Mike Orton guest commentary: Back to (winemaking) school

My winemaking adventure began more than 30 years ago when we relocated to California. I purchased a home winemaking kit because, "Well, we thought that's what they do in California," followed the kit instructions, added oak chips for flavor (if a little is good a lot must be better) and proceeded to make five gallons of a beautiful Chardonnay we called Chateau de Plywood, a beautiful straw-colored wine with aromas of sawdust and a lumberyard finish! Thus started our lifelong exploration and continuous education in enology, and viticulture. Through an ongoing combination of formal/informal education, mentors, mistakes and happy accidents, we practice and tune our winemaking skills with every new vintage. One of my more memorable lessons came from our first attempt at a barrel fermented Chardonnay. The plan was to ferment in the barrel, like the expensive Napa wineries do, stirring the barrel contents daily in an old-world winemaking technique the French call batonnage. While I was out of town, my wife forgot the daily barrel routine and ran out to stir the barrel in the middle of the night. As soon as she opened the barrel bung, a geyser of foamy wine shot into the air and soaked her head to toe. Lesson learned, leave plenty of space in the barrel during fermentation. Other notable lessons include making a white Pinot Grigo "pink" due to extended skin contact, exploding Viognier bottles in the cellar due to residual sugar refermenting in the bottle and a happy accident from a delicious blend of assorted wines we threw together named "cave blend." My recommendations to anyone considering the craft: ● Attend winemaking workshops and classes - These hands-on events provide a great opportunity to learn from experienced winemakers, taste new wines and understand the winemaking process. ● Join a winemaking club or society - These organizations offer opportunities to network with other winemakers, attend tastings and events, and learn from guest speakers in the industry. Seek out groups like the Placer County Wine & Grape Association (https://pcwga.org/) or Sacramento Home Winemakers. ● Read winemaking books and magazines - There are many books, magazines and online resources dedicated to the art and science of winemaking. These resources provide a wealth of information on winemaking techniques, grape growing and wine storage. A great monthly publication on the topic comes from WineMakerMagazine. ● Attend winemaking competitions and festivals - These events offer an opportunity to taste a variety of wines, learn about the winemaking process and get feedback on your wines from judges and other winemakers. ● Participate in winemaking courses - Online courses, certification programs and academic programs provide a structured approach to learning about winemaking. UC Davis offers several short courses for beginners and professionals. Every season brings new challenges, yet that's what makes winemaking so interesting. Each year, we get to hone and test our skills. If you would like to join PCWGA, please visit our website. Placer County Wine and Grape Association is a 501-c3, www.PCWGA.org, 916-250-1529, ext. 1, placerwine@gmail.com.