dagwoodzz Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Hope to get 6 gallons. It's been 3 years since I've made any wine at all. It's strange how you just stop doing things you love. Hopefully it won't turn out too sweet. Should know in about 4 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Dank Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 I've always wanted to...I've wanted to grow some nice grapes and get an oak barrell and all and do it right. But we just don't have the climate here to grow grapes. The growing season here is way too short in Montana. But to get some cabernet grapes would be awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pathoffroad Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 I have grapes in my front yard, but they haven't produced any in a few years now. I should look into rearing grapes and see what they need. I'd love to home-brew some beer sometime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC88Pathy Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 I have grapes in my front yard, but they haven't produced any in a few years now. I should look into rearing grapes and see what they need. I'd love to home-brew some beer sometime. Grape vines need to be pruned every year if you want them to produce fruit properly. It's a little late now to prune. Pruning is usually done in March or April (at least here in California), before the vines start pushing leaves. Proper pruning for grape vines is to cut any unwanted canes off at the wood, and wanted canes should be cut a little above the second bud. My parents own a vineyard and winery so if anyone has any questions on making wine or growing grapes, I'd be more than happy to try and help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 I usually just eat some starch, yeasty bread, sugar, wash it down with an unfiltered beer as a starter and hope for the best. Some mornings I do believe it works... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5523Pathfinder Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 My fiance's brother makes his own wine. Pretty good I as understand it, Im just not a wine fan. I know one of them smelled very nice, but also smelled like wine. Gee, I imagine that info helped you a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattd123 Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 how long does it take for grapes to grow? isnt it 3 years after planting the vines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC88Pathy Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 how long does it take for grapes to grow? isnt it 3 years after planting the vines Two to three years is about how long it takes for them to start producing fruit, but from a winery's perspective they don't produce significant amounts of fruit for about 4 to 5 years. But once they start to produce fruit they will continue to do so for a very long time, as long as the vines are well cared for and pruned yearly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagwoodzz Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share Posted May 11, 2007 If you don't have grapes you can buy them canned from wine suppliers on-line. From what I've read, the canned grapes are 2nds that have been rejected by the winery's. I've bought canned blueberries from a wine supplier as a novelty and entertainment. It was actually good, but my yeast died on me and it didn't have much kick. I've been afraid of going after something more expensive like Merlot or Shiraz. You could easily spend close to a $100 and 2 or 3 months ending up w/ $2 wine. It's easier to accept failure when it doesn't cost you a lot of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattd123 Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 sorry to keep jacking your thread but, im a baking and pastry student and we study dessert wines and ive gotten really interested in them, what kind of yeast do you use? is it a special kind just for fermenting or can you use live dry or even SAF yeast, or do you buy the blocks of live yeast? and how does say the strawberry wine tast opposed to grape, sweeter? or just more like strawberry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagwoodzz Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share Posted May 11, 2007 Jack away man, it was just a conversation starter anyway. I use a dry wine yeast called Red Star Montachet. it's $2 bucks a pack and will ferment 5 gallons. I've made Strawberry wine with brewers yeast from Walmart. I can't really tell the difference personally, b/c I'm not a professional and it's usually pretty sweet anyway. I do know the brewers yeast has a strong odor, almost funky mold, where the wine yeast is softer like a wet cornmeal smell. That will affect the taste, but in the wine making process the yeast falls to the bottom after it dies. This batch I cut back on the sugar, supposed to use 12lbs for 5 gallons, but this will be 10lbs for 6 gallons. I'm interested to what it is like semi-dry. Professionals in general don't acknowledge anything as wine unless it came from a grape. Even if civilization was making wine at the same time they were drawing pictures in the dirt with sticks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 My nonno used to make wine before he died, I have so many childhood memories of it. Such a fun thing to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unccpathfinder Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 I have always wanted to brew up some shine but never really have the place to do it...we tried a 5 gallon bucket set up in college and it didnt work...i love some strawberry shine tho...good thing the race is only a week away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagwoodzz Posted May 12, 2007 Author Share Posted May 12, 2007 I didn't want to get into that part, but when you rack your wine for the first time, you can take all the pulp and start a second ferment. Strawberry Shine and coke when done right taste just like a shirley temple. Years ago you could buy stills on E-bay, they're kinda of hard to find lately. Don't know if its ebay rules or what. I'm planning a poser pic for June TOTM. It'll be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nige Posted May 12, 2007 Share Posted May 12, 2007 Hope to get 6 gallons. It's been 3 years since I've made any wine at all. It's strange how you just stop doing things you love. Hopefully it won't turn out too sweet. Should know in about 4 weeks. be careful with that stuff! it can pack a mean punch! I've been making wine for the last 6 or 7 years now. I used to work at this company called Kamil Juices and i would do all the on-premise winemaking. I still buy the odd 20l batch off her to make in my basement. It's a little pricey but the juice she sells is like flash-pasturized tropicana. She brings it to cananda in 10l jugs from France, Italy, Germany, Hungary etc. she'll even do mail order for you. The owners also run Cox Creek Cellars which made a kick@ss cranberry wine. It's suprisingly good. you should try to make some one time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted May 12, 2007 Share Posted May 12, 2007 What I like is making grappa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Posted May 12, 2007 Share Posted May 12, 2007 (edited) I am fermenting.. from the inside.. i think it's the JD.... Edited May 12, 2007 by Slick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagwoodzz Posted May 12, 2007 Author Share Posted May 12, 2007 I am fermenting.. from the inside.. i think it's the JD.... No just well preserved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zonianbrat Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I am homebrewing my own beer now. I am on my 3rd batch. I am presently waiting on a batch of Nut brown ale similar to New Castle (I am hoping). My next batch is going to be a raspberry wheat. Mainly because my wife has always liked raspberry wheat beers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagwoodzz Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 I am homebrewing my own beer now. I am on my 3rd batch. I am presently waiting on a batch of Nut brown ale similar to New Castle (I am hoping). My next batch is going to be a raspberry wheat. Mainly because my wife has always liked raspberry wheat beers. Great! I've never tried beer. The people I talked too and what I've read always emphasized sterilization. I'm not what you call a "careful person" so it makes me afraid that I might ruin it with a dirty spoon or something. Have your brews been successful? How closely do you follow directions and order of operations? If my strawberry turns out okay, perhaps we can do swap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagwoodzz Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share Posted May 30, 2007 I have always wanted to brew up some shine but never really have the place to do it...we tried a 5 gallon bucket set up in college and it didnt work...i love some strawberry shine tho...good thing the race is only a week away... I think your on to something Unccpathfinder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zonianbrat Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Great! I've never tried beer. The people I talked too and what I've read always emphasized sterilization. I'm not what you call a "careful person" so it makes me afraid that I might ruin it with a dirty spoon or something. Have your brews been successful? How closely do you follow directions and order of operations? If my strawberry turns out okay, perhaps we can do swap! Wow dagwoodzz! I never even saw your reply or I would have definitely traded up with ya! I have made 5- different 5-gallon batches of beer so far. My favorite is between a strawberry wheat I made and a Nut-brown old castle clone with some different hops. I was just getting really into it when I got this job and now my brewing equipment sits in storage. A sad day indeed. But Pondwater Brewing Co. will brew again!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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