The Garagiste version of WinePod® is great for those who want the simplicity of natural winemaking, but still want the convenience of modern equipment. With Garagiste®, budding winemakers can make the highest quality wines using natural fermentation temperatures while minimizing the hassles of traditional winemaking equipment.

Combined with our WineCoach™ software, our premium grapes and the  WinePod® networked community, the Garagiste (like our original model) empowers wine enthusiasts to become winemakers at home absolutely with no experience required.

Both the original WinePod® model and Garagiste by WinePod® make four cases of world-class wine per fermentation using premium grapes including cabernet sauvignon from Rancho Sarco and Napa River Ranch in Napa Valley, pinot noir and chardonnay from Sangiacomo Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, and syrah from Annadel Vineyard in Sonoma Valley.

And, both come with the WineCoach™ software and step-by-step instructions for winemaking, including advice from professional winemakers and online support from a worldwide social network of WinePod® winemakers. Garagiste by WinePod® sells for $1,999.  The WinePod sells for $4,499.

Where the models differ is in their level of automated controls and USB connectivity.

Interested in a wine tasting experience and want to learn more about making wine in the WinePod? Then join us for a La Honda winery open house wine tasting and WinePod event from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15th.

As a featured stop in the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrower’s Association “Passport” program, La Honda winery will open its doors to the public and pour its newest releases for tasting that day.  You can also tour the crush pad, winery, barrel room, and art gallery.

We are pleased to be working with Ken Wornick, owner and head winemaker of La Honda.  La Honda wines are created from the grapes of private estate vineyards in the Santa Cruz appellation, and crafted with food and good living in mind. The total winery production is distinctly limited, as most wines are vineyard designated small lot varietals and blends ranging from fifty to one-hundred and twenty cases per cuvee. From old-world Cabernet to new world Syrah, and from tropical Sauvignon Blanc to port and dessert wine, La Honda wines are made to be exciting and enjoyable!

You will see the WinePod in an active fermentation at this open house event.  Ask us about how you can make wine at La Honda winery at our WinePod custom crush events on December 6th or 13th.

For more information, please contact ProVina at 877-922-3122 or 408-226-9436 or at customerservice@winepod.net.

Mention “WinePod” when you visit La Honda winery on November 15th and you’ll receive 10% off your purchase during the day of the event.

Gustavo Brambila is one of the Napa Valley winemakers featured in this summer’s indie film, Bottle Shock. The movie tells the true story about a small American (Napa Valley) winery, Chateau Montelena, that bested the exalted French wines at a side-by-side blind tasting in 1976 called the “Judgment of Paris,” thus putting California wines on the map.

Played by actor Freddy Rodriguez in the film, Gustavo was one of the first Mexican Americans to earn a wine degree from U.C. Davis. His first job was serving as an assistant winemaker to Mike Grgich at Chateau Montelena in 1976. When Grgich left to start Grgich Hills winery, Gustavo went with him and remained there for twenty years as head winemaker, until 1996 when he started his own winery, Gustavo Thrace with partner, Thrace Bromberger.

The Gustavo Thrace winery launched with 250 cases of wine that year and they’ve steadily grown in reputation and size ever since. Though they are still (quite proudly) a boutique winery, in 2007 they harvested enough grapes to make over 3,000 cases. Gustavo specializes in small lots of only 200-300 cases of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Barbera, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Sirah, and they are now nationally recognized as one of Napa’s premiere boutique wineries.

If you’re interested in making your own custom wine with Gustavo Thrace winery, we’re offering a limited number of WinePod fermentations under the guidance of winemaker Gustavo Brambila. You can be one of the first to ferment in Napa Valley with the WinePod, and have the insight and knowledge of Gustavo’s expertise.

Not in the area? No problem. The Gustavo Thrace winery can make your WinePod wine for you. Whether you’re a hands–on winemaker or someone who just wants their own custom made, private label wine, with a Gustavo Thrace/WinePod custom crush purchase you are guaranteed to end up with a fabulous bottle to share with others!

Your custom crush fermentation gives you four (4) cases of personalized wine to share with family and friends all year long.  At $1872 ($39 a bottle), this is the perfect gift for the holidays!

To purchase, or for more information, contact Johanna Hirt. Phone 408-722-7313 or johanna.hirt@winepod.net.

You can read more about the Gustavo Thrace winery by clicking here to go to their website.

WinePodder Eric Porres

WinePodder of the Month: Eric Porres

I make my home in: New York  and Connecticut

A little about me: A little over two years ago I started a wine tasting group in NY called New York Grapes as a way to learn more about wine and my friends and colleagues.

To be eligible in the group you have to work in the digital marketing field.  The premise is simple: every two months or so, one person hosts a dinner at his or her home (or office) and selects the wine theme.  We drink, we share tasting notes, and award a wine of the night.  Over two years, we’ve now tasted almost 200 different wines (the site is woefully outdated!), and I think everyone’s knowledge has improved greatly.

Currently reading:
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
The Numerati by Stephen Baker
Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff
The Republic of Plato

Three fun wine facts about me:

1. Best French wine I’ve ever had: 1990 Chateau Latour
2. Best American wine I’ve ever had: 1991 Dominus
3. Best location for winemaking I’ve ever been to: Margaret River region, Western Australia
4. Longest decant of a bottle: 14 hours

Why I decided to try my hand at winemaking: It seemed like a good idea at the time!  But seriously, it was a logical obsessive-compulsive next step for me.  I’ve been to vineyards, I’ve been to wineries, I’ve visited wine growing regions around the world, but to really get in the ‘weeds’ (or in this case, in the vines), I wanted to give wine-making a go.

The name of my wine: Vin 23

A short description of my wine: Classic California cabernet, twisted with New York sensibility.

What I’ve named my WinePod: Mr Potato-Pod.

Why I like my WinePod: So far, because it makes the office smell like a winery.

Finally, if I had 30 seconds to speak to BOTH presidential candidates, I’d say . . .
Tear down the walls of interstate wine laws and let small winemakers have their say in national and global markets! And . . . Americans are better than accepting the status quo of negative campaign advertising that is rampant across both candidates’ campaigns.  Enough already.  Stop listening to the campaign consultants and listen to your own moral compass.

The event will be led by Greg Snell, inventor of the WinePod.

You will begin a red wine fermentation in a WinePod using premium Napa Valley grapes, and see how easy it is to make great wine.

The winemaking event will include:

• Smelling and tasting the grapes, yeast, tannins and other additives prior to starting a fermentation.
• Loading the grapes into a WinePod and making the fermentation additions.
• Pitching the yeast and punching down the grapes.
• Pressing the wine must and transfering into an oak barrel.
• Wine tasting of red wines at various stages of aging.

We have only ten spaces still available.  Don’t miss out on an evening of making and tasting great wine!  The event is $49.00. Please contact us at 408-226-9463 or at customerservice@winepod.net to reserve your spot with a major credit card.  Event fee will be applied to a purchase of a WinePod.

To learn more visit us at winepod.net or sign up for our newsletter.

Our team at Winepod brought together more than 35 people who all had an interest in winemaking. In a single evening, we took the group through the fermentation process, from grape-to barrel-to bottle, smelling & tasting cabernet at different stages in its development. At the end of the night, everyone went away more knowledgeable and with a bottle of wine to take home that they helped make during the event! Many said it was a one-of a kind experience and they’ll never think of wine the same way again.

Everyone received placemats that helped guide and educate them through each phase of the session. These included learning about different age wines, tannins, oak and residual sugar.

We also did a blind pouring of different wines to test what each person had learned, asking questions like:

• Which wine was aged in American oak vs. French oak? (They also smelled different oak chips that were soaked in hot water to make oak teas.)
• Which wine is high in tannins and which is not? (They got to taste powdered grape and oak tannin.)
• What does a 10-day old Pinot Noir taste like versus a Cabernet that’s 21-days old or 120-days, 240- days? And, they even tasted fresh Cabernet grapes.

Here’s what some folks said about the event:

“This was an amazing experience! Following the process from grape to WinePod to barrel was amazing. Fun and social educational experience.”

“Excellent presentation! I truly enjoyed this event. It was informational and educational.”

“Wonderful. I learned a lot. Great job!”

“It was a very well thought out and educational event. The materials to support our education were perfect.”

The social aspect of the our WineMaking Events are  a big part of their success. Most of the group at Silver Creek stayed for more than an hour after we were officially done. They wanted to keep talking about winemaking and wine.

If you’re interested in participating in a future event, check out our events page on this blog. Click here. We’re also offering our first WinePod Winemaking and Wine Tasting event at our corporate offices. Here are the details.

Winemaking and Wine Tasting at WinePod

Discover the joy of winemaking with us as we offer our first ever WinePod Winemaking and Wine Tasting event at our corporate headquarters in South San Jose on Thursday, October 23rd at 7:00-9:00 pm.

The event will be led by Greg Snell, inventor of the WinePod.

You will begin a red wine fermentation in a WinePod using premium Napa Valley grapes, and see how easy it is to make great wine.

The winemaking event will include:

• Smelling and tasting the grapes, yeast, tannins and other additives prior to starting a fermentation.
• Loading the grapes into a WinePod and making the fermentation additions.
• Pitching the yeast and punching down the grapes.
• Pressing the wine must and transfering into an oak barrel.
• Wine tasting of red wines at various stages of aging.

We have only ten spaces still available.  Don’t miss out on an evening of making and tasting great wine!  The event is $49.00. Please contact us at 408-226-9463 or at customerservice@winepod.net to reserve your spot with a major credit card.  Event fee will be applied to a purchase of a WinePod.

To learn more visit us at winepod.net or sign up for our newsletter.

Contact Johanna Hirt at (408) 722-7313 or johanna.hirt@winepod.net for current pricing on grapes.

Many factors have influenced the growing season in 2008, including a late frost in the spring. Luckily, we were still able to get got our hands on some incredible fruit for 2008 that we’re sure will turn into incredible wine in the hands of our WinePod winemakers.

The prices we’re quoting are for fruit only and do not include shipping. We use low-carbon footprint shipping methods, with five-day insulated shipping containers. The minimum grape purchase is based on the smallest lot of wine possible in the WinePod system.

If you have any questions about our grapes or vineyard partners, please call 408-226-9463 or email customerservice@winepod.net.

WINEPOD REDS

2008 Napa River Ranch Vineyard Cabernet
Click here for vineyard web site.
Location: Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley Appellation

2007 Napa River Ranch Vineyard Cabernet
Click here for vineyard web site.

The Napa River Ranch Vineyard is owned and managed by the prestigious Hall Vineyards in Napa Valley.  Our fruit comes exclusively from the “B” block.  The vineyard site is north of the town of Napa and sits at the confluence of a river and two creeks: the Napa River, Hopper Creek and Dry Creek. The soils are relatively deep and are made of clay, loam and some river gravel. This vineyard is ideal for dry farming practices and intense, complex fruit.

In addition to our 2008 Cabernet, we also have 2007 Napa River Ranch Cabernet: Brix 25, pH 3.84, TA 0.334.

For a tasting of wine made with Napa River Ranch grapes, try the 2004 Hall, Kathryn Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 93 points, Wilfred Wong, $85

2008 Charlie Smith Vineyard Cabernet
Click here for vineyard web site.
Location: Nuns Canyon, Sonoma Valley Appellation
LIMITED SUPPLY

The Charlie Smith Vineyard is new to WinePod this year, and is an example of why we love our job. At the urging of Peter Brehm, we made a special trip to this vineyard which is absolutely stunning with a view of all of Sonoma Valley. We were amazed at the unique red soils that were penetrated by the ancient rock gravel.

Charlie Smith is in the increasingly sought after Nuns Canyon section of the Mayacamas mountain range in Sonoma Valley next to Kistler Vineyard. As a mountain top vineyard, their vines struggle to produce even a small amount of grapes, but these smaller berries are an intense fruit.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any examples of commercial wines made with Charlie Smith Vineyard Cabernet to point you to, but trust us that the grapes are amazing. This is a unique opportunity for those of you who want something different, as this may be the only year we are able to source this fruit and are extremely happy to have the small amount we’ll be harvesting.

2007 Rancho Sarco Vineyard Cabernet
Location: Coombsville District, Napa Valley Appellation

Alas!  We were unable to source this fantastic fruit in 2008 as a winery that will remain unnamed swooped in and gobbled up the contract in January.  However, we still have some of the 2007 and it continues to make a rich, intense and showy Cabernet.

This vineyard is in the Coombsville section of Napa Valley right at the entrance of the Valley near Sarco Creek and the Silverado Country Club.  Being closer to the Bay, this vineyard allows the fruit to ripen more slowly.  The Cabernet is Clone 8 on 110R rootstalk.

2006 Trailside Vineyard Cabernet
Location: Rutherford District, Napa Valley Appellation
VERY LIMITED SUPPLY

We purchased a small amount of this fantastic and highly sought after fruit in 2006 and put it in suspended animation while we furiously worked on the WinePod release.  As a result, we never really used it which means it’s still available for those of you who want to get your hands on the same grapes that go into well-known $85 commercially produced Cabernets.

The Trailside Vineyard is planted in Rutherford dirt, hugging the Silverado Trail on its east side near the banks of Conn Creek. The vines consistently produce deep purple berries bursting with an extra ripeness and intensity.

For a tasting of wine made with Trailside Vineyard Cabernet, try the 2003 Heitz Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

2006 Windsor Oaks Vineyard Cabernet
Location: Chalk Hill Appellation

The Windsor Oak Vineyard Cabernet is an extremely ripe fruit that is memorable to us because it became some of the first wines we produced with the WinePod. At 29 Brix, this fruit will make a huge wine with very high alcohol. Or, you can add water to reduce the Brix to a lower level. Either way, the wine will be ripe and fruity.

2008 Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir
Location:  Sonoma Coast Appellation
VERY LIMITED SUPPLY

2007 Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir
VERY LIMITED SUPPLY
We have small amount of the 2007.
Brix 25.6, pH 3.81, TA 0.417, YAN 386 (Very Good)

The Roberts Road Vineyard is owned by the Sangiacomo family and is highly sought after by many winemakers. We were lucky enough to get a small amount of their fantastic Pinot Noir.

Vineyard location selection is always tricky with this varietal, but the Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard located in the Petaluma gap has proven itself to be an ideal location to grow world-class Pinot Noir. The vines struggle to create only one ton per acre.

For a tasting of wine made with Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir, try the Tanden Sangiacomo Pinot Noir, $50, which received 94 points from the Pinot Report.

2008 Annadel Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
Click here for vineyard web site.
Location: Sonoma Valley Appellation

The lovely Annadel Estate Vineyard sits on 37.4 acres at the northwest end of the Sonoma Valley appellation fronting the Sonoma Highway.  There is no flat land, and elevation ranges from 410 to 530 feet. The vineyard was established in 1998, and all of the soils are characterized by alluvial gravel and cobble.

Although it is officially in the Sonoma Valley appellation, the site drains northwest toward Santa Rosa Creek rather than south-southeast toward Sonoma Creek.  Therefore, the climate at the site has more in common with that of the Russian River Valley and Santa Rosa Plain than it does with the San Pablo Bay and much hotter Kenwood areas. Heat accumulations in the coolest areas at the site are 5 percent to 7 percent less than at some of the most famous Russian River Pinot Noir vineyards.

The target yield for the mature vineyard is an average of 3.0 to 3.5 tons per acre.  The Pinot Noir is planted in the coolest areas of the vineyard and planted with Dijon clones: 115, 667.

2008 Annadel Estate Vineyard Syrah
Click here for the vineyard web site.
Location: Sonoma Valley Appellation

2007 Annadel Estate Vineyard Syrah
Click here for the vineyard web site.
Location: Sonoma Valley Appellation

The Annadel Syrah is planted on all four soil-types on the site with a select group of clones: 100, 174, 877 and Tablas Creek A (a sub-selection of clone 99 made by Chateau Beaucastel). The Syrah is grafted on 101-14 and 420A rootstocks.

We have plenty of 2008 and about two tons of the 2007 fruit available.  The 2007 fruit was picked at 24.8 Brix, pH 3.99 and TA 0.368

2008 Underwood Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir
Click here for vineyard web site.
Location: Columbia Gorge Appellation, Oregon

To all Oregon Pinot lovers, we give you the Underwood Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir! This pretty vineyard sits at about the 1,000-foot elevation on deep, well drained, volcanic soil. The steeply trellised vineyard faces east on Underwood Mountain in the Columbia Gorge appellation, with the vines are using a bilateral cordon. The vineyard is planted with Pommard and 115 clones. As you may know, the Oregon climate is famous for its affinity to the Pinot Noir grape. If you’re interested in making a great Pinot, try the Underwood Mountain Vineyard.

WINEPOD WHITES

2008 Windsor Oaks Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Location: Russian River Valley

This Sauvignon Blanc is located at Block 10D3.  Our fruit comes from Clone 1 planted to rootstalk 101-14.  This fruit was picked on August 22, 2008.  Brix 23.9,  pH 3.07,  TA 0.60,  YAN: 66 (low)

2008 Sangiacomo Home Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay
Location: Los Carneros Appellation, Sonoma

This wonderful Chardonnay is from the original home vineyard of the well-known grape growers, the Sangiacomo family.  The Home Ranch Vineyard was planted in 1971 and is designed with drip irrigation and a bi-lateral cordon vertical trellis.  This vineyard consistently makes world-class Chardonnay. The Sangiacomos limit their production of this vineyard to 3.5 tons per acre.

For a tasting of wine made with Sangiacomo Home Ranch Vineyard chardonnay, try Rombauer, Macrostie, Simi, or Acacia Chardonnays.

CNET Interview with Greg Snell at Wine 2.0. Click here.

Wine Library TV and Gary Vaynerchuk podcast from Wine 2.0. Click here.

WinePod at Bert George Wines. Click here.

Sal Pizarro of the San Jose Mercury News talks about the WinePod. Click here.

WinePod on MSNBC. Click here.

To read more news coverage on WinePod, click here.

Video pitches with the highest ratings, highest views and most comments will be selected by Vator.tv, and three judges will each vote for the final winner. Comments and reviews are accepted through January 1st and the winner will be announced during the first week in February. Tell the judges what you think of the WinePod, the world’s first personal winery now!

If you know Pinot, then you know it is one of the most noble, yet exasperating varieties out there, with a character that is hard to define but has produced some of the world’s greatest wines. It’s this fickleness of Pinot that tempts so many to pursue it with passion.

It’s the grape that’s responsible for the red wines of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or. Pinot is particular about its growing conditions, typically producing the best results in cool, fog-prone regions. Here in the U.S., the climate of Oregon’s Willamette Valley (just south of Portland along Interstate 5) has proven to be especially well suited for Pinot Noir (think cold and rainy!).

Of course, excellent Pinot Noirs are popping up everywhere these days: from a variety of California regions in appellations such as Chalone, Mount Harlan, Los Carneros, the Russian River Valley, the Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Barbara County, and the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County to as far north as Canada’s Okanagan Valley and Niagara Peninsula.

Are you brave enough to take on this notorious heartbreaker? If so, join us and learn from our WinePod winemakers, who’ll lend their expertise on how to turn Pinot grapes into your own harmonious, unforgettable wine.

To sign up for Club Ferment or for more details, email: clubferment@winepod.net

For more Club Ferment dates, click here.