Archive for October, 2009
Already Make Wine? Why Not Try Meads Too
Posted by: | CommentsIn some folklore, it is said that when a couple were married, they were sent away together for a month along with copious amounts of mead - a fermented beverage made with honey. From that, we have the word “honeymoon” today. Although honeymoons are very popular with newlyweds, today mead is not drunk as often as it used to be.
A Haze in Your Wine? Maybe You Need Pectic Enzyme
Posted by: | CommentsOften a home winemaker that makes wine from fruit will discover a haze in their wine. Often, this is caused by the presence of pectin which can hold flavors. The haze are actually the presence of gelatin solutions. Those who make jams and jellies are probably familiar with pectin as an addition as it does help to gel the ingredients together.
In wine making, pectin is not a desirable ingredient but it is present in just about all fruit that might be used to make wine. It’s presence helps to hold the cellular walls together.
Why You Might Need Acid Blend When Making Fruit Wines
Posted by: | CommentsWines that are enjoyable to drink are those that are in balance with acidity, tannin and sweetness. Professional grape winemakers often have to make adjustments to their juices before and during the fermenting process in order to attain the balance they are desiring for the wine they are making.
Home winemakers that ferment the juice of low acid fruit such as pears, apricots and blueberries might end up with a wine that may taste good but lacks something to be wonderful. If the wine you’ve made has no or not enough tartness, acid blend might be the answer to improving it the next time. Often, juices that are low in acid do not ferment well, and the resulting wine may have a medicinal taste to it.
Three Essential Pieces Of Equipment To Sanitize Wine Bottles For Home Winemaking
Posted by: | CommentsIf you’ve decided that home winemaking is for you, you’ll want to know how you can save some money and make the process more efficient. One way to save on costs is to reuse your wine bottles. Although a case of 12 Bordeaux style 750 ml wine bottles is relatively inexpensive at about fifteen dollars, that’s almost $40.00 extra when you make 23 litres of wine if you purchase new every time.
Instead of spending that money on new wine bottles, consider purchasing the following items:
1. A brass bottle washer.
2. A sulphatizer (sometimes called a Vinator)
3. A bottle tree (sometimes called a bottle drainer)
