The Art (and Work) of Wine Making
   
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It all starts here... or ends here, depending on
your point of view. Bottles, from fancy glass, to reused-2 litre cola
cans hold this precious liquid. With prices ranging from 1.5 to 4 USDs
a price range and taste can be found to suit any taste. One of the
nice things about Melnik's wine is that it is so unpretentious. From
this simple roadside stand to fancier wine rack displays, the wine is grown
and sold because locals love it. They live for the harvest the
bottling, and of course, the selling. |
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The grapes are grown everywhere. Every porch
is covered with lattice work that supports the grapes. Locals grow the
grapes everywhere and eat them as is, brew up strong Brandy and of course
make their own barrels of wine. |
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Ingenious porch covering. During the hot
summer months vines provide cooling shade. Winter season comes, the
leaves go, and porches are now bathed in sun. Nature invented
retractable porch coverings with no work. |
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| Once the grapes are grown, the real fun (work)
starts. In this small local operation, a collective of individuals
bring their baskets and barrels of grapes and form a human conveyor belt to
transport the grapes through the various stages of cleaning, and crushing
the grapes. |
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Some grapes are dropped in the process, but
thankfully most make it into bottles. |
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Removing the grapes from their vines is
surprisingly easy with enough hands helping and wire mesh bottomed crates. |
All pictures and text copyright © 2003 R.A. Schwarz :: For usage inquiries email :
