Elderflowers were generously abundant in the Ehrlich Brothers nurseries this year. The panicles are harvested at the perfect stage, when all of the little flowers are in bloom. Thousands on thousands of panicles have been harvested over the past several weeks. They constitute the wine. No extracts are used. "What you see is what you get!" And this year, the plants so healthy and the flowers so abundant, we look forward to a delightful 2018 Ehrlich Brothers Elderflower Bubbly.
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A couple of weeks ago, the Sambucus bushes in the farm nurseries looked like this: Today, May 30, they look like this. See the little flower buds making ready to bloom? In a few days blossoms will be all over the place. Some we will leave to make berries for the fall; some we will harvest at the peak of bloom to make the 2018 Elderflower Bubbly.
We'll keep you posted - so check back! Ehrlich Brothers' champagne-style wine made from flowers gets ready for your party. The liter bottles of Bubbly are fitted with their snug bail tops. The bails are made secure with shrink-caps, transparent so as not to obscure any their cleverness or beauty. Finally the put on and arrange their jewelry: the little cards around their necks. When you take these home, chill them thoroughly. Start the festivities by popping up the bail with your thumbs. This has several advantages:
1. Nothing flies across the room. 2. The sound of the bubbly popping open creates just the right mood. 3. You can conveniently close the bail top, which keeps the bubbles safe inside, and return the bottle to chill for the next round of serving. 4. Should there be any Elderflower Bubbly left in the bottle at the end of the first evening - which occasionally happens - just close that bail and return the bottle to rest in the refrigerator. It will be just as bubbly the following evening! The Liquor Stop, #7 Price Chopper Plaza, Granville, featured an Ehrlich Brothers wine tasting event, Friday evening, November 10th. It was cold outside, which shocked everyone, but it was cheerful inside as people had their first tastes of the wines. Consensus was that the Elderflower Bubbly will be delightful with turkey next week, and the Elderberry Red will be great with the venison soon to be brought home. Thanks to all for tasting.
Next up will be a tasting at Olde Saratoga Wine & Spirits in the heart of historic Schuylerville, also known as Old Saratoga. We look forward to seeing your Friday evening, November 17, 4:30-6:30. The North Country Free Press Weekender Edition of 10/27/17 featured Ehrlich Brothers in its "Eye on Business". Dan is at left, Jim at right, and in the background is one of the farm's elderberry nurseries during blossom season last June. Jim's hat is an authentic Stetson, by the way. That, naturally, is important.
Rich and Kelley Taylor brew and serve English ales at their brewery and taproom on Route 30 in Hebron. Ehrlich Brothers Elderflower Bubbly is also available!
The grounds are beautiful and peaceful at any season of the year. They are particularly gorgeous right now in fall foliage. Juckett Park is in full bloom on Sundays, 9am to 1pm, both in the flowerbeds and in the Market and social life. These photos were taken by new friends Casper and Kelly on a recent market day. The Elderberry Red table wine sold out that day, so we are lugging more to Hudson Falls so that won't happen again!
Green and shady Juckett Park is the venue for a very classy Farmers' Market every Sunday from 9am-1pm. Ehrlich Brothers Winery will be there through October 1st.
It was fun last time, in 2016. I am looking forward to another great event this Saturday, under the Big Tent in Schuylerville Yacht Basin.
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AuthorObserver of the Sambucus scene here in Argyle, New York. Archives
July 2020
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