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Post by Merlot Joe on Aug 23, 2009 23:35:28 GMT -6
Well we are getting ready to kick off Grape Harvest 2009 here in the next few days. The last couple of week we have gotten the machine, the tanks, the trailers, forklifts, tractor, and trucks all ready to.
It looks like or first pick we be the night of September 1st or 2nd.
I a still trying to get my self into the mental mood for the next 5 weeks of hurry up and rush bullshit.
So if I am not seen for a while I will drowning in a sea of grape juice and will see you all when I get done on the other side.
On the positive side the crop looks good. Estimated the Chardonnay Crop at 618 tons, Pinto Grigio at 132 tons, Sauvignon Blanc at 60 tons and Merlot crop at 75 tons. We also have about 400 tons of grapes for others that we do commercially.
So if you happen to be in my area sometime over the next 5 weeks let me know and maybe you can come buy and see my three ring circus work.
Joe
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Post by Chicago Jake on Aug 24, 2009 13:16:19 GMT -6
Good luck! We'll try to carry on without you until you bring 'em all home.......Jake
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Post by Christinko on Aug 24, 2009 16:31:38 GMT -6
Rock on, Joe! Grapes are looking good this year (we just did a Mendocino weekend) out there. And I promise to drink as much wine as humanly possible to do my part in keeping the grape economy alive.
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Post by Merlot Joe on Aug 24, 2009 17:45:27 GMT -6
Rock on, Joe! Grapes are looking good this year (we just did a Mendocino weekend) out there. And I promise to drink as much wine as humanly possible to do my part in keeping the grape economy alive. All we ask for is a bottle a day.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, Joe
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Post by Christinko on Aug 24, 2009 22:05:00 GMT -6
I'm working on it! Wayne keeps wanting to drink beer though! I can't manage a whole bottle by myself on a daily basis...but for you, I'll try.
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Post by Merlot Joe on Aug 25, 2009 0:03:57 GMT -6
I'm working on it! Wayne keeps wanting to drink beer though! I can't manage a whole bottle by myself on a daily basis...but for you, I'll try. Thank you very much. Wine sales according to the wineries that I do business with are off by 25% this year. There are many growers in my area with no place to sell their grapes this year due to the drop in sales, and prices on the spot market (selling at the last minute) are dropping fast. Chardonnay in some places that would have brought $2,000.00 per ton last year is down to maybe $800.00 this year if you are lucky. I am fortunate since I have contracts in place.The prices maybe a little lower since I like long term security instead of instant big dollars. Some of my contracts run to 2011 and some to 2014. I think I am safe until the shit stops hitting the fan. The recession hit late in my industry and it is going to take some time for it to come back. Joe
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Post by Chicago Jake on Aug 25, 2009 0:40:59 GMT -6
I'm shooting for a bottle per day. Not wine, of course, but it's the thought that counts, right?
I recommend getting in bed with the makers of very low-cost wines, or else extremely high-end wines. The middle of the market is always much more susceptible to economic ups and downs Rich people never have to tighten their belt, and cheapo shit cleans up in times of trouble.......Jake
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Post by Merlot Joe on Sept 2, 2009 23:37:22 GMT -6
Finally got the okay to start picking. We start tonight Thursday 9/3 at 9:00PM. We have about 50 tons of Sauvignon Blanc to bring in. Looks like we get the 3 day weekend off and then Tuesday we could be running at full speed. The schedule is subject to ch-ch-change at any time in the next 10 seconds if my cell phone rings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe (who is still trying to get in the right mind set for the next six weeks of shit, Denice can I have another Corona please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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Post by bigdog8088 on Sept 3, 2009 2:13:54 GMT -6
I'm working on it! Wayne keeps wanting to drink beer though! I can't manage a whole bottle by myself on a daily basis...but for you, I'll try. Try the 150 $ a bottle with the screw on cap.....Ohh and Pinky up !
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Sept 3, 2009 5:10:01 GMT -6
Finally got the okay to start picking. We start tonight Thursday 9/3 at 9:00PM. We have about 50 tons of Sauvignon Blanc to bring in. Looks like we get the 3 day weekend off and then Tuesday we could be running at full speed. The schedule is subject to ch-ch-change at any time in the next 10 seconds if my cell phone rings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Joe (who is still trying to get in the right mind set for the next six weeks of shit, Denice can I have another Corona please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Good luck Joe
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Post by DT on Sept 3, 2009 19:00:58 GMT -6
"Retailers say their customers have been trading down to less-expensive brands of wine — but buying more bottles total, leading to approximately the same average purchase size at many stores.
Why are they buying more bottles at these outlets? Perhaps they’re drinking away their troubles; perhaps they’re dining in more frequently, and trying to replicate the restaurant experience by uncorking at home; and perhaps they just feel guilty about buying a flashy, expensive alcohol brand during a recession, so they spend the same amount of cash on two less flashy bottles.
In any case, the moral of the story is that the recession is forcing middle-market consumers to move down-market."
Good Luck Joe, Hope youse guys can take time out for the Cubs/Giant game.
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Post by innit Geezer on Sept 3, 2009 19:45:26 GMT -6
Just saw this thread, good luck Joe and at least you can look forward to relaxing when it's all done.
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Post by Irish Stu on Sept 4, 2009 10:38:44 GMT -6
I was thinking of you Joe when I enjoyed a few glasses of Pinot Grigio last night. Unfortunately it was Italian, but hey... it's the thought that counts.
Simon
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Post by Merlot Joe on Sept 4, 2009 11:17:10 GMT -6
I was thinking of you Joe when I enjoyed a few glasses of Pinot Grigio last night. Unfortunately it was Italian, but hey... it's the thought that counts. Simon That's okay Simon, I'll let you slip by this time. ;D Joe
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Post by Merlot Joe on Sept 4, 2009 11:20:32 GMT -6
Just got home from the first night run for this season. Started last night at 8:00PM had a real good first night. No break downs, no one got run over, and the grape crop looks good so far. Things went to easy. Hope that a good sign on how the rest of the season goes.
Looks like I get the three day weekend off. No one has called to schedule a pick for Monday, so it's off to the Giants game.
Joe
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Sept 4, 2009 21:39:10 GMT -6
It's people like you that make me so very, very proud of the Welch's grape juice company.
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Post by Merlot Joe on Sept 4, 2009 22:37:42 GMT -6
Welch's grape juice company. Ah yes, wine with out a punch. Joe
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Sept 4, 2009 23:19:06 GMT -6
Not unlike Merlot.
-- BB (OH! Now *THAT* was a low blow!)
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Post by Merlot Joe on Sept 10, 2009 19:09:32 GMT -6
I reminded myself today while I bought a grape harvester 11 years ago. We had to do a hand picking today, the first time in 11 years. We have some vineyards that we budded over to Pinot Grigio last year and the first year you can not use a harvest on them.
What I found out today is that nothing has changed in 11 years picking by hand. I hired 25 men to pick ( yes they are all legals). They were told they needed to pick 2 loads (50 tons) today by 4:00pm. (we started at 6:30am). I told them if they couldn't I would hire more men to complete the task but they said no problema!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BULLSHIT
Well at 2:00pm today with only 30 tons they said they were tired and wanted to go home, and that also they wanted more money( I am paying them $95.00 per ton which is at industry average) or they wouldn't come back on Friday. I told them to get fucked and get the fuck off on my ranch and that I would finish the job with my machine and fuck the vines.
Well they are coming back Friday at the same price but I hired 12 more men for Friday.
Friday will be my last day of hand picking for the rest of my fucking life as a farmer.Never fucking never again. Sunday night we go back to machine picking and thank God for it.
I just opened a new bottle of Jack and finished my first double and am on my way to the second one, wait, wait, I just started my third round!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe (who glad he did not have a weapon in his Pickup today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Sept 10, 2009 19:58:52 GMT -6
That's the problem with hiring legals.
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Post by Dan on Sept 11, 2009 7:36:59 GMT -6
Yeah - the illegals would have been finished at 2:00. And eating the leftovers.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Sept 11, 2009 8:17:44 GMT -6
I find it interesting that after a challenging day picking grapes, Joe turns to Jack to relax (Id turn down the Tequila in the field too)
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Sept 11, 2009 8:37:26 GMT -6
Well, if you spend all day working as a baker, you might not go home to have cake for dessert after dinner.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Sept 11, 2009 8:42:26 GMT -6
True, but I might be whipping up the illegal help in the Hobart mixer.
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Sept 11, 2009 8:44:42 GMT -6
Nothing like fresh Soylent Green Ceviche!
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Sept 11, 2009 9:09:11 GMT -6
Just for fun, Joe should hop on his harvester, head south of the border, park it in a Home Depot parking lot and wait for day work with it mexicanwines.homestead.com/
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Post by Dan on Sept 11, 2009 11:35:10 GMT -6
He'll have to stop at the border and put spinners on the wheels though. Without them he'll have "illegal immigrant" written all over him.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Sept 11, 2009 11:45:58 GMT -6
If I remember the photos of the harvester he's posted in the past, the underbody neon needs replacing too
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Sept 11, 2009 11:58:05 GMT -6
And while you're at it, new curb feelers would be good.
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Post by Dan on Sept 11, 2009 12:41:28 GMT -6
And a bobble-head dog on the dash for that finishing touch.
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