Page 13 - Grapevine March-April 2020

In The Winery

• Start to address clutter in the winery and on the
crush pad. Contact the appropriate people to Winemaking Consultant
solve any situations that exist. Having the prop-
er elbow room at the start of crush is crucial for Thomas J. Payette
mobility during crush. “Winemaker of the Year”
• Fix and / or replace any leaky transfer hoses. Over 25 Years Experience
Order needed gaskets; clamps etc to make sure
the hoses can be repaired and assembled with- Tom Payette, a premier
out leakage. hands on and analytical
winemaking consultant,
• Clean all your hoses a few times before harvest. serves clients throughout
the United States.
• Order all fresh lab chemicals to get you through
the entire crush season. Date them as they From the construction
arrive. Clean house: Out with old… in with of your business to the
cork in your bottle to
new. your consumers.
• Develop and refine any written protocols (Lees Call Thomas or check
filter press operation, tank cleaning, press his website for more
cleaning, crusher cleaning etc) for upcoming information...
harvest helpers or interns. If interns will be
from another country try to have your protocols
translated or have interns do this at the end of Phone: 540-672-0387
one of their previous seasons. www.winemakingconsultant.com

• Physically rehearse step by step the harvest
crush pad process on the crush pad. Have Take a vacation: Once you have successfully com-
everyone understand the grape/must/product pleted the bottling and all your harvest chemicals
flow that will be anticipated for each style of are either in house or confirmed on their way….
wine. take a vacation and make sure your other staff take
a vacation. This is the dangling carrot that keeps us
• Discuss possible two shift scenarios if you envi- all challenged and ultimately relaxed going into a
sion this may be something you are considering. harvest.
Most people are receptive to this option if they
can mentally prepare. Less success is achieved Low stress: Start your harvest in a low stress
if the idea is new and forced. relaxed environment while taking notes on future

Start a list of odd jobs: I have often found this to needs and improvements so each year will become
be very helpful when fruit is delayed arriving at the smoother and smoother. Your low stress start will
crush pad and harvest helpers are apt to stand and allow you to handle the complexities of harvest
wait. Painting the outside fence, sprucing up the with confidence, courage and excellent judgment.
winery entrance or repairing picnic tables for com- Your winemaking will shine as a result of your plan-
mon area can be some examples. Landscaping. All ning.
wineries have project lists that are usually very long
and this can help cross those off the list. This is a In short: Start taking notes this upcoming harvest
great point score with owners and keeps employ- and plan your machinery maintenance very early.
ees busy. Use a calendar to help keep this project moving
along, bottle up all the wine projected and be ready
Once all the bottling is finished and some breath- for the expected tonnage to arrive and perhaps…a
ing room potentially exists start to work on and few extras.
repair the bottling line during harvest.

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