16" tubing for the auto-siphon at
$.20 per foot ($.05 off) and the 8" funnel with strainer for
$3.99 ($1.00 off).
Now is a great time to try a Crushendo. You will be amazed
at the results!
Comments
and/or suggestions, please send them to geocorn@finethevinewines.com.
TOYS
OF THE MONTH
This month's toys are those that will help you
make a Crushendo wine kit (see above),encourage you to try one
of these outstanding kits, I have all three on special this month
for $109.99 which is $30.00 less than the suggested retail price
and $15.00 less than my normal price. In addition, I have the
3/8" auto
sipon on special for $8.99 ($2.00 off), 5/16" tubing for
the auto-siphon at $.20 per foot ($.05 off) and the 8" funnel
with strainer for $3.99 ($1.00 off).
This month's special pricing is listed below:
Part
Number |
Picture |
Description |
Regular
Price |
Current
Price |
Order |
<%
While ((Repeat1__numRows <> 0) AND (NOT rsJuice.EOF))
%>
|
|
Auto Siphon 3/8 inch
|
$10.99 |
$8.99 |
|
|
|
5/16 inch ID FDA Vinyl Tubing, per foot
|
$.25 |
$.20 |
|
|
|
8 inch Nylon Filter Funnel (With strainer) |
$4.99 |
$3.99 |
|
<%
Repeat1__index=Repeat1__index+1
Repeat1__numRows=Repeat1__numRows-1
rsJuice.MoveNext()
Wend
%>
NEW PRODUCTS
We now have stainless steel tanks and accessories.
The tanks range in size from 50 liter (13 gallons) to 300 liters
(75 gallons). The larger tanks have to be freighted, so if you
can't come by the store to pick it up, please call for a freight
quote.
To see all of our new products added this summer,
go to our New Products Page.
My primary distributor is LD
Carlson and you can see their complete product list at their public catalog. If
you find anything you would like me to add, please let me know.
CALL
US!
If you have any questions about our products,
our service and/or wine making, please call us. We are not Corporate
America! We are here to serve you. I bring this up, because a
number of my callers apologize for bothering me or using my toll-free
line. You are definitely not bothering me and I have a toll-free
line so you WILL call me.
Sometimes, I am unable to answer the phone.
If you get the voice mail, please leave your name, number, brief
message and a best time to call. I will return your call as soon
as I can. I now have the Company Line forwarded to my cell phone
when I am not in the store. As a result, I am now available almost
24-7. I do need to sleep!
If you don't want to call, just send me an email.
I usually answer my email daily. In addition, your emails and/or
calls do not have to relate to wine. I will discuss any topic
you like, so please remember, I am your resource and I am here
for you.
WINE
OF THE MONTH
This month we are featuring all 3 of the Crushendo
kits and the New Zealand Marbourough Sauvignon Blanc. All of
these kits will reward you with an outstanding wine. If you like
big red wines, then try one of the Crushendo's. On the other
hand, if you are more into a citrusy, apple taste, you will love
the Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, the Sauvignon Blanc has become
my wife's favorite and even though it is only 4 months old, we
have consumed half of the batch. I finally told her "Hands Off".
I want to age some and I want to enter 2 in the Wine Maker Magazine
competition next year.
Click
here to learn more about this month's featured wines.
CUSTOMER
FEEDBACK
We appreciate all of your comments, whether
good or bad. To demonstrate our commitment to outstanding customer
service, I have created a web page with your feedback. As we
receive emails that comment about our service, I will post them
on this
page.
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