Homemade wine

mavisangelica

Sunnyday wrote: »

.... In a couple of weeks maybe three it will have stopped bubbling. I take a clean DJ and grind a campden tablet between two teaspoons and put it into the bottom of the DJ pop a funnel in and then a coffee filter and stand it on the kitchen floor, put the full DJ on the worktop and pop the syphon tube in. (from Wilko again) and syphon the wine into the clean DJ and then pop the bung back in. Leave it for a week or so and then add a teaspoon of stabilising powder and give it a shake. Soon after it will be clear and ready to bottle or drink from the DJ:D

Takes about 5 weeks give or take, the stabilising powder and the campden tabs are also from Wilko. To sterilise everything i use trust sterilising liquid from the baby section in Morrisons - its 80p and lasts ages. I rinse the DJ`s three times after sterilising before i add the juice. As long as everything is sterilised you should have no trouble at all.

SD

Thanks for this as that was the bit I was unsure about - what to do and when after it stops bubbling.

Wilko is definitely the way to go! And yes, I use bog standard baby steriliser as I had it in anyway for when I do the caravan water containers.

mavisangelica

Ceirdwyn wrote: »

There is a fantastic guide to making basic fruit juice wine, the guy who wrote it took a photo of every step and explains everything really well.
This is the thread, Oh yay, I can post links now
http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=10179
I hope it's okay to put there as the guy finishes with

Just had a look at this link and really like the idea of the water containers instead of the DJ. Anyone used them?

[Deleted User]

a warning:

don`t get anything from
http://www.the-online-homebrew-company.co.uk/

I have just started a dispute via my bank as they don`t send the goods. 7 weeks now and nothing has arrived. Don`t touch them, there are several good companies about but not that one

Amara

Hi, newcomer's here!
Is Winebuddy from Tesco good for a starter? Not very expensive , about £20, but is it money well spend?

splodger_seedswapper

Amara wrote: »

Hi, newcomer's here!
Is Winebuddy from Tesco good for a starter? Not very expensive , about £20, but is it money well spend?

i personally do not like kits - but they can be useful as an intro into homebrew - as they give reasonable instructions etc which can help you understand the basic principles in winemaking

do you have the equipment already? because you will need fermenting jars, airlocks, bungs, corks etc as well as steriliser, empty wine bottles, and the sugar etc

i much prefer to use fresh ingredients and use no chemicals etc - so i don't use kits - and i think they are overpriced for what is essentially just concentrated grape juice

Amara

Splodger, thanks for your answer. No, I don't have any equipment and I don't know where to start, I read on this for "freecycle for equipment" but had no much luck and ebay didn't work either. What exacly will need for a start? I thought starter kit is a good idea.

Jenny_Wren_3

Demijohns can sometimes be found in charity shops, otherwise Wilkinsons is very good. You will need at least one demijohn, an airlock (wilko's sell them in packs of 2), sterilizing tablets (Miltons are good). I have made the strawberry wine and the black cherry wine which wilko's sell as a kit. They are very nice and easy to make. They cost about £7.50 each and make 5 or 6 bottles. I'm experimenting with fruit juice wines but these are nicer so far - I'm still new to this though, only started in September. If you make fruit juice wines or use real fruit you'll need extra stuff like yeast, camden tablets, stabaliser, finnings etc. The Homebrew forum is an excellent place to get ideas and recipes.

Ceirdwyn

We started with one of those kits, it makes a perfectly drinkable wine, and you get everything you need except empty bottles (just save your empties ) I think it's a good place to start, then you can pick up bits and pieces as you go along and you have a bit more idea of what you want.

splodger_seedswapper

Amara wrote: »

Splodger, thanks for your answer. No, I don't have any equipment and I don't know where to start, I read on this for "freecycle for equipment" but had no much luck and ebay didn't work either. What exacly will need for a start? I thought starter kit is a good idea.

sorry i didn't look at the full list of products - just the merlot 30 bottle pack for £20 - that has no equipment included - but i have just looked again (properly) and i see that there is a 6 bottle "starter kits" also available at £20 - i guess that you are meaning to try that one - as it has the very basic stuff to get you started - i don't suppose you'll need additional equipment for now

sorry, i didn't read through all of the pescos products initially - so didn't spot the one with extra bits 'n bobs

re wine making equipment - you say you haven't had any luck on freecycle etc - have you tried your local tip? also it might be worth trying your local homebrew shops - as many take in and sell secondhand dj's for just a few quid each.


good luck with it

Sunnyday

Amara wrote: »

Splodger, thanks for your answer. No, I don't have any equipment and I don't know where to start, I read on this for "freecycle for equipment" but had no much luck and ebay didn't work either. What exacly will need for a start? I thought starter kit is a good idea.

Amara if you`re having no luck and wanted to try the fruit juice wines here`s what you will need.

From Wilkinsons

Two demijohns
A pack of two bungs and airlocks
Wine yeast
citric acid
pectolase
yeast nutrient
campden tablets
stabilising powder
Syphon tube

From a supermarket

2 Cartons of juice of your choice
1 carton grape juice
4lb Sugar
A funnel
Paper coffee filters

Thats my list of equipment and despite my intentions every now and again to buy a proper wine filter etc i never get around to it as the stuff that i have does the job and very cheaply too. You don`t even have to mess around sterilising bottles unless you really want to, when you syphon the wine through the filter into the clean demijohn you can just keep it in there. If bottling i use recycled wine bottles from friends and use a baby steriliser from the supermarket for the bottles.

HTH

SD