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Grape Expectations - Winemaking in Las Vegas
Winemaking in Las Vegas? Yes, I met with Charlie Peters this morning and we talked about his new ambition. Charlie is the founder of Grape Expectations Nevada School of Winemaking. He is a longtime resident of Las Vegas and has spent many years in the Food and Beverage Industry here in the city. On a trip to the Jersey Shores with his friend Louis Sodano the idea of starting his own school of Winemaking emerged. There are many Italian-Americans in the Jersey Shores area and you’ll find that winemaking is wide spread, even if you may have to go back a couple of generations.
What you will find at Grape Expectations is quite extraordinary. The facilities are spotless and the many oak barrels of wine conjure up the thought that your own wine could be aging and ready for consumption in a few months. Charlie’s friend, Master Winemaker Louis Soldano, has taken a hand in finely tuning the production facilities.
Each oak barrel will hold 53 gallons of wine. This is roughly 240 bottles of wine. Charlie wants this to be a hands on experience that can create long lasting memories shared with family, friends and business associates. The idea of partnering up will allow expenses to be shared along with the wine that you produce.
You start the process by selecting a grape varietal. Perhaps a Merlot or a Chardonnay, there are over 20 varietals to select from. The grapes are then crushed, de-stemed and fermentation is begun. We all remember the grape crushing scene from “I Love Lucy”, in this instance a hydraulic wine press is used. The juice is then pumped into the barrel. After a few months the sediment is washed from the barrel and the wine is reintroduce into a fresh barrel where the final aging process continues. Your final session is bottling and you can design your own label or choose from their selection. Go ahead and “uncork” a new family tradition. Not a bad idea for creative team building or providing distinctive gifts for valued customers. It truly looks like a fun experience no matter what the reason.
To find out more about Grape Expectations you can visit their website at www.grapeexpecttionslasvegas.com (you can find their link on this site under local merchants) or you can call Charlie at 702-806-3383.
