Tag Archive for: wine making

Harvest 2023

time to pick the chardonnay grapes!

July 9, 2023

The first harvest is set!  We will pick the chardonnay grapes on Monday morning, July 17 starting at 6:30 am.

Wear comfortable, cool clothing and tennis shoes. You’ll want to bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and bug spray. We’ll provide everything else you need. We will start bright and early at sunrise but most folks come about 7am or later and go until all the grapes are picked, usually about 9 or 10 am.

After harvest in the morning, our grapes will be de-stemmed and crushed and prepared for fermentation at the winery. Feel free to come by our location at 841 N Main St, Salado and see the grapes start their journey to a bottle of wine.

RSVPs/Tickets are not required, but if you register, then we have an easy way to contact you if anything changes. Check out facebook page if there is unexpected weather or updates.

Pets must be leashed. There are cows, horses, and donkeys in adjacent fields and they will bite dogs.

We have been growing grapes since 2005! The vineyard is located at 21724 Hill Rd, Salado, TX 76571.  This venue is only a vineyard, it is generally closed to the public except during harvest. This location does not sell or serve wine.  For more information call (254) 947-8011, or visit Salado Winery, 841 N Main ST, Salado TX, 12 pm -6 pm.

Harvest events are published on our eventbrite page for the vineyard and updates are published on our facebook page

Grape Stomp and Harvest Festival 2018

Grape Stomp 2018 is Sep 22

Saturday, September 22, 2018 4 pm – 8 pm

Tickets are here

Please join us for our third annual Grape Stomp and Harvest Festival!  We will have a grape stomp competition, Wear Your Whites contest (bridal gowns and white suites,etc), and an I Love Lucy Look-a-Like judging.  The afternoon will be filled with entertainment and a hog roast from Cen-Tex Chefs Collaborative!  We expect this event to sell out…so don’t wait to buy your tickets, or you may end up squeaky clean and disappointed.

Proceeds from the event go to support the growth of Salado Montessori, a new non-profit Primary for kiddos ages 3-6.  Salado Montessori aims to inspire a love of learning in each child and follow the child’s interests throughout their pre-school years.

The Cen-Tex Chefs Collaborative will be on site selling delicious hog roast and handcrafted sides and sauces.  Our wines will pair perfectly with the fine swine available.  We’ll be serving our locally made wines by the glass and bottle.

There is no admission fee to attend. Our pre-sale ticket packages ensure you will reserve your souvenir t-shirt.

Our grape stomp will be the ideal opportunity to make your Instagram followers super jealous. Teams of two will compete every 15 minutes in rounds of 4-5 teams. During your team’s turn, one person will stomp for two minutes and then the second person will stomp for two minutes. The team of two who produces the most juice wins bragging rights!

Pay attention, this year the packages are different.  We are now offering our Dionysus Package, which gains you the right to pose in the giant vat of crushed grapes and then make your own wine-footprint t-shirts.  If you want to to compete, the Smash Those Grapes Package is the one for you!

Tickets are refundable up to 7 days before the event. After that, you may transfer your ticket to a friend – make sure you email the ticket to your friend.  The show will go on even if it rains, snows, sleets or whatever the great state of Texas comes up with for weather.  This event will be outdoors and everything will be under a tent.

Kids are welcome and Winerycat insists that dogs must be on a leash.

NO outside alcohol may be brought in.  That means you cannot bring beer, wine, distilled spirits or moonshine. Please no sneaking in alcohol…this is not your high school prom, thank you!


Grape Stomp Rules

  1. Fans of all ages are welcomed to the harvest festival.
  2. Stomping will commence when the Stomp Master blows the whistle and all teams must stop stomping and collecting at the closing whistle. Any team who starts early or delays stopping will receive a penalty.
  3. All stomping must be done with bare feet.
  4. Stompers may hold on to their team member for support.
  5. Only juice will be measured. Any grapes and pulp will be strained out by the judges.
  6. In the event of a tie, the officials will choose the team who displayed the least abandon.
  7. Any team not participating in a manner consistent with fair play and good sportsmanship is subject to disqualification without refund.  If you break something, you’ve bought it.
  8. Your slot will be during the hour you sign up for. You must be on time. If you are not present when your team is called, then you forfeit your team’s grape stompin’ tickets.
  9. All participants must sign Liability Waiver.

 


Ticket Options  (ticket URL )

*prices will increase by $5 at the door — buy now and save $$

KIDS TICKET – $14.95
Under 21?  This ticket includes one t-shirt, a photo op in the grapes and one juice box, soda or water.

DIONYSUS OBSERVER – $24.95
The “ummm, I’ll just watch….” This ticket includes a t-shirt for your footprints, a photo op in the grapes, and one glass of wine. 21 and over, only.

SMASH THOSE GRAPES PACKAGE – $44.95

Ticket holder is entitled to one go at stomping, one glass of wine, a t-shirt for your foot prints and a photo op in the grapes.  When you purchase your ticket, let us know the name of anyone you’d like to compete with so we can pair you together! 21 and over, only.

This event is organized by Salado Winery Company + Salado Montessori.  This event is part of the “Salado Chocolate and Wine Weekend 2018” for tickets and more information contact (INSERT URL for chocolate and wine event HERE)


Interested in being a vendor?  Follow this link: https://saladowinery.wufoo.com/forms/z1mizw2u0fxaiee/

We are looking for artisan toys, foods and home remedies, Montessori-in-the-home items, jewelry & art vendors who reflect the spirit of Montessori education. For we anticipate 120 Grape Stompers, 200 spectators and 15-20 vendors. We hope to exhibit high-quality, educational or unusual items that are not commercially available. We especially welcome wood toys, Montessori in the home materials such as kids aprons, organic foods and home remedies, handmade home items such as baskets and boxes, unique jewelry and so on.  We will only accept handmade items. We are not interested in t-shirts or accessories made in factories, no matter how cool they are.
PRICING
A 10′ x 10′ spot on the grass is $100. You can bring your own tent/canopy or not. Electricity is available for $10. A table and chair are available to rent for $10.
Festival t-shirts are available for $15.
IMPORTANT DATES
8/21/2018 – Final deadline to pay & submit forms.
8/22/2018 – Grape Stomping from 4-8, all booths set up & vendors ready to sell at 2.
Load in: September 22 from 9AM – 2PM. No vehicle traffic allowed during the Grape Stomp.
APPLICATION
To be considered as a vendor, please follow the link below and fill out the application. We will review your submission, and accept/deny your application. Once accepted we will email you a bill. In order to be included in our map and on our t-shirt, you must submit the completed form and payment by September 21, 2018.
Please upload a photo representative of what you sell. It may be used in our promotions.

We reserve the right to reject vendors, especially if we feel the proposed vendor does not fit with our theme, or there are already too many vendors in the same category. We want our vendors to be successful and want our festival attendees to have a varied experience!
The form will automatically take you to a payment dialogue. Vendor fees are refundable until September 15, 2018.
If you get stuck and can’t get the form submitted, print as .pdf and email to Darla at tdtnews.com or mail to Salado Montessori 10880 FM 1670, Salado, TX 76571

Chardonnay + Sangiovese Harvest 2018

Saturday, July 28, 7:00 am

21724 Hill Road, Salado (I-35 exit 275, head east on Hill Road, look for vineyard on the right)

Make your Instagram friends super jealous! Come pick grapes with us at the vineyard at 21724 Hill Road, Salado, TX! You can even eat some straight from the vine! Harvest is family friendly. Wear comfortable, cool clothing and tennis shoes. You’ll want to bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and bug spray. We’ll provide everything else you need. We will start bright and early at 7am and go until all the grapes are picked.

Hecho en Queso will be at the vineyard offereing breakfast tacos for sale.

After harvest in the morning, you can join us at the winery to watch grape processing. Our grapes will be de-stemmed and crushed using a machine then pressed and prepared for fermentation.

This will be the first half of the 2018 harvest at our vineyard.  The cabernet sauvignon + merlot harvest will be scheduled in August.

 

Cabernet Sauvignon Harvest 2016

One last chance this year to harvest grapes! Our Cabernet Sauvignon harvest will be Saturday, September 3.

How to Get There
The vineyard is at 21724 Hill Road, Salado, TX, 76571. Exit 279 I-35 and we’re just a quarter mile up Hill Road on the east side of I-35. The vineyard is on the right side of Hill Road. You’ll see the vines from the road!

What to Bring
We will start bright and early at 7 am and go until all the grapes are picked, usually before noon. Wear comfortable, cool clothing. You’ll want to bring a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and lots of water to start with. We’ll provide everything else you need, including more cold water. If you have a favorite pair of pruners feel free to bring them, but we’ll have plenty for you. We recommend tennis shoes because sometimes there is stinging nettle or a hidden ant mound but you can wear sandals if you like. Sometimes folks like to wear light cotton gloves to protect your manicure or help prevent wasp stings, but there are no thorns on grape vines. Harvest is family friendly, so feel free to bring the kiddos…#Wineryboy has been picking grapes since he was 1!

The After Party
After harvest in the morning, you can join us at the winery to watch grape processing. The grapes will be de-stemmed and crushed using a machine then prepared for fermentation.

RSVP
If you’re coming, text your RSVP to 254.466.5813 or RSVP on Facebook.

FOOD!
Our friends at Hecho en Queso will be out at the vineyard until 10:30 or 11 the morning of Cab Sauv harvest, September 3. They’ll be serving up breakfast tacos and more, so make sure to come ready to eat!

Chocolate & Wine Weekend 2016

WineChocChocolate & Wine Weekend, September 16th, 17th, and 18th – three days of activities and events sure to please even the most passionate of chocolate lovers! Chocolate and wine will be paired, a Chocolate Trail can be followed and a “Death by Chocolate” contest is in the works. All the events will take place throughout the Village of Salado and the participant may pick and choose what they want to purchase.

Friday, September 16th Adults Only-21 & Over-“Evening of Chocolate & Wine” from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Salado Winery at 841 N. Main. Premier Salado wines will be paired with decadent chocolates. Tickets are $44.95 per person with a 50 person limit.

Saturday, September 17th Family Friendly – “Get your Hands Dirty with Chocolate” – Calling all kids for this hands on event from 9:00 p.m. till 10:00 a.m. at Sir Wigglesworth’s Homemade Fudge Factory co-located with Mud Pies Pottery. Titia, owner and fudge-making expert shows you how to really dig in and create some exotic concoctions that only a chocolate lover can appreciate! Tickets are $14.95 per person with a 10 person limit.

Adults Only – 21 & Over – “Big Kid’s Fun” from 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. -Titia, owner of Sir Wigglesworth’s Homemade Fudge Factory and
Mud Pies Pottery is the creative host for this event designed for the adult chocolate lover interacting and participating to invent chocolates infused with various alcohol flavors. Tickets are $22.95 per person with a 10 person limit.

Adults Only – 21 & Over – “Chocolate & Wine Trail” from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. all around the Village. Use your Passport and follow the
signs to guide you and ride the trolley to follow around this “trail of sweet chocolate dreams” featuring multiple stops around the
Village. Some stops feature chocolate and wine and others a fun chocolate experience. Tickets are $29.95 per person and must be
purchased in advance.

Family Friendly – “Death By Chocolate Desert Contest” from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. held at the Salado Public Library and hosted by The
Friends of the Salado Public Library. Pre-enter your favorite chocolate recipe for a chance to win prizes, then come to the library to check out the competition and vote on your favorites. Free Event. For further information call the Library at 254-947-9191.

Adults/Family: Lunch at Alexander’s Distillery at noon. Lunch options: Bison Slider – buffalo meat, goat cheese, bacon, and a balsamic and baker’s chocolate reduction. Crab Cake Slider – Chesapeake Bay crab cake with Old Bay aioli, romaine lettuce, and tomato. Shaved filet mignon, pepper, onions. All are paired with Burgundy wine. Tickets are $25.00 and must be purchased online.

Adults/Family – “Dinner at The Range at the Barton House – Evening – End your day at The Range at the Barton House for a special dining experience prepared by The Range team featuring Salado’s wineries and a menu pleasing to every palette. $59 per person with
a 32 person limit.

Sunday, September 18th Adults/Family – “Chocolate & Champagne Brunch” One seating at 11:00 a.m. at Alexander’s at Inn on the Creek. Indulge in a Chocolate & Champagne Brunch to finish off your chocolate ecstasy weekend! $49.95 per person with a 30 person limit.

more information and links to tickets at http://salado.com/calendar

Vintage 2014–trying to finish up!

Our latest set up for cold stabilization.  The chardonnay is in the 30 gallon container just CHILLIN' in a nice bath of cold water.  Coolant is circulating in and out those pink hoses.  Inside the barrel, unseen is copper tubing.

Our latest set up for cold stabilization. The chardonnay is in the 30 gallon container just CHILLIN’ in a nice bath of cold water. Coolant is circulating in and out those pink hoses. Inside the barrel, unseen is copper tubing.

Every year I think I will get the previous year’s vintage wrapped up and in the bottle before the next harvest begins, but like every year it “ain’t gonna happen”.

So here is my to-do list:

Chardonnay/Night Flight (50 cases) —Cold stabilization and citric acid trial.

Need to test to see when cold stabilized

Need taste test for adding citric (.5g/L to 1 g/L)

 

Sangiovese/Rootin’ Tootin’ (100 cases)

Need to taste test for adding citric (.5g to 1 g/L)

Need to measure and add sorbate

Need to taste test for sweetness

Projected bottling date:  Wednesday, August 5

!!!!!!!!!!need to order bottles

 

Cab-Merlot blend/Diamond Back (125 cases)

Need to add oak in nylon bag (75% medium toast French up to 40 lbs & 25% medium toast American)

—-I need help so oak bag does not sink and with re-gassing

 

Malbec-Temp blend/Big Bully (120 cases)

Remove 90 gallons Malbec from Slim

***need clean 60 gallon closed top + clean 30 gallon closed top

Add 55 gal container + all glass carboys of Tempranillo

Need to add oak in nylon bag (75% medium toast American up to 20 lbs & 25% medium toast French)

—I need help so oak bag does not sink and with re-gassing

 

3 Texan Malbec (90 cases)

(in 3 lg white barrels and 1 small 30 gal)

Need to oak (100% American oak)

***need to order more barrel oakers? Should we do just one or more?

 

3 Texan Tempranillo (25 cases)

Need to oak (100% French medium toast oak)

Use already owned barrel oaker?

 

3 Texan Cab Sauv (55 cases)

****need to order Heavy toast French

Use barrel oakers?

Rootin’ Tootin!

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We need your help tasting some wine!  We’re trying to decide the perfect formulation for Rootin’ Tootin.  This next batch is going to be oh, sOOO sWEET!  So stop by and taste a couple for me and vote for your favorite one

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Harvest Saturday, August 31

We've double netted the cab sauv to keep out deer and birds!

We’ve double netted the cab sauv to keep out deer and birds!

Saturday & Sunday August 31-September 1, 7:00-11:00 am

<<<<<<<<<<I underestimated the crop!  We’ll continue picking on Sunday morning, SEP 1 at 7AM>>>>>>>>>>

Latest harvest ever! This is your last chance in 2013 to take part in harvesting grapes in Salado.  There are only 3 1/2 rows left, so I expect this will only take one day.

If you have favorite pruners, bring them, otherwise we have extras for you. Please wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. (I like to wear old sneakers and socks so that the pigweed doesn’t get me). Some folks like to wear light cotton gloves, but they are not necessary. Beware of the wasps, fireants, mosquitos, and be prepared for the heat. Watch out for the mean old mockingbirds who think they own the vineyard! I haven’t seen any snakes this year, but there’s always a first.

Also, Saturday afternoon and the days following harvest are the best times to visit the winery and see the wine making in action. We can always put extra hands to work, so if you don’t like to get up early in the morning, come by in the afternoon and be part of the bucket brigade.

The vineyard is at 21724 Hill Road, Salado, TX 76571. Feel free to send me an email to june @ saladowinery.com. If you are lost the morning of harvest, call/text us on cell phone, (254) 466-5813.

Stop by for Punch Down

sangiovese to the left and merlot to the right

sangiovese to the left and merlot to the right

I think this is the best time of year at the winery–FERMENTATION!  Every few hours we punch down the cap to mix up the wine and ensure that the yeast gets access to all the good bits of grapes.    It’s a great workout for my arms, shoulders, & back, but I’m happy to “share” the fun!  Come on by and I’ll let you stir too 🙂

We have over 200 gallons of sangiovese, malbec and merlot must fermenting.  We’ll be pressing in several days when fermentation is complete. The merlot is giving off a great purple color, but the sangiovese is much lighter.  I’m sure we’ll make a rose with the sangiovese again.  The cabernet sauvignon is still on the vine.  We double-netted it to keep the mockingbirds out.  Hopefully the nets will work and then we’ll marry the merlot with the cabernet.

Hoping for great wine and now it’s time to punch again…

 

 

Red Grape Harvest MOVED to August 17-18, 2013

picking grapes is so easy--even a one year old can do it

picking grapes is so easy–even a one year old can do it!

After test #4, we’ve decided that the red grapes will not be ready until August 17.  So the next chance to harvest is Saturday & Sunday, August 17 & 18 at 7 am.

We usually pick grapes until 11 am and you’re welcome to come for as little or as long as you like.  Come for the fun and camaraderie!  Kids welcome.

If you have favorite pruners, bring them, otherwise we have extras for you.  Please wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. (I like to wear old sneakers and socks so that the pigweed doesn’t get me).  Some folks like to wear light cotton gloves, but they are not necessary.  Beware of the wasps, fireants, mosquitos, and be prepared for the heat.  Watch out for the mean old mockingbirds who think they own the vineyard!  I haven’t seen any snakes this year, but there’s always a first.

Also, Sunday afternoon and the days following harvest are the best times to visit the winery and see the wine making in action.  We can always put extra hands to work, so if you don’t like to get up early in the morning, come by in the afternoon and be part of the bucket brigade.

The vineyard is at 21724 Hill Road, Salado, TX 76571.  Feel free to send me an email to june @ saladowinery.com.  If you are lost the morning of harvest, call/text us on cell phone, (254) 466-5813.  More harvest updates will be available, and they are tentatively listed on our homepage under “vineyard” or on ourfacebook page http://www.facebook.com/SaladoWinery.