Introduce Yourselves here

[Delmonteman]

Oh yes, I'm always interested, and appreciate if you post the link! thanks!

for aChristmas special, "spiced apple wine" try 2lts white grape juice, 2lts apple juice, 1lb 5oz golden granulated sugar and a high alcohol yeast, top up with water to 1gal after initial ferment, when fermentation is finished siphon off the sediment, measure the volume of the sediment in a jug and discard, take a similar amount of water and in it simmer a cinnamon stick 2 cloves a bay leaf and a slice or two of fresh ginger, strain through double muslin and add back into wine, leave to mature under airlock. The spices were added at the end because they can sometimes inhibit fermentation (or not Grin,) better safe than sorry Wink

From ohbeary at the homewinemaking forum - make it now and it might just be ok for christmas... I 'm leaving mine a year and I 've cheated and used mixed spice anyway...

[Delmonteman]

Yes i suppose it depends on how fizzy you make it.... level teaspoon of sugar to a pint of wine does me...

[lockwood1956]

beer bottles for wine is perfectly fine......but not for fizzy!

sparkling wine produces a lot more pressure than a beer does, and the bottles are simply not up to the task

regards
bob

[Delmonteman]

Beer bottles....any problems using them for wine ? (halve bottles are quite hard to find
Thanks,

Ian

welcome
I know of some that use crown caps especially for no hassle fizzy wine but i wouldn't keep it in them for more than a couple of months...

[Duffbeer]

Welcome Ian,

White spirit is also effective, but also smelly, it pays to de label before washing in this case.

[goldseal]

Welcome aboard Ian.

I find WD40 is quite effective for removing wine label residue. It's a bit smelly though, so I cover the opening with clingfilm first.

[Ian McDonald]

The 30 year gap !

Hi all,
going back to winemaking after a small gap of 30 years !
I restarted 'cos my good lady had a bag of blackcurrants in the freezer to make some jam with. ( she may have forgotten about it !)
Anyway, I acquired them and put on a gallon of wine.June this year. (my usual way from the old days, 1kilo sugar, nutrient,yeast,dj,bubbler and go.)
I racked it end July, and bottled it to-day. Had a wee taste, and it is bone dry, dense black/red colour, and shiny ! I won't be able to resist it for long !!

I took a second run from the currants, added some dried sloes, and started fermentation. It is also dark coloured, dry, and just about ready to bottle.

I have 2 dj's with elderflower on, for my good lady. They have fermented out, but remain fairly cloudy. I will leave them alone for while, before thinking about some treatment.
So I seem to have a recurrance of the brew bug !
(But I have been forceably reminded of the incident concerning the 5 gal glass demijohn of bramble wine which was sitting behind the dining room door, and bubbling away nicely, right up to the incident concerning the 2 kids and a hammer ! ......nuff said!)

Anyway, looking forward immensly to the coming bramble and sloe season.

Before I sign off does anyone know the best way to get rid of the residue left on some wine bottles, after taking the label off ?
Beer bottles....any problems using them for wine ? (halve bottles are quite hard to find )

Thanks,

Ian

[Cellar_Rat]

I am not worthy

[lockwood1956]

I think he's in denial

he is a secret orange peel and tea bag worshipper!

[Delmonteman]

Purist!

I think he's insecure...

[KayB]

just stop it !!

jeeez. if it's not bad enough making wine out of puddings - but now suggesting making the things first to make into wine.

Grapes, that's what you need to make wine - grapes - not teabags, not orange peel and not Christmas puddings. Grapes.

Purist!

[Cellar_Rat]

you could of course make one!!!

just stop it !!

jeeez. if it's not bad enough making wine out of puddings - but now suggesting making the things first to make into wine.

Grapes, that's what you need to make wine - grapes - not teabags, not orange peel and not Christmas puddings. Grapes.

[KayB]

....... you could of course make one!!!

Well, was thinking about it, but don't they need to mature for a couple of month to get the flavours going?

[KayB]

They sell them off cheap after christmas... stock up then! Kicking myself that i didn't do this one last year... spiced apple wine seems a nice one too but not tasted it yet. From another forum but could post a link if your interested...

Oh yes, I'm always interested, and appreciate if you post the link! thanks!

[Cellar_Rat]