Jugging the Juice

[patricimo54]

I finally got around to racking up all the wine I made over the summer.



After allowing to rest in the brewing jugs the allotted time it was time to filter out the must.



After pouring it thru the cheese cloth I allow it to settle and then siphon it off into jugs.



This summers harvest netted me almost 21 gallons or 79 liters.



I will probably pick up another 3 to 4 liters after I run all the sediment or must thru several layers of cheese cloth.

[hntswbow]

That is a lot of wine! ;D
There is one question that comes to my mind on the siphoning part, how many swallows of wine does it take to make sure that the siphon is working properly?

[trapperandhunter]

that will last ya a while

[trapperbud]

Nice . I got to try my hand at wine making . ;D

[woodsman416]

WOW!! That's a lot of wine!! That'll last you a good long time...or if your like some people I know, about a week!

[Admin]

That's some serious wine right there.

I wish you were my neighbor

[maritimer]

Looking good pat. ;D

[rhyla]

Nice! That's a lot of wine. Is it hard to make? I really want to try my hand and making blackberry wine. We get so many of them up here and there's only so much jam one can make. I've been wanting to try it for the last couple years but keep shying away from it.

Is that grape wine? Do you grow your own grapes? Or is it some other kind of wine?

[paddyg441]

Many Happy Time's in them there JUGS "Pat", hope when you break them open, you don't go into the Tiger Crawl, especially with all those DAM Snakes you have down there, then maybe you could and would be contributing to a more Hospitable Venom.

[Canadian trapper]

Now that's a batch of wine. If I was closer I'd help you sample it.
The Canadian Trapper

[patricimo54]

Oct 7, 2012 18:37:53 GMT -5 rhyla said:

Nice! That's a lot of wine. Is it hard to make? I really want to try my hand and making blackberry wine. We get so many of them up here and there's only so much jam one can make. I've been wanting to try it for the last couple years but keep shying away from it.

Is that grape wine? Do you grow your own grapes? Or is it some other kind of wine?

Most of what I made this year is from the wild grapes from my area, Mustang Grapes. I pick them from fence rows along county roads. I have also made a batch from wild blackberries, and another from blackberry / grape combo. I have made it from peaches in the past and it turned out well, but I let it age for 4 years.

The recipe is simple, 1 healthy gallon of fruit, 3 gallons distilled water, 1 package yeast (not rapid rising) 8 pounds sugar.

Crush the fruit in a 5 gallon bucket. The better the job on this step the better the flavor. Then add the water and the yeast. Cover with a towel and let it sit for 24 hrs.
Most of the pulp will rise to the top. Skim off with a slotted spoon. You will need a second 5 gal. bucket at this point. Cover the second bucket with a double layer of cheese cloth and pour the contents from bucket 1 to bucket 2. Remove cheese cloth and add the sugar, stir until it dissolves.
Pour the brew into the empty water jugs. You will need 1 more than the water will provide because of the mass created by the sugar and fruit. Cover the mouth of the jugs with secured cheese cloth or balloons. The stuff will begin producing tiny bubbles for around 9 weeks. Once the bubbling has stopped it is time to jar or bottle the wine.
Although it can be drank at this point it is better to let it age for at least 6 months. Longer is better.

[barkspud]

Wow that a batch of wine looks like your set for next summer.

[Deleted]

Now that's a nice batch of wine

[rhyla]

That is very cool that you have wild grapes where you are and are able to put good use to them. It's interesting the different things people have around them depending where they are from.

Thank you for the instruction Patricimo54. I've decided to be brave and give it a try. Will do a batch with the yellow plums I have left, and a batch with the apples as that's all I've got left.

[patricimo54]

Oct 8, 2012 19:07:47 GMT -5 rhyla said:

Thank you for the instruction Patricimo54. I've decided to be brave and give it a try. Will do a batch with the yellow plums I have left, and a batch with the apples as that's all I've got left.

Please keep in mind that even after it stops bubbling and you transfer it into jars or bottles it will still go thru some changes.
At this point the wine will be drinkable, but very sweet.
When I did my peach wine it went from too sweet to very undesirable to "man I wished I had made more of this".
Don't throw nothing out until you give it time to mature.
I don't know all the science behind it, but the the sugar and yeast continue to go thru changes that improve the taste and alcohol content.
If you have any concerns as you go thru the process let me know and I will try to help.