I had just landed at SFO and switched my phone on when the alerts for voicemails and text messages started pinging like a winning slot machine.

It was the custom crush winery that was going to be bottling my client’s wine later that week. There was a mistake with the wine addition; instead of adding 0.5 g/L of tartaric acid as I had requested, they added potassium metabisulfite (KMBS).

I raced back to Napa and pulled a sample of the wine, but unfortunately, it was unsalvageable. The wine had to be destroyed, our screen-printed glass discarded, and that product completely written off as a loss.

I wish I was the only winemaker with a story like this, but sadly, most people I talk to have a horror story like this to share, which is why I’m writing today about a very important part of harvest preparation: organizing your cellar.

Not only will a well-organized cellar help avoid confusion and addition errors, it will also save time and make your harvest go more smoothly.

A few things to consider are:

• Are your chemicals properly stored in a clean, dry environment?

• Are your cleaning chemicals stored in a different location than your additives? This can help limit the possibility of adding the wrong product to your wine.

• Clearly labeling and color-coding buckets, scoops, and Brutes can help differentiate products and equipment to avoid cross-contamination.

• Is there evidence of water or pest damage in your packaging? If so, discard damaged products and consider storing your products in sealed containers.

• Are any of your products expired? If so, discard them and add those products to your harvest orders.

myEnologist carries a variety of color-coded buckets, scoops, Brutes, cleaning equipment, and supplies to help you with your color-coding and storage systems.

Stop by, email sales@myenologist.com, or give us a call for assistance:

Napa: (707) 812-1242
Windsor: (707) 812-1215

#Harvest2026 #HarvestPreparation #WineIndustry #Winemaking #CellarLife #SonomaCountyWine #NapaValleyWine #myEnologist

Hello Winemakers,

As you are emptying barrels for bottling, now is a good time to assess the condition of your barrels and perform the necessary maintenance so they will be ready to fill during harvest.

Proper barrel maintenance can help prevent leaks, microbial spoilage, and costly barrel replacements. A few key items we recommend keeping on hand include:

• Barrel Spiles – Essential for repairing and sealing leaky barrels.

• Barrel Wax – Perfect for repairing minor leaks and extending barrel life.

• Laffort SO₂ Discs – An easy and effective way to sanitize and protect empty barrels from microbial growth during storage.

• Sulfur Disc Holders – A simple and effective way to safely suspend sulfur discs inside empty barrels during storage.

All of these products are available at myEnologist and can help keep your barrel program running smoothly throughout the season.

Subscription Members Save 10%

Don't forget that all myEnologist Subscription Members receive 10% off supplies and reagents, including barrel maintenance products. It's just one of the many benefits of being a member.

Need help determining the best barrel care program for your winery? Our team is happy to assist with recommendations and product selection.

Contact us or stop by the Windsor or Napa location to learn more.

Cheers,

The myEnologist Team

Dear Customer,

As bottling season approaches, we’re here to support you with specialized testing services and essential products to ensure your wine is at its best.

Important Details for Testing Services:

• These tests are not included in your subscription pricing; individual pricing is listed below.
• Each test requires a separate sample, with specific volume requirements.
• Please label your samples clearly with the test name. For Turbidity (NTU) and Brettanomyces testing, ensure you write "NTU" or "Brett" on the sample tube cap and label for streamlined processing.

Available Tests and Pricing:
Stability Testing
(Please complete the Stability Test Request Form)

• Heat Stability Test: $20/sample (250 mL sample required)
• Bentonite Fining Trials: $75/sample (750 mL sample required)
  Note: These trials take 3 days and will start the following Monday if submitted after noon on Thursday.
• Davis Conductivity Test: $30/sample (375 mL sample required)
• DIT – Degree of Tartrate Instability: $55/sample (375 mL sample required)
• ISTC50: $55/sample (375 mL sample required)

Additional Testing

• Brettanomyces Testing: $50/sample (50 mL sample required)
• Turbidity (NTU): $15/sample (50 mL sample required)
• Filterability Testing: $50/sample (to assess wine for bottling readiness)

Winemaking Products for Bottling Preparation & Troubleshooting:
To ensure your wine is bottle-ready, we also offer a range of essential products:

• Cream of Tartar (Potassium Bitartrate): Available in 55 lb quantities.
• Enartis Citrogum: Sold in 1 kg units.
• Enartis Zenith Uno: Available in 5 kg and 20 kg sizes.
• Laffort Celstab: Available in 1 kg and 5 kg units.
• Laffort Mannostab: Available in 1 kg and 5 kg units.
• Filtrox Filters: We carry all sizes of Filtrox Filter Pads for your filtration needs.
• Peroxy & Citric (55 lb): We stock both Peroxy and Citric in 55 lb quantities for cleaning and preparing your tanks for bottling.

Brettanomyces Treatment Products:
If you’re dealing with Brettanomyces in your wine, we offer Microstab M and Oenobrett as the most effective treatments.

Fermentation Restart Products:
For wines that may need a restart on primary or malolactic fermentation, we carry essential restart products:

• BO213: A robust yeast strain for restarting fermentations.
• Enartis Restart Protocol: We also keep a copy of Enartis' restart protocol on hand, and our friends at Enartis can recommend the best yeast and bacteria for your specific needs.
• Hearty Malolactic Bacteria: Available to help with malolactic fermentation restarts.

These products, combined with our testing services, will help you fine-tune your wine, address any stability or clarity concerns, and ensure a smooth bottling process.

For more details, to request testing, or to place an order, feel free to contact us or visit our website.

Thank you for trusting myEnologist with your winemaking needs.

--

As bottling season approaches, we’re here to support you with specialized testing services and essential products to ensure your wine is at its best.

Important Details for Testing Services:

• These tests are not included in your subscription pricing; individual pricing is listed below.
• Each test requires a separate sample, with specific volume requirements.
• Please label your samples clearly with the test name. For Turbidity (NTU) and Brettanomyces testing, ensure you write "NTU" or "Brett" on the sample tube cap and label for streamlined processing.

Available Tests and Pricing:

Stability Testing
(Please complete the Stability Test Request Form)

• Heat Stability Test: $20/sample (250 mL sample required)
• Bentonite Fining Trials: $75/sample (750 mL sample required)
  • Note: These trials take 3 days and will start the following Monday if submitted after noon on Thursday.
• Davis Conductivity Test: $30/sample (375 mL sample required)
• DIT – Degree of Tartrate Instability: $55/sample (375 mL sample required)
• ISTC50: $55/sample (375 mL sample required)

Additional Testing

• Brettanomyces Testing: $50/sample (50 mL sample required)
• Turbidity (NTU): $15/sample (50 mL sample required)
• Filterability Testing: $50/sample (to assess wine for bottling readiness)

Winemaking Products for Bottling Preparation & Troubleshooting:

To ensure your wine is bottle-ready, we offer a range of essential products:

• Cream of Tartar (Potassium Bitartrate): Available in 55 lb quantities.
• Enartis Citrogum: Sold in 1 kg units.
• Enartis Zenith Uno: Available in 5 kg and 20 kg sizes.
• Laffort Celstab: Available in 1 kg and 5 kg units.
• Laffort Mannostab: Available in 1 kg and 5 kg units.
• Filtrox Filter Pads: We carry all sizes of Filtrox Filter Pads for your filtration needs.

Filtration Steps for Bottling Preparation:

We offer a full range of Filtrox Filter Pads for each step of the filtration process:

Coarse Filtration

• Purpose: Removal of coarse particles and debris.
• Recommended FIBRAFIX® Sheet Grades & Retention Rates:
  • AF 09: Retention rate 10 – 30.0 µm
  • AF 11: Retention rate 10 – 30.0 µm
  • AF 17: Retention rate 8.0 – 20.0 µm

Fine Filtration

• Purpose: Final filtration before sterile filtration or bottling, depending on wine type.
• Recommended FIBRAFIX® Sheet Grades & Retention Rates:
  • AF 71 (barrique wines): Retention rate 1.5 – 3.0 µm
  • AF 101 (brilliant): Retention rate 0.6 – 1.5 µm

Sterile Filtration

• Purpose: Final filtration before bottling or pre-filter before membrane cartridge (CLAROX® MP).
• Recommended FIBRAFIX® Sheet Grades & Retention Rates:
  • AF 110 (germ reduction): Retention rate 0.5 µm
  • AF 130 (red and white wines): Retention rate 0.4 – 0.6 µm
  • AF 140 (white wines): Retention rate 0.2 – 0.4 µm

Peroxy & Citric (55 lb): We stock both Peroxy and Citric in 55 lb quantities for cleaning and preparing your tanks for bottling.

Brettanomyces Treatment Products:

If you’re dealing with Brettanomyces in your wine, we offer Microstab M and Oenobrett as the most effective treatments.

Fermentation Restart Products:

For wines that may need a restart on primary or malolactic fermentation, we carry essential restart products:

• BO213: A robust yeast strain for restarting fermentations.
• Enartis Restart Protocol: We also keep a copy of Enartis' restart protocol on hand, and our friends at Enartis can recommend the best yeast and bacteria for your specific needs.
• Hearty Malolactic Bacteria: Available to help with malolactic fermentation restarts.

These products, combined with our testing services, will help you fine-tune your wine, address any stability or clarity concerns, and ensure a smooth bottling process.

For more details, to request testing, or to place an order, feel free to contact us or visit our website.

Thank you for trusting myEnologist with your winemaking needs.