Winemaker's and Brewer's Newsletter
Holidays 2009
Holiday Store Hours
The Wine Smith will be open normal Wednesday through Saturday hours through the holidays, except for closings on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov 26th), Christmas Day (Friday, Dec 25th) and New Years Day (Friday, Jan 1st).
As usual, we will try to serve out-of-towners visiting or passing through Mobile outside of store hours by prior appointment. Special Orders and Holiday Layaway
Blichmann Engineering and Polar Ware Products Now Available
The Wine Smith is proud to offer the complete lines of quality brewing equipment from Blichmann Enginnering and Polar Ware. These companies feature high quality stainless steel brew pots, fermenters and accessories. Store stock is limited but we can usually have any item as early as the next business day for any item shown in the online catalogs at Blichmann Engineering and Polar Ware.
RJ Spagnols Wins Big at Winemaker Competition - Again
Make Better Fruit Wines with Grape Concentrates You may have noticed that many fruit wine recipes call for the addition of red or white grape concentrate to the must. The dosage is small - usually around one pint per gallon of must. The purpose is to improve the body and mouth feel, as well as enhancing the natural fruit flavor of the wine. The Wine Smith stocks Red and White Grape Concentrate in a one liter box, the perfect size for a five gallon batch of wine. Try it on your next fruit wine and taste the difference.
Wine kits from RJ Spagnols were awarded the most medals at the 2009 Winemaker International Amateur Wine Competition for the third year in a row, including
· Best in Show, Kit - Cellar Classic Winery Series California Cabernet Sauvignon
· Best in Show, Dessert Wine - Cru Select White Chocolate White Port
· Cellar Classic Kits - 43 medals
· Orchard Breezin’ Kits - 37 medals
· En Primeur Kits - 60 medals
· Grand Cru Kits - 18 Medals
The Wine Smith stocks most of these award-winning wine kits. View all of the RJ Spagnols kits at rjspagnols.com.
Holiday Gift Hints
It’s not too late to drop hints to family and friends about that special piece of equipment or ingredient kit that you have had your eye on all year. So whether it’s a filtration system, grain crusher, fruit press, floor corker, oak barrel or bench capper - remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease - so squeak up!
Local Honey Now In Stock The Wine Smith is now offering locally produced Wildflower Honey in quart jars (3.25 lbs net weight) for $8.95. This honey comes strained and ready for making homemade mead, melomel or pymel. Try your hand at making man's oldest adult beverage, and support your community by Buying Local! And don't forget to pick up a free mead recipe while you are here!
2010 Restricted Quantity Kits Just Announced!
RJ Spagnols has just announced the 2010 Rq Cru Select wine kits, selected from around the world. The Wine Smith will happily reserve any or all of these kits if pre-ordered by November 28th. This years selections are:
German Ehrenfelser, arrives late January 2010, $110.00
Argentine Malbec Syrah, arrives late January 2010, $114.00
Argentine Torrontes, arrives late February 2010, $110.00
Portuguese Tri do Vinho Tinto, arrives late March 2010, $128.00
South African Cabernet Franc Merlot, arrives late April, $128.00
Details on these one-time-only kits are available at The Wine Smith or on the RJ Spagnols website. Labels are included with each kit, and The Wine Smith is offering a 5% discount on pre-orders of three or more kits in any combination.
While The Wine Smith does not offer layaway, we will be happy to reserve any item in stock for pick-up within seven days. Place orders for non-stock special order items early to avoid disappointment as supplier stocks run low and shipping times run long as the holidays approach.