tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.comments2024-03-10T11:05:54.786-04:00The Thinkings of a WinemakerCarl Helrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-39848644821900757602024-03-10T11:05:33.096-04:002024-03-10T11:05:33.096-04:00Hey, Mike, great to hear from! Nice to know that ...Hey, Mike, great to hear from! Nice to know that you're still out there making wine. Say hi to Sue from me! If you're ever in southern PA, please stop by. Cheers! --Carl Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-78472812772365056642024-03-09T11:15:04.699-05:002024-03-09T11:15:04.699-05:00Hey Carl, Your old winemaking pal Mike here. Not ...Hey Carl, Your old winemaking pal Mike here. Not sure why I just happened upon your post, but found it interesting. Twenty years ago i planted 200 vines of 6 varieties, and have come to mostly using VSP as well. I too use double trunk, but my fruiting trellis wire is a bit higher (about 5') to make harvesting easier for my volunteer pickers and also to help discourage deer damage. Unlike you, I don't prune until spring, when i can see which canes are alive or dead. And in general, I now leave about half the bud count I used to leave (now about 8 per side). It seems to work well enough for 4 of my hybrid varieties, but I have had to abandon it for my cab franc and return to cane pruning. And I have one row of Swensen's Saint Pepin which is extremely vigorous in foliage, but stingy in fruit set, so last year I used a combination of spurs and canes that was a vineyard mess, but finally gave me enough production to make a dry white without having to blend anything else in. I call it Nearly Nude White, with a label including (of course) a famous old master nude. <br /><br />As to sweet versus dry, like most hobby winemakers, I used to make mostly sweet or semi sweet, which Sue didn't drink and I ended up giving away as gifts. Upon realizing the stupidity in that, I now only make one sweet wine, which is an apple pear blend from our trees, and everything else is now dry or semi-dry. And I even split the apple pear batch this year and successfully made half as a sparkling dry cider. Of course, when I'm only talking 100 - 150 gallons total in 8-10 styles, my perspective is much different than yours...and I don't have to make a profit! Skol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-82185795478330946042022-12-15T13:50:09.853-05:002022-12-15T13:50:09.853-05:00Brad Knapp is a unique individual for sure. He rea...Brad Knapp is a unique individual for sure. He really has lead a stellar life. Better than pumping gas on N Anthony and selling B's WaxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-14159241056411414982022-04-09T17:17:06.421-04:002022-04-09T17:17:06.421-04:00Hey, Lynne, just saw your comment. Thanks for all...Hey, Lynne, just saw your comment. Thanks for all the support! If you happen to have a '14 Reserve Chard hanging around right now, it's been blowing my mind recently. The 2005 was my first Cadenza and will always have a special place in my heart. Cheers!Carl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-78320298320207231192022-01-29T21:26:59.634-05:002022-01-29T21:26:59.634-05:00Carl, thank you for reminding us of the realities ...Carl, thank you for reminding us of the realities of farming. You did a great job explaining – here’s what happened… and happened… and happened. Yes, who doesn't love a Cadenza red? We recently opened a 2005 Cadenza to have with homemade pizza and pasta with red sauce - fabulous!<br />And yet, the whites deserve recognition - recently pairing the Cadenza Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Albarino with fish, smoked trout, seafood chowders, white bean dishes, steamed clams, and more - oh my!<br />I never regret adding more whites to my Cadenza Club order (as history documents). I encourage everyone to explore the increasingly interesting whites coming out of the Brogue vineyards and thank you, Carl for carefully selecting Cadenza grapes and lending your hand to making them sing in the glass. We appreciate the work involved and the challenges, and we are ready to taste what each Allegro harvest brings, red or white. <br />WineCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11590276746162524761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-63413147404687932602021-12-18T16:22:56.514-05:002021-12-18T16:22:56.514-05:00You're welcome, Brad, it's well-deserved. ...You're welcome, Brad, it's well-deserved. I'm going to miss our wine-tech phone calls about weird MLs and filtration nightmares....actually we don't have those anymore....probably due to those phone calls.<br />Carl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-67995321030140755762021-11-29T08:17:19.892-05:002021-11-29T08:17:19.892-05:00Thanks for the praise CarlThanks for the praise CarlAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01944573127099580263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-28838097081900558572020-08-29T08:11:45.188-04:002020-08-29T08:11:45.188-04:00Doesn't really matter. It's more about me...Doesn't really matter. It's more about me checking in more often.Carl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-79431929606983239152020-08-29T08:11:13.176-04:002020-08-29T08:11:13.176-04:00Hi, Linda! Sorry it took me so long to reply to y...Hi, Linda! Sorry it took me so long to reply to your comment. It's now August, and we have a much different view of the world than we did back in April, but the decision not to hold music events like these was probably one of the wiser things I've done recently. We have found a way to do smaller, socially-distanced music on the weekends that people are enjoying. Hope you can make it out to us, and thanks for your support!Carl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-80171815967830039742020-04-26T22:46:54.676-04:002020-04-26T22:46:54.676-04:00Was I supposed to comment as rice.linda348@gmail.c...Was I supposed to comment as rice.linda348@gmail.com? LindaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708597058870477871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-59600792588637546242020-04-26T22:44:44.973-04:002020-04-26T22:44:44.973-04:00Carl, this makes me so sad. I am a very new custo...Carl, this makes me so sad. I am a very new customer and I am really looking forward to enjoying all Allegro Vineyards has to offer. I love your wine. Haven't tried it all, but I'm working on it. Please hang in there....you and your staff. I will do my part and continue to order. I hope to meet you and your staff in the near future. Blessings, Linda<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708597058870477871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-46294031705202095062019-12-05T09:22:09.794-05:002019-12-05T09:22:09.794-05:00Yes! I think you're right!Yes! I think you're right!Carl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-61078722135512322502019-12-05T09:17:03.306-05:002019-12-05T09:17:03.306-05:00I think the third gentleman from the left (bushy r...I think the third gentleman from the left (bushy red beard) is Joachim Hollerith.<br />Jeanette Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05397786901404068560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-71074784039849294202017-01-20T11:11:21.347-05:002017-01-20T11:11:21.347-05:00Sure, traditionally grapes have been used in winem...Sure, traditionally grapes have been used in winemaking, but there are lots of non-grape wines made in the world.Carl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-66319054430237485852017-01-18T22:22:32.941-05:002017-01-18T22:22:32.941-05:00Nice article! I have a question: Is there any raw ...Nice article! I have a question: Is there any raw material which can be used for wine making process except grapes?Athaliahttp://www.wineandsweet.com/best-wine-cooler-reviews/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-63893247399999470222016-09-12T22:28:33.727-04:002016-09-12T22:28:33.727-04:00Holy hell, what an awesome smart-ass rely to my ow...Holy hell, what an awesome smart-ass rely to my own smart-assedness. I love it. Thanks!Carl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-22706239546518070482016-09-12T19:30:47.578-04:002016-09-12T19:30:47.578-04:00There's a cure at any age: raise a glass of go...There's a cure at any age: raise a glass of good red wine to your lips and sip. Repeat. Maybe repeat again. At this point the intelligence and wisdom inside your head merge, and magic happens. There may be a point when this ceases to work, but I'm 21 years farther along in the empirical process than you, and the clear finding so far is that more research is needed.OldWriterEditorFBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01561086863274185543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-54324506559545261082016-05-30T08:24:08.914-04:002016-05-30T08:24:08.914-04:00Thanks, Tony. It's seems to be these days tha...Thanks, Tony. It's seems to be these days that a vocal minority sometimes shapes the world more and more, for good or ill. This time probably for the better. Thanks for your support! --CarlCarl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-20095013581957075542016-05-27T12:32:20.536-04:002016-05-27T12:32:20.536-04:00Carl. I applaud you for the way you handled the si...Carl. I applaud you for the way you handled the situation. I know you said there are 2 sides to every story, but having been to your winery on many occasions and also visiting you at different festivals, seeing how you treat the customers and your staff I will side with you. You are a man of true integrity, which is also the same reason you have the best wines in PA. Knowing that we won't have to deal with beligerant people like that means I will be visiting your winery even more now. <br />Sincerely, Tony Hippensteel Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742104026329997674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-90072861682814082622016-05-27T12:29:49.009-04:002016-05-27T12:29:49.009-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742104026329997674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-34442383788516125532016-05-26T13:08:30.617-04:002016-05-26T13:08:30.617-04:00Thank you for your great comment! You all get it....Thank you for your great comment! You all get it....I know that in my younger days I had different priorities that didn't really jive with what I am doing now. Maybe back then I would have been a little more open to the limo/tour bus/thing, but these days I feel it's not the right thing for us. Glad you agree. Cheers! --CarlCarl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-81062407093882672422016-05-26T13:06:33.506-04:002016-05-26T13:06:33.506-04:00Thank you! And thanks for supporting local wines!...Thank you! And thanks for supporting local wines!Carl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-6316325227503111982016-05-26T13:04:48.557-04:002016-05-26T13:04:48.557-04:00Thanks (although you didn't have to, you know....Thanks (although you didn't have to, you know....)!Carl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-75572891277746056602016-05-26T13:04:11.369-04:002016-05-26T13:04:11.369-04:00Thanks for your kind and thoughtful email, Laurie!...Thanks for your kind and thoughtful email, Laurie! This world is full of all kinds of folks. And we can make and sell our product--wine or experience--to anyone. By limiting it to folks like you all, I think it's a win/win for both of us. Cheers! --CarlCarl Helrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06376820281206653136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2631218697264930550.post-49904015620116323182016-05-26T10:19:34.766-04:002016-05-26T10:19:34.766-04:00Hi Carl- Kudos to you for standing up for your st...Hi Carl- Kudos to you for standing up for your staff, and the reputation of your wonderful winery! We don't get to the winery very often because we live about 2 hours away. But we truly enjoy our visits and tastings, and bring enough wine home to enjoy for a while. One of our favorite pleasures is wine tasting in a quiet setting, and listening to the staff talk passionately about the wines they are pouring.<br />There was a time when we thought that having a limo or tour bus drive us to many different wineries would be ideal. But we find that our limit is 3 to 5 wineries with a meal and/or snacks in between is about all we can do without losing the senses in our taste buds. After all, that's what wine "tasting" is all about.<br />Keep your head up, and keep doing what you do best- making great wine and making the majority of your customers happy. There will always be the folks who don't really appreciate the work that goes into making the wine, and those that drink to get drunk. Your loyal customers don't need the presence of those people.<br />Eric and Bets Bloom ("WineTastersTwo" on TripAdviser).WineTastersTwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00780958548370423185noreply@blogger.com