Tin Lizzie Wineworks
by
Kathy Sullivan
Summary: Participate in making a wine you like at Tin Lizzie Wineworks in Clarksville, Maryland. Many people believe that the best way to learn something is to experience it. Consider learning about wine as you participate in four winemaking sessions at Tin Lizzie Wineworks. Currently, this winery is focused on creating a wine learning experience. Tin Lizzie Wineworks does not sell wine or offer traditional tastings. David Zuchero and Rob Pearre, partners, have discovered that the biggest challenge they face is getting the word out to the public about their wine education winery. If you know anyone who enjoys wine, mention Tin Lizzie Wineworks.
Discover Tin Lizzie Wineworks, an agri-tourism site where participants can take part in the production of a barrel of wine.
A drive through the bucolic countryside of Clarksville, Maryland is delightful especially on a warm, summer day. On the way to Tin Lizzie Wineworks, one passes acres and acres of corn waving in the light breeze. The roads narrow as one gets closer to the winery and trees shade areas of the road. Just past a well-maintained stone farmhouse, a white one-story building portrays the sign Tin Lizzie Wineworks, Discover the Magic of Making Wine. Outside of the main door, a 75-year-old wine press stands in tribute to Dave’s grandfather and father who were winemakers. When he was very young, Dave learned the joy of making wine from his father.
Dave Zuchero, owner and winemaker, and his partner, Rob Pearre, are enthusiastic about Tin Lizzie Wineworks and what it can offer the wine enthusiast and people who are just interested in how a bottle of wine is made. Dave has a degree in microbiology, is an attorney and has a certificate for winemaking from UC Davis.
Tin Lizzie Wineworks was established in 2008. In the fall of 2008, several people joined the educational program offered by the winery and produced a number of barrels of wine. In 2009, many of the same people have joined again and plan to produce more wine. Anyone who would like to participate in a winemaking experience should contact Dave by the middle of September for the fall winemaking sessions. A second takes place in the Spring with grapes harvested from South America.
At Tin Lizzie Wineworks, emphasis is placed on sourcing good grapes. Dave is able to tell participants exactly where the grapes are being harvested. For the Ultra Premium wines, the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are sourced from Stagecoach Vineyards in Napa, California. Other Ultra Premium grapes are sourced from other California, Washington and Oregon vineyards.
Consider all of the pros about producing your own barrel of wine. At Tin Lizzie Wineworks you can participate in each step of the process. As to the type of wines to make Dave commented, “We’re making what you want to make.” When asked if someone could make dessert wine, Dave replied. “That would be fun.” The program is set up with four main sessions each of about an hour and a half. Session 1 is Crush and Ferment. Session 2 happens seven to ten days later and includes pressing the grapes and filling the barrels. Session 3 takes place about four months later when participants rack and taste their wine. Session 4 is the bottle and label session usually in late July or early August. Then you can take home your wine to cellar, drink or use for gift giving. Anyone interested in the chemistry behind winemaking can visit Tin Lizzie Wineworks more often to participate in the analysis of the wine. Other jobs that one could do is punching down during fermentation and cleaning barrels during racking.
For customers who may not want to produce an entire barrel of wine, consider a half barrel or quarter barrel. Your cost will be less and you won’t end up with as much wine. People can craft a barrel by themselves or form a group and share the cost and wine. Current prices are dependent on where you want to source your grapes. Cost ranges between $10 and $20 per bottle of wine if participating in making a full barrel of wine
For those who are hesitant to commit to even a quarter of a barrel of wine, consider joining the Winemaker’s Club. Winemaker’s Club members work together to create a barrel of wine. With this membership and participation, members will be entitled to one case of the wine they help to craft. Members can choose to produce a wine with Premium, Super Premium or Ultra Premium grapes. Price ranges from $150 to $300 for a case.
Plans for the future include adding a new winery building on a sloping hill near the current winery. Planting a vineyard near the new winery building is also under consideration. Dave hopes to begin the building process in spring of 2010.
To learn more about Tin Lizzie Wineworks visit their website. Contact Dave and travel to a unique winery that offers winemaking education opportunities located in Maryland’s countryside.
Tin Lizzie Wineworks
13240 Greenberry Lane
Clarksville, MD 21029
Phone: 301-318-9954
GPS: N39º 14.589’ W76º 58.332’
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