MistyRay News Release
15-May-09				Spring				News
Spring must be one of the most refreshing times of the year.  Watching the  new tender shoots burst forth new life into their little corner of the world is pure enjoyment.  There is no concern on the part of the vine if they will have the proper amount of sunlight, rain and proper nutrients.  No worries if they will receive the proper care, pruning, protecting against fungus, disease or insect attack.  Their trust is in our Maker and the vineyard caretaker.  The vine promises to give back to us all that it is able, forgetting the past, looking only to the future of this season and what in has to offer.  In this there are some reminders for each of us too, maybe to trust our Creator a little more each day, maybe to be a little less hung up on the past and begin each day with a fresh new start, maybe not worry so much about the future and maybe to take time to count our blessings and the good things.
2008 Wine Update
First I want to thank all of you who stopped in to talk awhile and purchase wine.  Basically I sold all of my supply except for six or eight bottles here and there.  I have a good supply of Quartz Hill Red 2007 but I had far more of that to start with and with each month that passes it is maturing more and more in the bottle.  So once again, thanks to all.
MistyRay Winery Wines
Wine Tastings and Sip and Nibble Times
Besides the regular tastings we do by appointment, the Sip and Nibble times have been very well received and fun times.  My "Special Use Permit" dictates that I must do tastings by appointment, most of the time I need only 30 to 45 minutes lead time to be ready for you.  Sip and Nibble appointments are a bit different.  These are mostly evening times when you and up to eight or ten friends would like to spend a little time relaxing on our deck, sipping wine and enjoying light finger food.  We do not currently charge for this time or the food, as we are not in the food service business, we would rather you choose to take along home a bottle of wine or two.  Please call and schedule a wine tasting or a Sip and Nibble Time.
What do I do all Winter you may ask?  Good Question and many ask!
			Well you see in the picture to the left what appears to be apple boxes.  Well here is really the beginning of my next Winter's activity.  Many of you know that I use recycled wine bottles for my wines.  It is just one way that I contribute to being green.  The first step is to collect and presort those bottles I am able to use.  Many of you bring me your empties, also contributing to being green.  Currently I use only 750 ML bottles, all the larger ones I send to recycle bin.  I do not use screw caps, so those lovely tall blue bottles, I also send to the recycle bin.  I suppose one day I will use screw caps, but I still love the old sound of the pop when the cork is pulled from the bottle.  Oh yes, any bottle which has raised letters or figures in the glass, needs to go to the recycle bin.  They do not meet my label permit requirements.  However, by the beginning of Winter last December, I had nearly 1500 bottles which were waiting to be processed.
What is that picture to the right you ask?  Well that is the first step in the sterilization, cleaning, label removal process.  I pour about 8 ounces of water in each bottle then lay it on its side in an oven and bring the temp to 212-215 degrees for 20 to 30 min.  The steam is just rolling from the bottle.  I then open the oven, retrieve the hot bottle with a wooden rod place it in my thickly folded towel, close the oven and proceed to use a bottle brush on the inside, then pour out the scalding water.  Then I remove the glue soften label and place the hot bottle back in the apple box for the next process.
Each oven load consists of 21 bottles.  When I have processed an apple box full, about 36 bottles, I set that aside and add another 8 ounces of no rinse cleaning solution and let it sit.  When I have 5 or 6 apple boxes filled and weather permits, I move outside to clean the remainder of the glue off the bottle, check the inside again, pour out the no rinse cleaning solution and set aside for the next step.  When all no label apple boxes have been processed I sort the bottles by color and bottle style, wash the inside again with the no rinse cleaning solution and let drip dry.  When I have 12 to 36 bottles of one color and style dried I place in a case, and mark.  Ready for wine when the wine is ready.
			Then there is the bottling and labeling.  The picture on the left is my one bottle filler station.  I can do about one bottle, plus corking, per minute.  The picture on right is my two bottle labeling station.  I can put on a complete double set of three labels per bottle in just about five minutes.  I do not run the fastest or most efficient operation in the world. but you can rest assured each bottle is handled, cleaned, filled, corked, capped and labeled with tender care.