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| Best in Glass
Satek Winery's eNewsletter |
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"So far as drinking is concerned, you have my hearty approval; for wine does of a truth moisten the soul and lull our griefs to sleep....[and with small cups] we shall ...be brought by its gentle persuasion to a more sportive mood."
-Xenophon,
quoting Socrates |
New winery equipment expedites Crush
The new destemmer/crusher has made a smoother task of our Crush this year. Our new equipment is amazingly efficient (made even more so by our super-efficient staff)! The new pneumatic press is fast and easy and a joy to use, especially when pressing large amounts, compared with our old basket press.
Shane using the new Destemmer-Crusher on Steuben grapes |
We are just now getting in our California grapes, so if you have a chance to make it in for a visit in the next month or so, you may still get a chance to witness this equipment in action before it goes into "hibernation" 'till next fall! As always, call first to see what's on the production schedule for the day of your planned visit; we often know only a few days in advace if grapes will be coming in to be crushed. |
Happy Birthday Foch!
Ferdinand Foch |
October 2nd is the birthday of Ferdinand Foch, also known as Marechal Foch. He's remembered slightly more for his contributions during WWI, where he served as general in the French army, than how we celebrate him: as the namesake of one variety of grapes we grow, which in turn gives the wine its name.
Marechal Foch grapes | |
Satek Winery to support RISE fundraiser
Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park will again be the location for the annual "RISE To the Occasion: Tastes, Sights, and Sounds of the Lakes" fundraiser on October 14th from 6:30-9:00 p.m. This fun event gives attendees unlimited access to fine dining from more than a dozen area restaurants. In addition, there will be displays by numerous local artists, music by the Trine Jazz Band, and more than 100 silent auction items, all to help this worthy cause. RISE is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prepare, empower, and support individuals with challenges to participate in the community to their fullest physical, social, emotional and vocational potentials. Staff from Satek Winery (Sharon, Al, and Judy) will be on hand to do wine tastings of many of our popular wines. Tickets are available by calling 260-665-9408. |
Click the picture to follow the link to our Facebook page! Be sure to click "Like" to add us to your Facebook friends! |
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Greetings!
 As the days grow shorter and cooler, and as the leaves turn from the greens of summer to the reds, golds, and ambers of Autumn, we transition from the busy crowds in the tasting room to the harvest of the grapes to the more restful pace of late fall and winter. We'll be celebrating the 18th Anniversary of the Lake James vineyard on Columbus Day. We're working on putting the vineyards to bed, with vine maintenance and installation of deer fences at the top of the task list. As tired as we are from the labor-intensive Crush, we are still keeping a watchful eye on the progress of the wines as they develop in the tanks. We can get an early feel for the characters and quality of this year's vintages and keep our fingers crossed for the next medal-winners. More than ever, though, we look forward to visits from our customers. We have more time to spend with you, to guide you through your wine tastings, tour you through our production facility, and share our love of wine and winemaking with you.
One of my favorite quotes is by O.W. Holmes, Jr. "The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving." This is a transition time for Satek Winery, not only from one season to the next, but from that of a young, relatively small local winery to that of an established, award-winning, growing and evolving winery. Next year we celebrate our 10th Anniversary. Looking back, we are thrilled with our accomplishments, but even moreso, we are excited for what is to come.
Sláinte! (Irish toast: "to your health!")
-Chrissie |
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Grape harvest finished early but with smaller yield
DeChaunac grapes growing at the Lake James vineyard |
This year's September 1 start to the harvest is one of the earliest we have ever had in the 18 years we have been growing grapes. Only once before, about 1997, we had a very warm year and harvest started in late August. Indeed, this year the entire harvest is over before the harvest even started in 2009 or 2008.
Yet the warm, dry summer made for good grapes. All the grapes in Northeastern Indiana have wonderful "chemistry" as well as great flavor this year. The dry summer made for smaller grape berries, which makes for better wines. The sugars were great, but as we pointed out last month, the pH and flavors - the most important parameters - are wonderful. We have high expectations for this year's crop. We wish there were more grapes, but the May 10 frost damaged some of the vineyards and reduced the crop in those vineyards. Other vineyards escaped damage, or only had minimal damage. Such is the life of a grape farmer or a corn farmer, where weather has such a huge say in the final crop.
And, with the good growing season, we will attempt to do battle with the birds, deer, raccoons, and other critters and make another Vidal Blanc Ice Wine. Our 2008 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine won a double gold medal and was named the Indiana Wine of the Year. We hope we can match that effort.
But beginning in spring of 2011, start looking for 2010 vintage Midwest wines. All factors indicate they should be really good.
-contributed by Larry Satek
To read more about this year's grape growing season in Northern Indiana, as well as in California, click this link to read Dan and Krista Stockman's article in their "Uncorked" wine column from the September 18 Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
Uncorked, by Dan and Krista Stockman |
Satek Winery featured at Fort Wayne gift show in November
 Can't wait 'till next year for another W.I.N.O.S. Girls Night Out? Well, here's good news: Satek Winery has teamed up with Mad Anthony's Children's Hope House for a GNO to top all GNOs! Friday, November 19 is the date for the preview night of the Holly Days Marketplace, a holiday gift shopping extravaganza complete with live music, catered food, and of course, Satek wine! Held at the former Marshall Fields department store at Glenbrook Mall in Fort Wayne, this event will benefit Mad Anthonys Children's Hope House, a non-profit hospitality house that provides lodging in a homelike setting to parents and families of children receiving medical care away from home. Tickets are $20 each, and can be ordered online beginning Oct. 8th by following the link below. Can't make it to the preview night? The Holly Days Marketplace will be open to shoppers with all the vendors on Saturday, November 20 (10 a.m.- 6 p.m.) and Sunday, November 21 (11 a.m.- 3 p.m.). Fort Wayne-area customers rejoice! Satek Winery will be on hand all three days with gift items and wine for sale (think: pick up Thanksgiving wines and a few bottles for holiday gifts!).
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Blueberry wine is a Thanksgiving favorite
 The much-anticipated 2010 Blueberry Wine has caused quite a buzz among our customers, especially the question of the release date.
Last year's vintage was exceptionally popular-- made more so with the addition of mulling spices and the warmth of the crockpot-- which many winery customers enjoyed sampling on weekends last winter. It looks like this year's Blueberry Wine will be available for purchase beginning the weekend before Thanksgiving. Shane Christ, head winemaker, previews what to expect: "early tasting has revealed an intense blueberry character, with all the wonderful cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg flavors that come from fermenting on the skins of very high-caliber, wine-grade blueberries." Keep an eye on your inbox, as we will send out a special email announcement on the exact date of release. |
Accepting entries for photo contest
Once again we are calling for entries in our annual Satek Winery photo contest! Send us your digital photos showing your enjoyment of Satek Wines. The pics can be of you and your friends on your visit here, at a gathering where you served Satek wine, or an artistic shot of the wine or bottle itself. We will display all the entries on our website, and will feature the winning photograph in the next edition of our e-newsletter. Satek staff will serve as judges and pick their favorite. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate. To enter, click on the link below or submit your photos to chrissiek@voyager.net and put "Satek photo contest" in the subject heading.
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| Enter to win! |
Fill out this entry form and bring it in on your next trip to Satek Winery, and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a Decanter to be given away on Halloween weekend! No purchase necessary. You may also mail your entry to: October Newsletter Decanter Drawing, Satek Winery, 6208 N. Van Guilder Road, Fremont, IN 46737.
Name: _________________________________________________________
Phone: (__________) ______________________________________________
Email: _________________________________________________________
City/State: ______________________________________________________ | | Offer Expires: October 31, 2010 (the day the drawing takes place) |
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