home brewed wine

[Headfry]

It cleared lovely, but never got past 'beer' on the hydrometer. someone said add raisins - I did, made no difference, someone said add some bakers yeast, I did- it did not start fermentation - I have left it alone to have a good think about what it wants to be guess I should try it really....not sure though.

[shirlthegirl43]

Did you keep a note of the starting SG and what it is now? If it has fermented out then it will be finished. Never take as wrote what the book says. Get brave and try some - you might get a surprise! Go on, try it now I will make a really wild guess that it will be sweet.

[Headfry]

Shirley... I will try some this weekend....... gulp! as in -nervous gulp, not as in -big gulp of wine!
I will let you know on monday, will also look in wine diary to see the starting SG and how far it got, or not as the case maybe.

[shirlthegirl43]

I am sure you are going to be surprised. Can't wait for you to taste it!!

[Headfry]

The problem will start if it is good.......best try it towards the end of the day!!!!

[shirlthegirl43]

So Headfry - did you sample the wine?

[Headfry]

Sorry nope.... worked in the garden and on plot all weekend. I want to take SG before I disturb it to much. I remember one other thing about it now... it sucks! airlock seems to work in reverse... its sucking air in and not letting gas out as it should do?????
Had bottle of home grown, home made grape yesterday!!! tastes very 'easy' to drink, oh boy, one glass and I was in trouble!!!! tee hee hick!

[shirlthegirl43]

LOL, chicken. get the airlock out of it, siphon it into clean glass and give it a taste. You will do it more harm than good if you keep ignoring it! Worst that will happen is you will go 'yeuk' and spit it out - taste near the kitchen sink just in case, and have a glass of something you know tastes good to enjoy after.

[Headfry]

I know, I must be brave, the marrow I made sits next to the elderflower... marrow has a tag on it saying 'yuck'!
maybe I should take up knitting!

[shirlthegirl43]

Nothing wrong with knitting, gives you something to do when your demijohns are all busy and it is too dark and cold to sow seeds

Make a kit wine to give you confidence

[Headfry]

Hi Shirley,
Still not tasted yet, it will have to wait for the weekend, but....
started Elderflower 9th June
13-06-07 and it was 1.048sg
4-08-07 0.098sg
the recipe is from my CJJ Berry book pg 159.
Even the method was odd, in ingredients listing it said 3/4 elderflowers not pressed down- then in method it states 3/4 flowers lightly pressed down???? what is a 'newbie meant to do? I know lots rave about CJJ but on my 4 attempts I have found areas lacking in clear directions.
That said I will keep trying, and with your help should get there in the end. I am really enjoying having a go at wine making, just not very knowledgeable or confident yet.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hi Shirley,
Still not tasted yet, it will have to wait for the weekend, but....
started Elderflower 9th June
13-06-07 and it was 1.048sg
4-08-07 0.098sg
the recipe is from my CJJ Berry book pg 159.
Even the method was odd, in ingredients listing it said 3/4 elderflowers not pressed down- then in method it states 3/4 flowers lightly pressed down???? what is a 'newbie meant to do? I know lots rave about CJJ but on my 4 attempts I have found areas lacking in clear directions.

You're right - ol' CJJ can be a bit inconsistant (or a bit unclear for if you are starting out) - I found that with the parsnip wine.

Of course that's why the Vine is so brill - someone will be able to offer advice!

[Headfry]

hi Hazel, glad it's not just me then. I really want to do some parsnip next. Would like to start this weekend??? house work permitting

[shirlthegirl43]

1.04 is pretty low but the finishing SG would indicate fermented to dry. the only think I don't like the sound of is the air going back in through the airlock - that isn't good. Get a cork in the top of the dj as soon as you can to stop it spoiling further. Siphon it off the lees (which can make it taste really bad) and give it a try. if it is disgusting, chalk it up to experience and have another go. The elderflower I made used dried flowers so it was by weight not measure.

[Hazel at the Hill]

No, it's not you, HF! I set up a thread when I started the parsnip wine here - which you might find useful - and I did the Parsnip wine on p142.

The biggie to note is that although CJJ calls for Pectic enzyme (reduces pectic acid haze - used for fruit wines), he actually means Amalyse (reduces starch haze - used for root veg wines).....