SANDOR'S WINEMAKING 2
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ZEMPLEN FOREST OAK:
THIS FOREST HAS BEEN MANAGED INTENSELY SINCE 1769 WHEN EMPRESS MARIA TERESA
OF THE AUSTRO HUNGARIAN EMPIRE FIRST INSTITUTED SUSTAINABLE CUTTING REGULATIONS. NORTH OF TOKAY LIES THE ZEMPLEN FOREST OF HUNGARY. THE ROCKY SOILS AND HARSH WINTERS OF THE ZEMPLEN FOREST PROVIDE THE PERFECT
ENVIORNMENT FOR SLOW GROWTH, TIGHT-GRAINED OAK.
THE ZEMPLEN FOREST PLANTED QUERCUS PETREA (SESSILE OAK) HAS THE SAME SPECIES OF
TIGHT-GRAINED OAK THAT IS PLANTED IN THE FAMOUS ALLIER FOREST OF FRANCE.
WINEMAKERS IN U.S.A. CANADA & MEXICO WHO WE ARE SUPPLYING OUR OAK BARRELS TO
STATE THAT OUR BARRELS MAKE A BETTER TASTE OF WINE THAN OTHERS.
WE BELIEVE BECAUSE THE MINERAL CONTENT IN THE ZEMPLEN FOREST MAKES THIS BARREL
A BETTER TASTE OF WINE. SEE OUR WEBSITE: http://www.vadaiwinebarrels.com
OUR WINE QUALITY
WE SELECT GRAPES FROM THE HIGH QUALITY VINEYARDS. PREFERABLE OVER 20 YEARS OLD
VINES WHICH HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR ROOTS GO DEEP IN THE SOIL PICKING UP
VARIOUS MINERALS. ALSO THE DRY FARMED VINES DEEP TAPROOTS ENCOUNTER DIFFERENT
LAYERS OF SOILS, WHICH ADDS COMPLEXITY TO THE GRAPES. ALSO WHEN THE WINE IS MADE
FROM THE ZEMPLEN FOREST OAK BARRELS, A VERY UNIQUE TASTE AND CHARACTER
CONCENTRATION OF FLAVORS AND FRUITINESS IS CREATED GIVING A NICELY BALANCED
AND ATTRACTIVE WINE. THE BARREL IS NOT LIKE OTHERS, IT WILL NEVER OVER BARREL THE
TASTE OF THE WINE.
HISTORY:
MY BACKROUND, SANDOR VADAI - I WAS BORN IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY NOVEMBER 16, 1931.
MY FATHER WAS A PROFESSIONAL RANCHER AND OWNED A VINEYARD ALSO.
HE DIED WHEN I WAS 3 YEARS OLD. MY MOTHER NEVER REMARRIED.
I MANAGED THE FARM AT AN EARLY AGE OF 14 YEARS THAT SHE INHERITED FROM MY FATHER
DURING WORLD WAR II.
A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE MEN WERE IN THE WAR. I HAD TO LEARN FARMING AND WINEMAKING QUICKLY. OUR CLOSE NEIGHBOR WAS A PROFESSIONAL COOPER AND A SOLDIER IN WORLD WAR I IN RUSSIA. HE WAS LIVING A SOLITARY LIFE. LATER WHEN THE SOVIET ARMY TOOK OVER OUR TOWN, HE HAD A SOVIET YOUNG SOLDIER VISIT HIM WHO WAS HIS SON. FROM THEN ON HE WAS FRIENDLY AND VERY TALKATIVE. WE FIGURED HE HAD A LOT OF LOVE FOR THE WOMAN AND HIS SON WHO WERE VERY FAR AWAY FROM HIM. THIS MAN TAUGHT ME ABOUT BARRELS. HE SHOWED ME HOW TO TAKE THE BARREL COMPLETELY APART AND HOW TO CLEAN EVERY STAVE (PARTS) OF THE BARREL SO OUR WINE COULD BE PUT IN A REFURBISHED CLEAN BARREL.
TODAY, I DON'T THINK TOO MANY WINEMAKERS DO THAT. I KNOW ONE IN OREGON WHO
FOLLOWS A SIMILAR TECHNIQUE THAT HE LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER IN HUNGARY.
HE MAKES VERY GOOD WINES. ESPECIALLY WHEN HE MAKES RIESLING IN OUR BARREL,
THE TASTE IS EXCELLENT. MUCH BETTER THAN WHEN WINEMAKERS MAKE IT IN STAINLESS
STEEL TANKS.