I want to be able to use the grape,apple and Raspberry Juice drink that come in cartons from the CO-OP store.
I want to make 5 gallons and was wondering how I may go about this. Firstly is it possible and secondly would I need to add water to it and sugar.
Any help gratefully received as I am new and do not have much money
many thanks
Paul
Chances are, these things have preservatives in them, which would inhibit fermentation. You can try, of course, but I'd bet it wouldn't even get started. On the ingredient list, look for anything that says "sorbate", which is preservative. A better bet would be to buy 5 or 6 gallon jugs of apple juice with no preservatives. Pasturized is OK.
A couple of websites that might be helpful are:
Probably ought to study up on it before starting.
Robert
You'd be surprised at what will ferment! 20-odd years ago I made several batches from Welch's grape juice, and one from Ocean Spray CranRaspberry. Fermentation was especially slow with the cranraspberry, but it worked (eventually).
As Robert pointed out, there are a number of good resources on the net. Lum's book was recently pointed out to me, and it's very complete, although for that reason it's long. It's worth reading that book plus other resources (like Jack Keller) through.
But I'll give you quick tips:
You need to purchase a hydrometer (US $7 - $10). This measures specific gravity, from which sugar level is determined.
There's no real recipe for what you want, as there's no telling how much sugar is in the juice you plan to buy, so you'll check it with the hydrometer and then add sugar syrup (boil 1 part water, add 2 parts sugar, cool to room temperature) to raise the SG up to at least
1.070. If the juice's beginning SG is above 1.090 you'll need to dilute it with water to bring it down.My notes from making Welch's and CranRaspberry wine were recently posted on my web site. In the menu select "Wine & Beer Making", then Wine Making Logs | Winemaking Logs. Scroll down for the list of wines, my early logs are linked to this page.
Bryan
Checkout the forums here:
Consider the frozen concentrates rather than the packaged juice. Frozen does not need preservatives but read the ingredients anyway. You can make some really good wine from some of these and a lot of our people do. Especially through the winter when othre fruit is not readily available and you just have to do something. -- Besides drink your wine that is! ;o)
Welch's Niagara is an excellent choice!
Ray
I'm pretty sure Knudsens apple juice has no preservatives; the frozen concentrate is a safe bet since a lot have done that.
Joe
Ray Calvert wrote:
Niagara is an excellent choice!
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