| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| prairielandherbs |
Posted - Apr 01 2008 : 12:27:08 PM
any farmgirls getting out of the winemaking hobby? I would love to buy or barter for winemaking equipment! |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| OregonGal |
Posted - Apr 04 2008 : 4:07:53 PM
Maggie, sent you an email! |
| prairielandherbs |
Posted - Apr 03 2008 : 06:41:03 AM
my goodness! What a load of valuable information! Sounds like I just need to jum in and do it!! How fantastic! Do you have a favorite recipe?!
Thanks so much! I *heart* farmgirls.... |
| OregonGal |
Posted - Apr 02 2008 : 10:21:34 PM
Maggie,
I use three gallon plastic buckets to start off. I put my starting ingredients in them and cover
with a sheet of plastic and tight elastic. It needs to be stirred every day and its easy to get at
and stir and put the plastic back on in short order (ie quickly). According to the recipe directions,
remove the fruit and siphon (rack) into gallon bottles. My one note is always keep things as clean
as you possibly can so your wine doesn't go bad. I use the campden tablets and sterilize everything
before I begin, including the plastic on top of the buckets, the buckets themselves and even the
elastic. Anytime I'm going to touch the stuff, I wash my hands first. Cleaning siphoning hoses
and gallon bottles between racking off is important - there's yeast in the air everywhere. For the
tops of my gallon bottles, I use a piece of plastic (not seran wrap - I'm afraid it won't give - too
tight!) and a firm good rubberband. The idea is to let the fermenting gasses escape, but to not let
outside yeast/air into the bottles while its fermenting. While the gasses inside are escaping to the
outside it is quite difficult for air to get in....that's why the rubberband and plastic work. I use plastic
like from a sandwich baggy - its not a stiff plastic. Then I just rack off at the recipe specified times and its
always worked out well. There are some fruits that really bubble and foam tho, so don't be surprised
if they even bubble up out of the bottles - just clean up the mess, and after a while they settle down.
I've never used a hydrometer - perhaps I don't want to go thru all the trouble, but honestly, I haven't
had a problem with just following the recipe ingredients and fermenting/racking off timing. I hope it
will go as well for you. I don't make wine every year - 5 or 6 gallons of wine lasts me a long time -
but this year I'll have to pick more black raspberries as I'm down to my last 1/2 gallon. I give away
some to my family as gifts - I think it's that good. Good luck on your adventures!!!
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| prairielandherbs |
Posted - Apr 01 2008 : 4:16:57 PM
Chris, how sweet! Many thanks! :) I do need (from what I understand) some big glass jugs, and a hydrometer...yes? Plus a capper or corker or something for the bottles?? I had a dear friend give me a few books and some yeast! I grow lots of fruits here and a few grapes, plan on adding more when I learn what kinds grow well here (and make decent wine). :) |
| OregonGal |
Posted - Apr 01 2008 : 2:06:14 PM
Maggie,
I make my own wine from time to time and don't really use any special equipment. I do use some of the
special chemicals and additive ingredients that help to create good wine, though. A good book with some
recipes to follow and some prior studying on the wine making process is helpful - and there's alot of it out
there. Talking to the people who run wine supply stores is helpful - but remember that their business is
to sell things for making wine. It's not hard to make a tasty wine - my favorite is black raspberry wine and
its thanks to God that they are all over the place, free to a picker. Do you have your own grapes? What
kind of wines are you planning on making?
Good luck in your winemaking. After you get started, or even getting started, if I can be of any help, let
me know.
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