Mary's Wine Works
In 2016, Dad and I, along with Susan, Sarah, and Elisabeth started a family winery operation as one of our many Homeschooling projects. We love learning. Although we had already fully achieved and tested out of all state education requirementsthrough highschool, we believe schooling is learning and learning is never ending. We continue to grow in our self interests, listening to our parents, as well as the experience of others for their thoughtful points of view.
To get started we bought glass carboys for fermenting, DVDs for instruction, grape wine mash and all the 'other parts and pieces recommended' to make a good wine.
Many of the extra parts and pieces came with a lot of chemistry, a lot of little packets of chemicals,each with Latin names and such listing when and how to add to the mix. So then we asked 'Why?'. Diligently researching each chemical, each process and each piece of equipment in the history of winemaking.
Over the next few years, one ingredient at a time, we distilled the current winemaking practices back to its historical roots. Learning what processes were changed at what point in time, who added what ingredient or chemical to the process, exploring potential reasons why they did so.
Lots of details and funny stories come out through conversation around an evening wine tasting.
Now in 2021, it has been 5 years of exploration and fun, we have arrived at a fairly ancient recipe for good wine. We start with fresh spring water from our family's land next to a mountain top water shed. Our grape mash is obtained from a Canadian supplier. We have come to respect Canada's quality controls and regulations of industry standards, related to grape mash acquisition, handling and wine making. We acquire our wine yeast in small packets that are also a product of Canada.
Since we are still building the underground wine cellar we are yet to invest in oak barrels for conditioning and aging our wines. We use quality roasted oak chips from good suppliers, and will soon be using flavorings from Sarah's Forest Orchards, fruit trees organically grown in their natural environment, as well as wild forest berries she is tending to. We may be experimenting with other hints and essence of flavors while we wait for Sarah's newly established Forest Orchards to produce in greater quantity.
Dad and I are currently producing a wine that we are quite happy with. We have explored the economics, social aspects, nutritional and biological considerations, as well as business supply line integrity and esoteric things like that.
With feedback from friends and family, Mary's Wine Works is continuing to add to and improve wine quality and selections. Please join us for one of our wine tastings.
Mary's Wine Works
Mary Field
maryswineworks@fieldfamilyfarm.com