The public hearing took place on Thursday. There were no objections and the Shier Winery was given full site plan approval. With the final piece in place, it is time to submit the application to the New York State Liquor Authority for the Farm Winery License.
It is still warm, but the leaves are turning at the Shier Winery. Almost time to start the winemaking process all over again. In order to clear space in the tanks for this year's Riesling, I had to bottle 35 cases this past weekend. For those out there that have never used a hand corker or lifted and carried 5 gallon carboys, it is a little bit of a workout. But the worst part is breathing all of the sulfur dioxide that keeps the whole operation sanitary. Luckily the exhaust fan that I installed to pull out the carbon dioxide also earns its capital investment by clearing the SO2 cloud. 17 of these carboys filled 35 cases of 2012 Riesling. 99 cases of bottles.
We laid black plastic, cutting holes for the vines. Then we added wood chips over the plastic. It was grueling, but Bob McCrindle and I put in the first posts. The end posts are nine feet long and buried three feet down. The center posts are eight feet long and buried two feet down. We tied a 16 gauge wire across the posts. The support wires will be 12 gauge galvanized steel. The vines are growing fast. This one is almost five feet tall.
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