I'm back!

We are just a little over 2 years since the world shut down. After taking a break from posting and discontinuing other forms of social media, I've determined this website is the best way to communicate directly to our wine audience and customers I very much enjoy.

I hope to use this blog space as a way to engage and explain what we are doing at Bartholomew. Of course I plan to be present in my Kennewick tasting room as much as possible, but feel free to ask questions in the comments section as well as make suggestions as what you would like to see. I have a Youtube channel called Bartwine feel free to follow. Additionally, we will also post on Rumble.com where you can follow by searching "Bartholomew Winery" or "Bartwine".

Here's a look at what myself and Kevin, the assistant winemaker, have been up to during the winter months of 2022.

​Why do we rack wine? Racking is simply the process of transferring a wine from one container to another while leaving behind any sediment or "lees".  Over time fruit particles and dead yeast cells will settle out of the wine and pile up on the bottom of the barrel or tank.  In the first days after pressing a wine, this layer will be very thick and particularly troublesome.  This thick layer of yeast and fruit crud is referred to as the gross lees, whereas the thinner sediment later on is known as the fine lees.  The main purpose of racking is to separate the clean wine from these decaying lees to eventually form a crystal clear and ready-to-bottle wine.

Sincerely,

Bart Fawbush
Owner/Winemaker