Grow Your Own Magazine

update on the wine - had a glass out of the demijohn last night and it tasted....



















...bloody awful !! Has definitely NOT improved in storage as it was palatable when I filtered it last month. I have some "quick apple" wine ready so may see what it's like as a blend, but otherwise it's drain cleaner

Mine is clearing - the recipe I used said to ferment in a bucket for around three days then filter into demijohn. I did that, and it hasn't 'worked' since but started to clear. I checked SG the other day and it is fermented out! Tastes okay but a bit fresh. Strange how we are all getting different results - wonder if it depends on pea type and recipe used?

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

Mine is still far too murky to try - I racked it off last weekend, and I think that it's getting there.

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

This is what the pea pod wine looks like now, folks - hardly appetising, I know! It's had about 10 weeks just sitting there now, not getting discernably clearer.

Should I add wine finings, or be patient and wait for it to clear itself?

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

I would leave it alone. I must remember to rack mine sometime, I am sure it has been sat there for long enough!

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

I used to make lots of wine and haven't done now for a few years - reading these posts, I got the yen again but the thing is - am I too late now for this year? Is there anything around still I could use? Even my friend's windfall apples (which I've used some other years) are eaten up by now.

I once made pea pod wine and it was a nice clear white wine - I liked it though was a bit put out when my daughter (about six at the time) asked - What is it? Pee pot wine?
(giggles all round from the kids).

What's in your plot, Maytreefrannie? I'm just about to start some pumpkin/squash wine off this weekend - or you may have some rosehips still, or go to the market and see if you can get some cheap parsnip, or carrots perhaps? Actually, I bet the supermarkets are selling off cheap pumpkins now that halloween is over.

And you're rubbing it in about your pea pod wine being nice and clear!

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

It was clear and definitely nice, Hazel - but believe me, I've made some wines which went into the compost.

Overall, though, I think winemaking is great and so much cheaper than the bottle of red from Tesco we've had with tonight's dinner - unfortunately, my garden doesn't measure up to your ideas - nothing left except herbs and little Swiss chard plantlings which I'm hoping will give us some return later.

Also - now you've made me think - I have the ever-hopeful-optimist's potatoes-in-a-bin-for-Christmas and some onions and garlic - but nothing ready for picking now.

I'll try local veggie shops - you've just reminded me that I've seen apples selling cheaply (a bit over-ripe but fine for winemaking) so I'll check those out tomorrow.

Thanks.

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My hopes are not always realized but I always hope (Ovid)

well if you want to have a go, and have no produce left to try, use tinned fruit, or pure juices.
i am having smashing success with the red grape juice from tescos, the wine takes two weeks roughly and is a lovely rosé. comes out at about 10-14% depending on how much sugar you add. works out at roughly 70p a bottle.

if you want the recipe, shout!

we are going to try tinned pears next week, although i am not a fan of white wine.
and there is always mead, cos you can get honey all year round ( although with the bee shortage prices are going up)

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'Lets just stick it in, and see what happens?'
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ogs/bridexiii/

oh! I made orange and mango juice wine about 6months ago! I had a bottle when I made it, but it's waiting in the garage for me to drink.

Possibly for not that much longer, tho'.....

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

well we were clearing out the freezer earlier, and I found 2 tubs of tesco summer fruits, the ones we buy for making smoothies in the summer, and a tub o blackberries i froze in september, so we are going to get some tinned pears and use the lot see what happens lol.

after all a couple of tins of peaches costs what? £1, gotta be worth a go.

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'Lets just stick it in, and see what happens?'
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ogs/bridexiii/

Sounds like a plan, Bride!

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

we also picked up some really nice pure blackcurrent cordial in tescos, for adding in after if the wine lack a bit of 'body' works really well.

just a note: if you don't have demijohns and all the bungs etc, the juice wine can be made easily without either, using the 5ltr water contaners, 95p from tescos etc.

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'Lets just stick it in, and see what happens?'
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ogs/bridexiii/