Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi

My grapevine has gone mad this year & produced a huge amount of fruit, I normally leave them for the birds but thought I might have a go at making some wine this year but I have no idea how??

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HI Kentish Girl, I was just going to ask if anyone has tired to make wine using the Hedgerow wine making kit. It cost me about £6 from a garden centre in Bristol last weekend, and it contains 6 little packs of liquid and pages of instructions. It doesn';t say what company makes it sorry- makebe an internet search might bring it up.

I know there are wine making kits on ebay and i think vigro company do some wine making stuff- someone will know and advise you on where you can get this stuff

It sounds like great fun, but has anyone tired this and what were the results, also how complicated is it ???

Please advise

Laura

Hi KG its a first time for me this year but first you will need some basics a large bucket about 10lb grapes makes 1 gallon 1 demi john per gallon fermentation lock and bung for demi john i've got a ed/white grape recipe i'll post for you later today don't forget to start saving bottles

Get down to the library and read a book on it,find one you like then go and buy it,First steps in wine making by CJJ Berry is probably one of the best,also includes lots of recipes using other ingredients.

A good online site to look through is this one, I've currently got a gallon of Red on the go at the moment which is looking & tasting good, biggest thing you'll need is patience for it to be done!!

Thanks guys, I just need to get picking now

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Right, I now have 14lbs of grapes & 3 books from the local library & a large bucket.

Guess I need to search out a demi john etc

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That's a good crop!
Your house is going to smell lovely.
The only thing I know about wine making from grapes is that you can top up the volume with bought grape juice, although that would not be so natural.
Good luck!
Red or white wine?

Remember to wash your feet first though!!

Did you know you can make red or white wine from red grapes? If you crush up the grapes and ferment the juice alone, you get white wine. If you leave the skins to steep with the juice for 3-4 days, hey presto! rose. To get a deep red wine, steep the skins with the juice for up to 10 days, no longer. And make sure your bucket has a tight fitting lid. The addition of a crushed Campden tablet will stop nasties getting to your juice while it steeps, but make sure you add it a day at least before your yeast because it'll kill the good organisms as well as the bad!

Weve crushed the grapes 4.5litres - what a mess - my 12year old helped!! added some sugar & left to do its stuff, the book says 24 hrs no campden tabets though.

Found a good shop on ebay The JPHomebrew Shop prices seem ok & says same day despatch, might give them a go.

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another on line shop is easybrew.com or you could drive to Maidstone theres a shop there or if you are going to bluewater anytime i could give you a demi john and airlock to get you started,got a couple given to me free

If the grapes are white you can leave them crushed up to seven days and it will give a beautifull straw colour, if the grapes are red and white wine is desired leave not longer than 24 hours, leave longer for rose, leave up to seven days for red. No tablets required otws will kill the natural yeast in the grape skin, but a culture from the same grape can be started separetely and added later on if campden tablets are used. The adding of sugar is important as grapes grown on northern climates lacks of it. You need to try to make wine at least of 12% for keeping reason. My best regards Don Vincenzo

Thank you , where abouts is the shop in Maidstone ??

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here you go theres also one in margate 01843 291684 and sandwich 07710 467474 don't know if there still there thats why i've put the phone numbers but have been to the maidstone one
Maidstone Winemaking Centre
53, Hardy St, Maidstone, Kent ME14 2SJ
Tel: 01622 677619

I've made wine from almost any fruit or hedgerow fruit you could name with varying success. regrettably i had to stop a) due to the rhubarb wine exploding all over our lounge ceiling due to blockage in the air trap, b) my wife wanting a share of the utility room and c) that old enemy, work. The most succesful were: Rhubarb (high acidity which the yeast loves) Birch Sap (renowned aphrodisiacal qualities and interest value) and elderflower, both sweet and dry (fabulous sensual flavour and bouquet)

I had to stop making beer because I would have finished up an alchoholic!

I used to have barrels of Guinness which were far too easy to turn the tap on as I went past on the pretext of 'I'll just check the specific gravity' When I had to keep buying new trousers to accomodate my waist I decided it was time to stop brewing!

I had a glut of parsnips (which I don't even like!) once and made 5 gallon of wine...very tasty and very strong! I have made numerous other wines with varying levels of success. Elder flower is nice but if too many are used it can give off an 'odour de cats pee'!
I still have all the gear...but only dabble now and again as it can get very addictive!

Welcome to the vine btw, october 2110!

there is a very good forum which I am a member of, not sure if I can quote it here so PM me if you want the address. Unless the moderators want to tell me it is okay to post the link?

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

I have sent you a PM Shirley.

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Home- brew-supplies on ebay are the best priced for airlocks and bungs and so on.
Car boot sales are a good source of second hand brewing gear especially demi johns.