Hobbies Winemaking

[abe]

Is anyone into winemaking I wouldn't mind some tips, my zinfandel is fermenting and my next batch is Cabrenet. any ideas

[TimeCode]

Is anyone into winemaking I wouldn't mind some tips, my zinfandel is fermenting and my next batch is Cabrenet. any ideas
I love wine, especially a good reisling or muscat... I have no advice but I'd love to help you drink it. It might be time for another trip to Temecula. :D

[pauln375]

Not much of a wine man .But once it is wine with the purchace of a 99$ water distiller and some time you could have some shine (Not legal but packs a lot more punch)


Just a thought

[Fred_G]

I am lazy, buy mine bottled and ready to drink! Just out of curiosity, you are NY, where are you getting your Zin and Cab grapes from?

[MrMille]

My brother and I used to brew beer when we were teenages.
Some was rank, and some was top quality pilsner wiess bier, ymmv.

[jj2000]

mr mille surely in ireland you should have been brewing Poitín or pocheen for us thickos who dont speak gaelic

[MrMille]

If not made properly, there is a risk of blindness, besides I don't like it that much, I prefer a good whiskey, e.g. greenspot, Jameson, even a shot of Jack ;)
for a liqueur Southern comfort is fine.

[abe]

I am lazy, buy mine bottled and ready to drink! Just out of curiosity, you are NY, where are you getting your Zin and Cab grapes from?
I got the zin and cab from California I'm picking up half a ton of Merlot from long island tomorrow I"m getting them from Palmers Vineyards I believe they have cab also.
http://www.palmervineyards.com/

[Fred_G]

Half a ton of grapes! Holy bejesus! You are serious about your wine! The grapes you get form CA, they are just shipped by truck? I thought they had to go to the press or whatever you do to the grapes soon after they are harvested.

Very interested in your 'hobby'.

[abe]

Half a ton of grapes! Holy bejesus! You are serious about your wine! The grapes you get form CA, they are just shipped by truck? I thought they had to go to the press or whatever you do to the grapes soon after they are harvested.

Very interested in your 'hobby'.

yup they are trucked in to NY and I usually have to throw out 25% due to mold which is why i'm starting to get them from LI.

p.s. its only a hobby. (I do fix computers better when under influence:eek::D.

[Fred_G]

To bad it is not Botrytis! Wrong grape type for that though. I would love to see some picts of your setup! That is a lot of grape juice! Nothing better than sipping a nice glass of wine, or even port, and working on a computer.

Does seem to get me in trouble in certain forums, but that is a story not shared here!

[abe]

hi fred g
here's the set up. just finished fermenting 110 gallons of merlot must. just beginnig fermentation on 30 gallons cabrenet savignon the merlot is 11% alc the cabrenet has 28 brix sugar which will give me 15 % alc. so I'm gonna mix some cab into the merlot. have two 30 gal drums and 1 30gal american oak barrel the barrel is new so I can't keep the wine in it to long I'm gonna rack the drums to the oak and back. i'll post some pic's when I get some time to do it

(zin and cab muscat and barbera are all done in 5 gal carboys)

[MrMille]

This thread is useless without pictures! :)

[Fred_G]

don't they char the inside of the oak barrels before using them? And I agree with the above post, this thread is useless without pictures! Would love to see some picts!

Have you ever mixed a few % of the Zin into your Cabs? I heard that is common in a lot of the CA Cabs. All you need is some Petite Verdot and some Cabernet Franc and you can do some classic Bordeaux wines! :D

[abe]

These pics are from the small batch's of cab and zin from CA I'll have some pic's of the merlot as soon as i have time to take them and upload them.

[Fred_G]

Party at Abe's house!:)

Are those plastic or glass containers?

[MrMille]

Does plastic taint the wine?

[Fred_G]

I have heard that the plastic can let air into the wine, which would be bad. Not sure though. I was hoping Abe would know.

[abe]

hi guys the containers on the pics are glass "carboys" from italy
and for plastic you have to get food grade plastic which is pretty expensive.

[Fred_G]

Well, the expert has cleared that up! Thanks for the info Abe.:D Italian carboys, bet that set you back some $$. I still like the lazy way of getting wine, buy bottle remove cork, pour and drink.

I might want to try making wine sometime though.

[abe]

hi guys,
just finished bottling 5gal's cabrenet that's 25 750ml bottles,
and i'm a little tipsy to say the least, will post some more pics soon I can't focus right now,

Abe

p.s. yeah I know its easy to pop the cork and drink but the work that goes into it is hard and the pleasure of drinking your own wine is worth it