BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?

Subject: BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?
From: GUEST,Dazbo at Work
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 10:20 AM

I have a cooking apple tree that's had a bumper crop this year. I've made about as much jam and chutney as I can stand and fancy having a go at something else.

So do you have a simple, but good, recipe for apple wine (I've never made wine before but did occasionally help my dad when I was a kid)

Cheers

PS I'm also open to cider recipes

Subject: RE: BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 10:25 AM

yes,firstly never use more than 2.2Lbs sugar to the gallon,use winemaking yeast ,USE 4 TO 5 POUNDS OF APPLES TO THE GALLON CHOP AND CRUSH.and better still freeze them first.
add raisins if you wish to increase the strength .pm me later for fine details.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 08 Oct 09 - 08:29 PM

I will avoid conflict with the Schwanz Soldier...his recipe may work ... but the outcome may not be Good.

I have had fun with fermentations for over forty years - I currently have 10 gallons of cider in the beginning stages of froth.

Do you Really want WINE? (or sugar-beet wine according to the above suggestion.)

Or would you be happy with cider?

If you grow an abundance of apples - my guess is - you live in Apple growing country.... ANDIf you live in Apple growing country - someone nearby probably already makes cider and has a Cider Press. They also know the region and varieties and the proportions. They may swap for some of your juice... if you bring the apples over. ASK!!! It is FUN.

Lacking a Cider Press - do you know anyone with a "Juicer" (you know the thing that carrot, celery, lettuce was juiced in?)

The difference between cider 4-7% alcohol (intended for bountiful gulps and lively conversation) and wine 12-14% alcohol (intended to sipping or slipping your mother-in-law a mickey under the table)is enjoyment and taste. I have drunk cider 12 years old - so it is not just about spoilage.

If it is CIDER - then I am your man.

If it is WINE - then I humble myself before the "whiner."

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Ahhhh... do you know the difference between European "Apple Brandy" (Calvanos in France)and American "Apple Jack"? The first is distilled the other frozen. The first tastes "cooked" the later tastes "fresh and new" like the New World across the pond.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 07:56 AM

another alternative to a cider press is a butchers mincer.
not nearly such hard work,I have used both.
if youare making cider,then the addition of cider apples or crabapples helps.
the best cider is made with cider apples,despite wahat Gargoyle says.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?
From: GUEST,Dazbo at work
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 11:28 AM

Thanks for the tips so far. Will PM you soon GSS.

Most cider recipes I've seen seem to say not to use metal equipment. How does using a juicer count? (or was this wisdom from pre stainless steel days?)

Just got to source equipment now (Boots doesn't seem to do home brew equipment these days).

Subject: RE: BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 11:37 AM

someone mention cider..????

http://www.ukcider.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Cider_makers_FAQ

Subject: RE: BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 01:32 PM

yes, stainless steel is not good,but not as bad as aluminium,its just such hard work with a press,and so much quicker with a butchers mincer.
dont use campden tablets to stop the fermentation,just let it ferment out naturally.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 02:33 PM

I agree with you.

Do NOT use campden tablets - the sulphides can lead to a heavy headache.

The butchers mincer is an excellent idea - and stainless is NOT a problem. It is a totaly neutral metal - hence its continued use with food preparation.

For want of equipment - you can mash the apples and let them ferment on the pulp in a vat for a few days before squeezing the mash out. It is a wurzel - scrumpy approach.

The apples have enough yeast that you do NOT need to add "wine yeast" as suggested above.

Do not cook/boil ANY part of the apples - it will create pectin which makes it cloudy. Which - in itself is not such a bad thing...just esthetics...I like H.E. Bravery comment in "Home Brewing Without Failures" 1965, "I do not know who first said this, but he was absolutely right when saying:'The English drink with their eyes rather than their palate; they will drink anything provided it is crystal clear.' How true,...."

I use boiling water for sterilzation but let the containers cool.

Why would anyone want to add raisens?

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

The froth has subsided - today I will add 5 pounds honey to the ten gallon batch.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?
From: open mike
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 02:58 PM

positively SCRUMPY ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrumpy
all these folks have good recipes, but not likely to share them..
http://www.dryblackthorncider.com/b/index_B.html
http://www.woodpeckercider.us/
http://www.wyders.com/
http://www.sallybernstein.com/beverages/beer/hard_cider.htm
http://www.acecider.com/
http://www.foxbarrel.com/
http://www.woodchuck.com/woody/age/
http://www.strongbowcider.com/
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/How-to-Make-Hard-Cider.aspx
http://www.epinions.com/review/Hornsby_s_Pub_Draft_Cider/content_160816336516
http://www.leeners.com/cider.html
http://makinghomemadewineandbeer.blogspot.com/2007/10/hard-apple-cider-recipe.html
http://www.wvwinery.com/cider_02.html
http://www.essortment.com/all/hardapplecider_rxvs.htm
http://hardapplecider.com/index.html
http://www.crispincider.com/

ask Johnny Appleseed..that is where he got all his seeds .
from a cider press..

Subject: RE: BS: Do you have a good apple wine recipe?
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 03:37 PM

no,gargoyle,wild yeasts are not to be trusted,if you want reliabilty use a winemakeing yeast.
raisins give the wine body and increase the strength by 3 per cent,they are after all dried grapes.
I have been making wine successfully for many years.