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Post by watergypsy on Jan 7, 2011 19:16:36 GMT
Hello folks. I have been making my own wine for years, so I thought I'd share my method as I know there are a few different ways to create beauty!
I don't tend to follow the reciepes in books, I think they take all the fun away! I take the general rule of 3lbs of fruit to 3lb of sugar in 1 gallon of water (what a demijohn will hold) - except in the case of strawberries then only 2lb of sugar otherwise you can only drink it with lemonade. And apples - don't bother, apple wine is horrible! Save them for cider!
I boil the fruit in the water until it goes all mushy and falls apart, then I drain it through muslin to loose the mush (which is amazing for the compost) I then add the sugar to the fruity water and let it cool down to around 20 degrees. It then finds a new home in a sterilised demijohn with some yeast. I let it do it's thing until it's clear and stopped bubbling - anything between 4 and 9 months. Get enough demijohns and enough motivation to keep the flow going and you always have wine on the premises! It's wonderful!
I have some friends who make very nice wine, but they mainly create theirs from vegetables, who'd of thought marrow wine would be nice!! (hehe)
Does anybody else make wine?
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Post by summerstorm on Jan 7, 2011 23:39:19 GMT
I have been fourtunate enough to taste several varieties of your wine and it is delicious indeed! This post has got me wanting to try making my own brew! Thanks Water gypsy
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Post by watergypsy on Jan 8, 2011 9:52:22 GMT
Yay! Everyone should do it! It makes me feel like an alchemist!
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Post by Scruffy Brooky on Jan 10, 2011 11:14:52 GMT
Maybe I could lend a hand the next time you're making so I could learn that way? If you don't mind of course?
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sol
Earth Dreamer
Posts: 31
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Post by sol on Jan 10, 2011 21:07:26 GMT
Mmm, I make anything I can using the stuff from my bountiful garden, but have only just started making wine and am going to wait till the summer and I start to get yummy things like blackcurrants and elderberries. I have loads of apples and would like to make cider but how do you press the juice? Have you got a cider press? They're stupidly expensive and I'm not to sure about the workability of a homemade one made from a car jack and some planks... :-)
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Post by watergypsy on Jan 19, 2011 20:10:55 GMT
Yep, no problem Brooky, your more than welcome. I'll let you know. Yes, Sol, we use a press, me, my partner, my mum and dad all chipped in to buy one. It's hard work and long, but the cider is good, we only produced 6 bottles this year. Another homemade way of doing it (my Mum did it years ago) is a Pillowcase and a Mangle. Good luck, homebrewing is a lot of fun!
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sol
Earth Dreamer
Posts: 31
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Post by sol on Jan 19, 2011 22:56:29 GMT
A pillowcase and a mangle?! Wicked! I don't have a mangle either but that sounds like a good fun way to spend a day! I had better check out ebay. Cheers Joe
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Post by watergypsy on Jan 27, 2011 20:55:11 GMT
No problem, glad to be of help. Have fun!! Did you find a mangle? Let me know how it goes.
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