Homemade wine

Norman_Bean

Sunnyday wrote: »

I came home earlier to find what i thought was a spent shotgun cartridge in the living room, i thought that the dog had found it and fetched it in but its actually turned out to be the top of an airlock

My experimental coffee wine (supposed to be like tia maria) has gone all over the place I`ve poured about half a pint away after trying to scoop out the froth a couple of times and it still wasn`t enough.

That demijohn is now standing in an old washing up bowl in case it happens again.

Normanbean - I`ve got Mollys blackcurrant wine bubbling away atm, you could use the same recipe for the redcurrants. I`m starting to do that a lot with different fruit, the plum wine is still at the bucket stage

SD

:rotfl:sorry SunnyDay but that made me laugh (I had an elderflower champagne explosion a few weeks ago so I'm allowed to laugh!;))

good idea about using Molly's blackcurrant x I'll start it tomorrow - thanks!
I bottled up my blackcurrant (using last years berries) 3 weeks ago and it looks blimmin' gorgeous - can't wait to guzzle it.
Hardly had any blackcurrants this year so won't be making it this year:(

Jinny are you all sorted now? and thanks for the recipe - I'll probably stick with Molly as she keeps things nice and simple with just a few ingredients. thanks again though.

Norman x

macma

I was on another thread (blackcurrant wine)asking about making wine from carton juice,Sunnyday was very helpful and I have started one gallon off.My question is there are so many different quantities of sugar/juice.They seem to vary enormously.I've just bought some pressed grape juice (1litre)to mix with apple and I'd like it fairly dry any suggestions ?
Last year we started making wine from stuff from our allotment and the fruit/veg recipes seem fairly standard,The parsnip is lovely but sadly this years crop won't be very good

missychrissy

Hi Sunnyday

I find that coffee wine ferments very vigorously. I do it in 4 gall batches in a 5 gall fermenter so that there is plenty of space. Also my elderflower champagne is straining it's containers to the limit. I keep releasing a bit now and then.

I asked a few months ago where was the cheapest place to buy sugar as it is the most expensive ingredient of several of the wines I make. The cheapest sugar I have found is Farmfoods where it is 2 1kg bags for a £1.

Sunnyday

The farmfoods sugar beats mine hands down !

Wish we had one close by, i get mine from poundland 1.5kilo for - you guessed it £1

The coffee wine exploding is all my fault too
It was supposed to have been left in a bucket for a few days before being put into a demi john, but my bucket has plums in and i`m not very patient so i put it straight into the DJ

SD

jinny

hi all of your funny exploding wine stories make me laugh sorry but hasnt put me off my new hobby using a kit first to get used to the procedure but would like to try the recipies you have been mentioning as hat would be really os so where would i find these then thanks

Sunnyday

Jinny there are loads of recipes out there on the web, just decide what type you want to make and google it, eg "coffee wine recipe"

I also bought a small second hand book that Normanbean mentioned by Mollie Harris called "A drop o`wine" (thanks again Normanbean) its great as the recipes are really simple and i`m working my way through that depending on what takes my fancy.

Can`t wait for elderberry season again *drools"

The coffee wine blew the top off and frothed over 6 times yesterday before i gave up and put an upturned sandwich tub over the top, no point in trying to do anything else with it atm so i hope that this is enough to keep any nasties out.*crosses fingers*

I`ve run out of empty demijohns now so i`m hoping that the first batch of white is on schedule as i`m waiting for some empty ones

SD

kymbogs

Afternoon all,

I've really enjoyed reading about all your adventures in wine making and am interested in having a go at making some myself. At the moment I'm trying to find the best place to buy the equipment without spending a fortune!

My biggest confusion is whether to get a glass demijohn (£5.70 or so in Wilkos) or get a plastic one. Aside from being cheaper, I'm thinking that as there's a likelihood I'll need to move the demijohn up and downstairs, a plastic one would be so much lighter - I imagine the glass ones when full are pretty flippin heavy??

What other kit would you suggest to start off with? There were two different types of airlocks in Wilkos, just to add to confusion lol. And where does one procure a food-safe lidded plastic bucket....or is there something else I could use instead?

Much appreciation for any tips and advice!

Kimberley xxx

Gigervamp

Wilkos should also have 5 gallon fermenting buckets which come with a lid.

The plastic demijohns are ok, but they're not as durable as the glass ones. Check out car boots, charity shops and freecycle for glass demijohns as they'll be much cheaper than buying new.

kymbogs

Thanks Gigervamp, they had a fairly small display of homebrew kit and it's not a huge store sothey may not stock the buckets. Then again they are in the middle of a refit so who knows, they could just be in stock limbo. I'll check out the website. Thanks for the tip x

Norman_Bean

Sunnyday wrote: »

I also bought a small second hand book that Normanbean mentioned by Mollie Harris called "A drop o`wine" (thanks again Normanbean) its great as the recipes are really simple and i`m working my way through that depending on what takes my fancy.

Can`t wait for elderberry season again *drools"


SD

No worries Sunnyday I checked Mollie today to use blackcurrant recipe for my redcurrants and she actually says the same recipe can be used for redcurrants!!:o
Still not started it though as got waylaid entertaining the nippers, they were happy picking the berries but didn't allow me time to get wine going ...tomorrow, promise!