Making wine...... at home ?

[magicmistertea]

does anyone know anything about making wine at home ?

okay I know it isnt going to taste that good but.... I have been doing some restoration work on a large estate and the owners have told me that i can have all the grapes from there grape vines !!
They say they arnt good for eating and they never use/want them.
They have red and green ones !!

so what do i need ?
how long does it take ?
anything else i can do with them ?

cheers

 

[suburbanreuben]

I haven't a clue either, but I do know that if you start with the wrong grapes you're completely wasting your time!
Start with the right varieties, and after a bit of trial and error, there's no reason it has to taste like paint stripper.
Harryburgundy might be able to give you a few tips, but then again, he might not.

 

[magicmistertea]

I haven't a clue either, but I do know that if you start with the wrong grapes you're completely wasting your time!
Start with the right varieties, and after a bit of trial and error, there's no reason it has to taste like paint stripper.
Harryburgundy might be able to give you a few tips, but then again, he might not.

okay well .... i dont know what type they are... and i cant change them , but i assume as they are large old vines that they must have had a use at some time in the past.... so the right type or not im going to drink them !!!

 

[Harryburgundy]

Are the grapes from the vitis vinifera genus?

Harryburgundy might be able to give you a few tips, but then again, he might not.

Sure do.....don't bother

 

[magicmistertea]

Are the grapes from the vitis vinifera genus?
Sure do.....don't bother

errr i really dont know if they are from the vitus viniera genus... ( just had to google that in case i missed the joke)
is there any way of telling ?

and as for the dont bother comment :shock: ... harry... you obviously dont appreciate good quality wine !!!

but seriously... what do i need ? a big bucket/ sugar/ grapes and a wooden spoon ?

you can stock a few bottles of it in your shop if you want ?

 

[CAS]

Now this is from memory so may not be totally accurate.

You need a large food grade bucket for mixing, wine makers yeast,sugar, large gallon glass jars called demi jons for fermenting and airlocks to force the yeast to ferment minus the air and thus produce the alcohol, You will also need sodium metabisulphite to sterilise equipment etc.

In essence You would need to press the grapes to extract the juice then add sugar to get the liquid to the correct specific gravity to start the fermenation then add the yeast

You test the progression of the fermentation by measuring the specific gravity of the mixture at intervals with a hydrometer ( not sure if that's quite the right word!) until it reaches the right level.

It's years since I made home made wine but I imagine these days you could get recipes from the internet. I did try making wine from a friend's grapes once - not one of my better efforts I seem to remember!

But it was great fun and the results could be ......well......interesting!

 

[jawsum]

this book is a good starting point http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/2789 ... Price&fb=0

i've had several attempts, all drinkable but not great. The end result is never worth all the time & effort you've put in

Turbo Cider on the other hand...................

 

[magicmistertea]

okay guys thanks.... i knew i could google it but i thought that this was a good place to start ... as sometimes i get better results from this site !!
im also going to make blackberry wine which apparently... so i was told in the pub is easy to make and the results are good

any more info greatly appreciated

 

[Harryburgundy]

Forget yer lardy dar ....

ooo..I'll have a glass of Pinot Grigio

Get 'stilling some 'shine boy!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COPPER-WHISKEY-MO ... ltDomain_0



Edit: Actually not very recommended either....jail/alcohol related illness etc etc etc

 

[Dr S]

Dad used to make Elderberry wine. It was lethal and tasted like shit. He loved it though and didn't mind the taste (he smokes 60 Woodbines a day so probably has no tastebuds left).

I was tricked into drinking proper moonshine last summer. We were sat waiting for the ferry in Caen on our way home from Le Mans when we noticed the guys in the truck in front were friends of a friend. Usual craic followed by the offer of a wee dram of something special. I texted my friend to say I was with his Cockney mates. Just as my stomach began to burn from the beaker full of brew that I had just swallowed I got a reply text ' DO NOT DRINK ANYTHING THEY OFFER YOU!'

it was incredible. Luckily we boarded the boat before it kicked in as within 20 minutes I was wasted.