Homemade wine

kinkyjinks

kymbogs wrote: »

Righty then, I've got all my stuff to make some wine from carton juice using this recipe http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11740867&postcount=363 .

At least I thought I had everything, but after I'd dissolved the sugar in the water and poured the juices into the demijohn I started putting in the powders and realised I haven't got citric acid. Is this vital to wine making? Have had a Google but can't seem to pinpoint what happens if you don't have citric acid...

Also, the airlock/bubbler thing has a little red cap. I haven't put it on, as surely that will stop the air from getting out??

I'm pretty new to wine making but I think the citric acid helps start fermentation and also gives the wine a good balance. I've used lemon juice before with no noticeable ill effects to the wine and I guess you could use orange too. I used the juice of 1 lemon HTH.

kymbogs

Thanks for the reply Kinky. I don't have any lemons and the only oranges I have are satsumas and if I go to town to buy fruit I may as well buy citric acid I suppose but it's good to know for future reference! I'm wondering if I might have a sachet of citric acid lurking in a drawer somewhere as the steam steriliser we had for bottles when the little ones were littler came with some citric acid to use for descaling. Must get searching. Presumably it won't make too big a difference if I add it now, or even tomorrow.

Thanks again!

Edit: Sachet of citric acid located in back of cupboard :-)

Norman_Bean

kymbogs wrote: »

Righty then, I've got all my stuff to make some wine from carton juice using this recipe http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11740867&postcount=363 .

At least I thought I had everything, but after I'd dissolved the sugar in the water and poured the juices into the demijohn I started putting in the powders and realised I haven't got citric acid. Is this vital to wine making? Have had a Google but can't seem to pinpoint what happens if you don't have citric acid...

Also, the airlock/bubbler thing has a little red cap. I haven't put it on, as surely that will stop the air from getting out??

I've got a couple of red cap locks - no problems - there is a mini gap to let air out x

Oh and Gingervamp I really can't believe how expensive the book is! I LOVE Mollie but even she isn't worth £22!!!

Norman_Bean

Just waiting for my redcurrants to cool so I can add the yeast

does anyone else mush up their fruit before putting it in the bucket?

Norm x

nuttybabe

Hiya Everyone

I would like to make my own wine. I have found a starter kit and the 30 bottles of wine kit to go with it. All for 30.00 so only a pound a bottle!!! Anyway, there are no demijohns in the kit. What are they used for and do I need them? Can I not just bottle the wine from the bucket?

i was also thinking of making the fruit tea bag wine so would i just put all the ingredients in the bucket and then bottle after 3 weeks?

Sorry, if I sound stupid, never done it before. I do remember my dad making blackberry wine, elderberry wine and pea pod wine. Although I dont think the pea pod wine was a success!!! :rotfl:

Thanks

Sunnyday

Norman_Bean wrote: »

Just waiting for my redcurrants to cool so I can add the yeast

does anyone else mush up their fruit before putting it in the bucket?

Norm x

I always go round the bucket with my potato masher
It wouldn`t seem right not to get all the juice out


Nuttybabe - Could you save some cash by getting used wine bottles from friends/freecycle and re using them? I snaffle them from lots of peeps and sterilise them before refilling.

SD

Norman_Bean

Thanks Sunny I use a mouli thing my MIL gave me to squash everything and get all the juice out - very satisfying, just wasn't sure if it was normal or not ...

were you asking about getting bottles Nuttybabe? If you can't get enough from friends and family how about spending an hour hanging out at the recycling and asking people for their bottles before they recycle them??

nuttybabe

Sunnyday and Norman Bean thank you but I am not worried about the bottles (i hadnt actually thought about that!!!) i am just wondering why the starter kit did not have anything inbetween big bucket and bottles so no demijohn. Do I need a demijohn and what are they used for? The 30 bottles kit of wine makes 30 bottles so I will start collecting old bottles now i think!!! :P

Thanks

Norman_Bean

Technically you don't need a demijohn but I think you'd be better off with one (or lots for 30 bottles!) This is where you ferment your wine with an airlock to make sure no impurities contaminate your wine and you also use a demijohn to rack off a wine that has finished fermenting and needs to be left to clear.
I'm not sure what the 30 bottle kits are so probably not the best to help you.

nuttybabe

Thank you Norman Bean. So after the wine has been in the fermenting bin, i would then put it in the demijohn for a bit before bottling. So can I store it in the demijohn so would only need to bottle 10 at a time maybe?