GRAPPA
STILL: 450 liters
WASH: 350 liters
HEADS: 4 liters
HEARTS: 15 liters at 157 proof
GRAPE VARIETY: Seyval blanc
This grape variety is an hybrid of Sauvignon blanc, is typical of Upstate New York
has a high acidity which makes it very good for grappa and brandy production
is harvested early in the season
Collect the skins of the grapes, or vinaccia, after pressing the grapes and place them in bins
Let rest for 4 or 5 days so they collect the flavors of the environment
Skim off the first layer of skins which served as a protection
add 50 pounds of sugar, push it down with water, use about 30 gallons of it (5min of continuous pour with the hose)
pour the yeast in
YEAST: pour 7 liters of warm water (100F) and mix it with a pack of yeast, stir
wait 15min and add 3 liters of juice from the pressed grapes
wait until the culture starts, the bucket will fill up with foam, about 20min
Pour it into the bin

After 2 weeks the fermentation should be done
Skim off the top part of the skins (about five inches) which is dry, ugly and dark in color, until you get to the juicy part, those skins should be nice and green and soaked in liquid.
Now put that into the still, using a pump if it makes it or pumping the liquid and pour the solids manually, as you hose in the liquid in, spray the solids to get the sugar out
DISTILLATION
_Turn on furnace
_Rotors on
_Wash goes in
_Close door and the valve on top
_Turn on big valve to bring to temperature
_Condenser on
_3 plates in
_Once on temperature close big valve and open small one gradually
_Watch temperature, it will go from 90something to about 100 Celsius
_Close more plates towards the end
_Yeald: 2.5 gallons
_At 91% ABV
_Turn on vent on the ceiling
_Open window
_Open still to cool down
_Dump spent lees
HEARTS CUT:
heads smell chemical and taste volatile at first, for the first couple of liters, then it goes to a stage of bitterness, for a liter or so, then it becomes nice and fruity and we are I the hearts
TAIL CUT:
Cut tails at 160
Hearts yield: 1.33 gallons
SECOND BATCH:
Hearts yeald: 2 gallons