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As new a newbie as newbies can be

Hi,

I have just started my first ever winemaking experiment and from past experience of doing new things, looking forward to having something to put on my chips. Can anyone suggest a good book or comprehensive web site for me to look at. (With the assumption that I know nothing)

Cheers

RDC

Reply to
R-D-C
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Welcome, I'd start with Jack's site -

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There are a lot of books out there, I started with Terry Garey's book Home Winemaking. I'm sure others will chime in. Darlene

Reply to
Dar V

------------------------------------------- I found this site interesting

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Alex K

Reply to
Alex

THE HOME WINEMAKERS MANUAL by Lum Eisenman Copyright 1999

You can read it or download it here...

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Steve

Reply to
Steve Landis

Reply to
R-D-C

I certainly hope you come up with something better than to put on your chips! That aside, and as you are obviously from the island, I would suggest you pick up C.J.J. Berry's books: First Steps in Winemaking and I think the other one is 100 New Wine Recipies. They are both writen for the British Winemaker. If modern home winemaking has a father, I would propose it is Berry.

Ray

Reply to
Ray Calvert

Hi Ray,

thanks for the suggestions I have added both to my Amazon basket I think (130 recipes?)

My demijohn of white has stopped bubbling so is now + campden tablet. Wish me luck :)

Richard

Reply to
R-D-C

My white is *really* yellow. Will this clear or is it jsut my cheap kit ;-)

Reply to
R-D-C

You will have luck, RDC. The recipies in 130 Recipies are good but it is worth having for the winemaker cartoons that are in it. I go through it once a year to enjoy them.

Ray

Reply to
Ray Calvert

Hehe

I added me wine finings today. When I looked at it I wasn't sure if I wanted to or not because it was clearing already. I am completely new to this so experimenting can happen once I have got a few bottles under my belt. Accidentally slopped a bit onto my hand so couldn't resist giving it a lick. To my horror, it tastes like wine!!!

Weird.

Reply to
R-D-C

You are a newbie. ;o) You are not suppose to accidently taste it. You should be intensionally tasting it at all stages. Even when it does not taste great. That is part of the learning and after you learn it it is part of the regular testing proceedure.

It is a very nice hobbie!

Ray

Reply to
Ray Calvert

Hehe. I am only fermenting in one gallon jars so did not want to taste in case by the time it gets to bottling there is only one and a half bottles worth left :-D

The two books you recommended turned up today. Now both in the tiny library to be read at regular intervals ;-)

Thanks for the advice.

Reply to
R-D-C

.......

Uhhmm, that would appear to be the way *I* tend to make wine...heh...heh...ahem!

',;~}~

My wife mercilessly takes the piss out of me for it too: "No wonder you make

10 or 15 gal batches and I only make 2 or 3 gals, and still have more wine left than you a year later."

',;~}~

Shaun aRe - P.s. - Anyone else find consuming large quantities of active yeast makes them fart like a bovine?

Reply to
Shaun

Yea, 1 gal batchs have that problem all the way through. You make a batch and if you are lucky you end up with 4 bottles. Then you have to try it every 4 to 6 months to see if it is reaching maturity. By the last bottle you say, "Hey! this is starting to taste pretty good. But there is none left. I have got to the point that my experimental batchs are 3 gal and my regular batchs are 6 to 15 gals.

Ray

Reply to
Ray Calvert

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