The Return of a Legend: Gunga-Din

ST. JULIAN WINERY
JULY 2013
The Return of a Legend: Gunga-Din
We have woken up the echoes and
reintroduced Gunga-Din Cider! This hard
apple cider had quite a following in the late
1990's, but we were ahead of our time. But
from what we see, hear, and read, GungaDins time to truly shine has come! The
process is simple; 100% Pure Michigan
apples are crushed, then pressed to make
fresh apple juice. The juice is chilled and
racked to a jacketed fermenter tank, where
the juice/cider undergoes a long,
cool fermentation. This
process is why we are able to
keep the fresh apple juice taste
that showcases the true essence
of fresh Apple Cider. With aromas of
Golden Delicious and Gala apples,
crisp acidity and the flawless touch of
sweetness- this hard cider is perfect
to the last drop. A rule of thumb is
that hard cider can give pleasure
where a white wine might. Pork and
chicken, vegetables and fish: all can
benefit by a bottle or two of cider
nearby. Ciders also match well with
Asian and spicy food and its bubbles
will cut thru creamy casseroles. With
their clean, complex, fruity tastes
ciders go well with a wide variety of
foods.
Hospitality for our Feathered Friends
Dave Braganini, President
Recent studies have shown that songbirds are very
beneficial vineyard predators.
Bluebirds and Swallows are voracious consumers of
insects, especially when feeding their young. Unlike
European starlings, a common pest, they don’t eat
grapes and seeds, just bugs. In fact, they rely solely on
insects.
With this in mind I built 20 Bluebird houses for our
Mountain Road Vineyard over the winter. I installed
them this spring and they were completely occupied
within a few weeks by Bluebirds!
We may not be able to completely eliminate pesticides in the
vineyard but this is a big step in the right direction toward
natural sustainability.