I checked the faq and this question isn't in there. I recently got ahold of some fresh from the vines grapes. It is going to be a while before I can use them for anything. Is it ok for me to freeze them with the intent of making a wine from them at some point in the next few weeks? I have made beer before but never wine so this would be my first batch and I am looking forward to using these grapes from my families property.
I have frozen them and eaten them while they were still frozen, but I think I would process them and freeze the juice rather than the whole grape for wine use. Maybe another reader will have another idea about it.
Dwayne
If they are red, freeze with the skins on. White grapes, you may want to press first and keep/freeze the juice.
Steve
Freezing and thawing the grapes should increase the yield of juice when you press them because the ice crystals will do a lot of cell damage and allow the juices to flow out. You might not be able to press white juice from dark grapes, if that's a consideration.
Bob
Certainly, the grapes that you get from Brehm's are frozen, and the results are often spectacular. They freeze the reds whole, but the whites are just juice.
Lee
Too bad they are only on the west coast...
Steve
Brehm will ship anywhere. They're pricey, but I think they're worth it.
Lee
Sooooo, could a guy freeze his grapes instead of running them through a crusher? Seems like it might be an easy task to destem the frozen buggers, too, then let them thaw.
I'd suggest destemming them first, then just freezing the must. The freezing will break down cell membranes and hasten color extraction once you thaw. Try it, and let us know how they turn out.
Lee
Thats what I plan to do. I am waiting for frozen grapes to come in from Oak Grove and I want to do all the fermenting and pressing at the same time. Tim
Thanks for all the replies that I got in this thread. You guys rock. I'll post back when I get around to using my (now frozen) grapes!!
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