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W.I.N.O.S. 2013 | |
Here they are, the ticket links to the 6 WINOS dates for 2013. Our great array of catering and vendors is exciting to us, and hopefully to you as well. Dates will fill quickly, but we hope to see you and friends at this summer traditional event.
May 17th
June 7th
June 21st
July 12th
July26th
August 9th
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Coming Soon
Pinot Gris 2012
KB Dry Traminette 2012
Vidal Blanc 2012
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Almost Gone
Larry's Luscious 2010
Kreibaum Bay Moscato 2012 |
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Visit our Website
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T.S. Eliot called April the cruelest month, but for the past few years, there has been another reason to welcome its departure: Tra-May-nette. What started as a play on words has taken on the personification of the beginning of our "busy" season; In 2009, Indiana claimed Traminette (a cold-tolerant fragrant white wine grape created from a crossing of two other grapes, Gewürztraminer and Joannes-Seyve 23-416) as a signature & symbol for the entire state to unify around, in the pursuit of a national recognition of our wine-making.
I have often thought, and occasionally said out loud, that 2009 was our own smaller localized version of 1976 Judgement of Paris; This is not to say that what happened was as singular, dramatic, or eventful but it is my belief that Indiana took a step towards greater presence in the wine world pantheon by declaring not only a unifying grape choice, but by declaring that it was declaring something. Indiana wineries grow other grapes, and other states grow Traminette, yet if we, as a statewide entity, continue to devote ourselves to honing of applications of and to the presentation of Traminette, hold the means gaining a better seat at the table. The tools are there, and who, really, knows what the future holds? |
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Starting with May 1st, Satek Winery will be lowering the number of free tastes we offer, from 10 to 8. Why? With creation of our wine trail, with more wineries in the area, there is a greater chance that patrons may coming from or going to another location, and that accumulation is something that needs to be factored in. Satek Winery proudly presents a number of wines within multiple catagories, standing behind each. We will continue to encourage tasters to experiment and to challenge their perceptions of wine preferences as well as closely examine particular styles or ranges, but to paraphase an old televison show, 8 should be enough. |
The last of a series from Larry Satek, documenting the 20th anniversary of the Lake James vineyard planting.
IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS: PART 3.
Last month ,in part II, I described our first "planting" experience. We were smacked in the face by reality as it took us the entire weekend to plant about 240 vines out of 600.
After a long and arduous planting on the first weekend in May, we started preparing to plant on the second weekend, which is, of course, Mothers Day. We had learned some tricks, we thought, some efficiencies that might make the planting easier. The vines had been stored in a cool shady area until the previous weekend, so on Saturday morning we arose early and eager to get a lot of them done. But the weather turned HOT. That Mothers Day weekend was probably the hottest on record, with temperatures seemingly in the 90's. And there is no shade at all in a vineyard. We struggled through the day, planting another 120 vines or so on Saturday, and then had to face Sunday, Mothers Day to do it all over again. Pam was a trooper, helping out until the heat really did us both in. We didn't get as many planted as we had hoped - the heat really slowed us down, but we were probably in the 460-470 range when we called it quits. The heat and the need to leave for Illinois ended the work day. Pam still gives a primordial scream every time someone mentions the "Mothers Day We Planted Vines".
With the heat, we could no longer store the vines in the shade. Plus, we had a son graduating from the University of Illinois the next weekend, so we could not even get back to the lake. We did the only thing I could think of. We dug a shallow trench in a mostly shady area, watered the soil, and buried the roots in the trench. We would have to wait two weeks to finish the task.
With graduation weekend over, we came back to the vineyard the following and finished the remaining vines. We became a lot wiser to the tasks of starting a vineyard, and more than a bit sore. We did learn, however. Subsequent plantings, we recruited help from a number of sources. Once we got the hang of it, we planted nearly 800 vines in about 5 hours. But one needs to learn how to do it. Neither of us will ever forget that first planting. The winery almost ended that Mothers Day weekend 20 years ago, but we did find the strength to continue on, and eventually start the winery proving that one can indeed make good wine from grapes grown in Northeastern Indiana. |
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Satek wine can today be found commercially in a growing number of places outside of the Fremont tasting room; It has not been accidental. If that effort has face, it is that of Fred Barnes, our resident human dynamo, who has spearheaded the Vine2Wine "arm" of Satek Winery- and he has something to say.
Hello! New contributor on board!
I'm Fred, aka Freddy B aka "The Wine Guy"! You may have seen me tooling around the area in my Caribbean Blue Nissan Cube, aka "The Wine Mobile" or simply, Da Cube. The magnetic Satek signs on the doors attest to my good taste.
Some years back, it was Larry Satek's vision to move into the area of self-distributing our wines. Because of my four plus decades of owning and operating my own business (in Defiance, OH), I was tapped to lead us in that direction. That was right down my alley- I was ON it, like a wolverine (actually, I'm a Spartan). I got great support, and it has been a great fit.
Vine2Wine is run as a separate entity from Satek Winery. We secured a micro-wholesaler's license which permits us to distribute 12,000 gallons, but only in Indiana. It was expected that V2W would stand on its own, and be profitable. And so it was, right out of the gate. We have grown in market penetration and number of cases delivered each year, and 2013 is off to a great start.
Now to the good part and the work that I love the best- customer service! V2W presently has 50 clients covering a geographic area from the winery South to Hamilton and Decatur, all of Ft. Wayne, West to Roanoke, Columbia City, Lake of Winona and North to Elkhart, then back to the northern corridor of IN to our home in Fremont.
My job has been made so much easier because of the quality/diversity of the Satek wines and the foot-print that Satek wines have established; Quality drives sales. My emphasis has been on exceptional customer service; I know each of our clients by name and their particular M.O. I have wine at their door quickly, often the same day. Clients love our wines because people ask for them and they move! Many of our deliveries are made in the Cube (it has hauled a LOT of wine, though for larger orders we will lease a vehicle for the drop).
Life is good (no-outstanding) at Vine2Wine. I love my job!
p.s. I don't tweet, twit or Face; If you like this, shoot back to the winery or if you see Da Cube, give me a honk or a thumbs-up!
Fred- Regional Sales Manager, V2W |
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Satek Winery works very closely with our grape growers to produce spectacular wines that create a sense of place. Periodically, we will run a column highlighting one of our grape growers and their vineyard. The vineyard in focus is owned by Tom and Sheri Bradway.
Vineyard: Stony Point Vineyard
Varietals Grown: Traminette, Corot Noir, Aromella
Years Growing Grapes: 4
This fourth nugget of our grape grower highlight centers on Stony Point Vineyard, in Etna Green, Indiana. Where is Etna Green? Located west of Warsaw, Kosciusko County, if you get to Bourbon, Indiana, you went a little too far. Etna Green's population is 585 people, and includes our farmers in focus, Tom and Sheri Bradway. I was pretty sure Etna Green was a swingin 40's moviestar, oops, my mistake.
Stony Point is perched on a 9 acre plot of rock speckled ground with a deep gravel base. Well drained soil, (perfect for wine grapes) and is across the way from Stony Point Cemetary. The cemetary was originally plotted from 5th generation ancestors of the Bradways and serves northwestern Kosciusko County. There's lots of history in this area, befitting for a vineyard to tell a future story one day.
With 650 acres of corn and soybeans, Stony Point Vineyard may seem like a trivial portion of the land, however, Tom and Sheri agree that it seems the time to manage and care for the grapes equals that of the other crops. A Napa valley visit planted the desire to try grape growing, and attending Indiana Horticultural Congress shows, in addition to working with the Indiana Wine and Grape Association gave Tom and Sheri the enthusiasm and knowledge to get started. Larry Satek was president of the association at the time, and talked with them about this venture before they sprang into action.
Flash forward a few years and the work and dedication has resulted in a splendid first harvest of Traminette.
The 9 acre plot has a total of nearly 1000 vines, including both Traminette and Corot Noir, and the newly planted jewel called Aromella.
What is Aromella? Brand-new and named just a few weeks ago, it's a winter-hardy white grape, crossed between Traminette and Ravat 34. This will have some electric floral flavors, and, like its close relative Golden Muscat, will be a nice tool for blending and also have the possibility of a varietal designation as we get used to the flavors and behavior. We are thrilled to have another grower with this stellar grape.
So, as we continue to build our foundation of local grape and fruit growers, Satek Winery is delighted to work with Tom and Sheri, and Stony Point Vineyard to produce knockout wines for our colorful portfolio. Thanks for all your hard work.
-Shane Christ
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Chill out-
The third installment of "vine flies when you're having sun" seems to be stuck in neutral, and we might be the better for it. The snow and cold of late April didn't have a great many options to target; by having a slow build rather than a thermometer rollercoaster, the primary buds remained more protected than exposed. Aside from this practical reaction, and a slow "cinematic" build to heighten your viewing pleasure, we will eventually need some grapes with which to work; 'May' the sun shine warm....
Steuben
Marechal Foch
Golden Muscat
Photos by Al Patterson
Next Month- Bursting at the seams?
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