Mac checking
the Brix of a California Lodi Zinfandel.
Dear
Fellow Winemakers,
About the middle of August every
year, the Preston Hardware
Warehouse at the back of
248 Preston Street, in
Ottawa’s Little Italy,
begins a transformation. Hardware items are displaced by
winemaking supplies and equipment, while space is made for
the pallets of fresh grapes soon to arrive.
Since the store’s opening in
1945, the owners of the day have always kept a portion of
store shelves devoted to the art and science of home
winemaking. “Villa Locatelli”
was
the early name of this part of the store. Around 1980, the
present day owners, Mario and Sam Giannetti
and Mario Frangione, added fresh grapes to the
repertoire.
This
required the establishment of refrigeration, crushers,
destemmers, presses and more equipment availability for
customers. In keeping with Preston Hardware’s philosophy of
good customer service, two temporary staff
are
brought in at this time of year to advise customers on
grape/juice selection and winemaking. Luigi Giannetti
and Mac MacDonald also give workshops, tours and have
at their disposal demonstration fermentations to help
customers make the best wine possible.
By
phone or in person, they are available seven days a week
during the grape season.
After Labour Day the first
grapes arrive and the “Crush” or “Vendemmia” begins.
Activity is slow
at
first but by the second week daily truck deliveries from
California quicken the pace and the noise level. Early
varieties such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the first to
arrive soon followed by other varieties.
Some
local families have been coming since the very beginning,
continuing
a
family tradition from the old country that may have included
a vineyard of their own.
Open seven days a week
during
the crush, the facility also becomes a bit of a social hub.
People inspect the grapes and talk
winemaking
with the staff. Last year’s wine is passed around for
evaluation or advice on how to deal with a particular
variety or blend.
Preston’s
customers come a long way for their grapes and juices. Deep
River and Pembroke in the Northwest, all along the Quebec
side of the Ottawa River into Montreal and
beyond;.
Cornwall, Brockville, Kingston and Northern New York State.
Grapes
are also shipped to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Preston
Hardware has more variety and price options than anywhere in
this part of Canada.
From Central Valley Carignane
to Napa Valley Cabernet and everything in between – we have
your grapes and the advice needed to help you, our fellow
winemakers, craft the best wines from them.
Presses of every size...
From all of us at
PrestonWine,
have a great winter... and
we'll all soon be watching for the first signs of
Harvest 2012.
in
Vino Veritas,
Mac MacDonald,
Luigi Giannetti and the rest of
Your PrestonWine.ca Team
