{"id":3365,"date":"2022-05-02T16:35:44","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T23:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/?p=3365"},"modified":"2026-08-30T21:55:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T04:55:27","slug":"grape-expectations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/grape-expectations\/","title":{"rendered":"Grape Expectations"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chic<\/span><\/div>
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This article was printed in<\/em>
\nChic Compass Magazine - Issue 11<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"KJ<\/span><\/div><\/div>

KJ Howe, Patty Peters, Chad Evans, Mike Schoenbaechler, the team at Grape Expectations.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Grape Expectations<\/h1>\n

SOME OF THE BEST WINES COME FROM THE DESERT<\/p>\n

BY JOAN S. PECK<\/p>\n<\/div>

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When my friend Richard told me that he belonged to a wine group, I smiled indulgently and thought, How nice! He continued, saying they would soon be pressing the grapes and might I be interested in seeing this? I thought, sure, why not? I joined him and the others in his friendly, fun-loving wine group, not knowing what to expect. I was so glad that I did. I can\u2019t begin to express what it was like to step into a massive vaulted room and see all the different barrels of wine in various stages of fermenting lined up against the wall. And the smell\u2014earthy and intoxicating!<\/p>\n

That experience opened a whole new world for me\u2014winemaking. And, let\u2019s be honest, who hasn\u2019t thought about making their own wine at some point in their lives\u2014especially after seeing some of the most romantic movies filmed in Italy?<\/p>\n

So, where to begin? \u2026 perhaps, the nuts and bolts of this fantastic enterprise.<\/p>\n

Where is this gem of a place?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grape Expectations \u2013 Nevada School of Winemaking \u2013 is located in Henderson, Nevada. It opened its doors to the public in 2007 and is a nine-month experience. People can come and make a barrel of wine themselves or with friends\/family or join groups making wine. Anywhere from 1 to 20 people can make a single barrel of wine (no more than 20 people per barrel allowed). The 2022 cost per barrel is up to $5000 (depending on the grapes), which equals $250 per case or $20.86 per bottle, making the whole experience affordable. People also can join a Social Barrel to make one or more cases of wine for $275 per case.<\/p>\n

Grape Expectations\u2019 winemaking business is based on two harvest seasons: fall and spring.<\/p>\n

The fall harvest is with California grapes, and the varietals provide an endless choice of grapes.<\/p>\n

The spring harvest is with Chilean or South African grapes. The Chilean varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Carmenere, and Syrah. The South African varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from the Coastal Region, Stellenbosch District.<\/p>\n

How did Grape Expectations get started? Who is responsible for bringing winemaking to Nevada?
\n\u201cCharlie Peters, a registered sommelier, studied the winemaking process for two decades. During a trip to his hometown in New Jersey in 2000, he visited a well-established winemaking school operated by Lou Sodano. He decided Lou\u2019s winemaking concept would be a perfect business model for the Las Vegas community. In 2005 Grape Expectations was born, and in 2007, it opened to the public with 70 barrels produced that year.<\/p>\n

Over time and through word-of-mouth, the school outgrew its modest home, and on September 1, 2012, they moved to a much larger 11,000 square foot facility. Eight days later, Charlie died unexpectedly.<\/p>\n

Patty Peters first moved to Las Vegas in 1981, and she never imagined she\u2019d be part owner of a winery and winemaking school someday. Her life was on a different trajectory that included a career with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.<\/p>\n

With Charlie\u2019s untimely death in 2012, Charlie\u2019s wife, Patty, reached out to their friend and co-worker, Mike Schoenbaechler (now part-owner), in an effort to keep this unique experience alive and to help it become what it is today\u2014the only winemaking school of its kind in the State of Nevada.\u201d
\nMike Schoenbaechler was a long-time friend of Charlie\u2019s and made it a point to volunteer his time and energy to help out at Grape Expectations. After a full day of work, Mike would be at the winery helping Charlie with the day-to-day duties of winemaking while performing the back-breaking work of mopping floors, cleaning equipment, and assisting the many winemakers who frequented the facility. Before Charlie\u2019s death in 2012, he asked Mike to join the staff of Grape Expectations.<\/p>\n

Today, Mike says, \u201cIt\u2019s a great place to socialize and participate in the fun, unique activity of winemaking.\u201d He wants everyone to know, \u201cWe\u2019re here! And we have so much more to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2008, KJ Howe made his first barrel of wine during the second year the winery was open to the public, and he became hooked with it all! KJ has been involved with Grape Expectations ever since. Once his place of work (the Port Tack) was sold, he was on board full-time as the \u201cProfessor of Yeastology,\u201d teaching about the winemaking industry.<\/p>\n

KJ says, \u201cGrape Expectations is an authentic \u201chands-on\u201d winemaking experience because everyone does the work and nothing is automated. Other winemaking schools around the country don\u2019t offer that experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2013, they added Chad Evans to the Grape Expectations roster to help make Grape Expectations the only winemaking facility of its kind in the State of Nevada and a destination location for anyone wanting to learn the art of winemaking.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a great winemaker were a cocktail, the recipe might look something like this: three parts meticulous, two parts expressive, one part maniacal. Combine all ingredients, strain into a busy cellar, and garnish with a good pair of boots.\" Few industries depend so heavily on a single stretch of the year, just a handful of weeks in length,\u201d Patty says.<\/p>\n

So, what are the four stages for producing your handcrafted premium wine?<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Sorting<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Sorting Grapes<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Stage 1 - \u201cCrush\u2019n It\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

What happens during that critical stretch between harvest and pouring the wine into barrels? \u201cIt all begins when the first truckload of grapes arrives at the winery. It\u2019s a mix of artistry, science, manual labor, and experience\u2013to the tune of 18-hour workdays and a lot of caffeine,\u201d says Patty.<\/p>\n

The best wines are the result of the best fruit. Twenty-one crates of grape varietals are staged for each winemaking group in preparation for crushing. An incredibly effective machine aptly named the \u201cDe-stemmer\u201d does the work, using centrifugal force generated by a rotating cylinder to separate the grapes and stems. Everything but the stems is pumped into a fermentation tub.<\/p>\n

After crushing, winemakers participate in the fermentation class with KJ Howe, adding yeast and nutrients. Fermentation is the most sensory. As the fruit converts sugars to alcohol, there are endless opportunities to see, smell, taste, and feel the beginnings of a young wine. Fermentation will run for approximately one week. When all the sugars have successfully converted to alcohol, it\u2019s time to press.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Cake left after crushing the grapes.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Stage 2 - \u201cPressed for Wine\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

One week after The Crush, it\u2019s time to liberate your young wine from the fermentation tub into its new home, a 53-gallon American oak barrel, once the wine has achieved dryness (when all the sugars have successfully converted to alcohol).<\/p>\n

The process of pressing utilizes a traditional hydraulic wine press. At this point, you have wine\u2014it will look like wine and get you drunk like wine\u2014but it will not taste much like wine because it\u2019s just seven days old.<\/p>\n

Stage 3 \u2013 \u201cNice Rack\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Racking happens approximately four months after pressing and, simply put, means moving the wine from vessel to vessel. Wine is pumped from the oak barrel into a stainless-steel tank. The sediment at the bottom of the barrel (the lees \u2013 spent yeast cells and other solids) is removed, and the barrel is rinsed clean.<\/p>\n

Then the wine is put to bed by pumping it back into the clean barrel emitting aromatic odors as it connects to the barrel. The barrel is filled to the brim to prevent oxidation, a bung is applied to seal it, and it is put back in storage.<\/p>\n

Here, you can taste test what the wine will be like when it fully grows up. This is also a time to sigh in relief that the wine has graduated and is now off on its own.<\/p>\n

Stage 4 \u2013 \u201cPut a Cork in it!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Woohoo! Approximately four months after racking, it is time for bottling and labeling. It is your \u2018Wine Graduation Day,\u2019 and the day your wine bottles leave Grape Expectations to be enjoyed by you.<\/p>\n

With the aid of a gravity filler, you will load the wine into sterilized bottles, cork the bottles with a manual press and, finally, shrink wrap a decorative protective capsule on the neck of your 240 bottles of joy. You can now enjoy the fruits of your labor. The work may be over, but not the fantastic memories of making your own wine!<\/p>\n

Please note: Any wine produced at Grape Expectations is considered \u201chome-made\u201d and can\u2019t be sold.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Corking\"<\/span><\/div><\/div>
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So What\u2019s Next? The Neighborhood Tasting Room & Wine Lounge!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vegas Valley Winery, the first bonded winery in Clark County, opened on December 8, 2017, with a grand opening on January 20, 2018. Vegas Valley Winery\u2019s tasting room and wine lounge is the evolution of their sister business, Grape Expectations. You can \u201cexperience our wine\u2014one tasting or one glass at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Vegas Vallery Winery and Grape Expectations\u2019 Nevada School of Winemaking are part of the Henderson Booze District \u2026 affording customers the unique opportunity of experiencing \u201call things wine, beer, and spirits\u201d in one centralized location.<\/p>\n

Vegas Valley Winery is a place where you can come to enjoy wines and hard cider crafted locally. It is where customers have the opportunity to purchase wine by the glass and\/or bottle and hard cider by the glass and\/or growler.<\/p>\n

The intimate atmosphere of the Tasting Bar and Wine Lounge makes for a unique and memorable date night destination, social meeting spot, and even your next book club meeting or card club. It\u2019s a great place to \u201cchange-up\u201d from the more boring venues for meeting your friends and business contacts, adding new excitement into whatever you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Wines\"<\/span><\/div><\/div>
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There\u2019s More? Yup!\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many regular events held at Vegas Valley Winery include:<\/p>\n