Quck question! Thoughts anyone?

Aug 26, 2003 11 Replies

I've been brewing beer for awhile and have never made a wine. A inexperienced buddy of mine is asking me for directions on how to make a cheap/cheezy/easy sparkling wine. (it doesn't need to taste phenomenal, just tolerable(it's more of a first time experiment)



I told him about as basic as you can get is, grape juice, champagne yeast, and sugar.



Since I've never done this, I need to know the water to juice ratio, and how much sugar to add to yield an approx 15-17ABV sparkling wine. it'll be fermenting in a 5-6 gal glass carboy.



Thanks!


"Scottius" skrev i melding news:V9C2b.199239$Oz4.53785@rwcrnsc54...

A quart of juice pr gallon of water should make it interesting? Make sure the juice is without conservatives, or the yeast will never start.

Bjarte

Right on! Those #%$&* conservatives mess up everything. Make sure the juice contains some liberals for a superior wine.

Mike R

You got that right. By definition, conservatives are rooted in traditional ways and the idea of creating something new out of the old is contrary to the conservative mindset.

*snicker* Paul that's a good one ;) Change is afterall inevitable - open minded juice required.

Scottius, The archives of this group will give him an understanding, but champagne is not exactly something a first timer may want to try, if you get the sugar additions wrong, you are making hand grenades.

Lum has instructions in his book that are pretty straightforward.

15 -17 % ABV sounds difficult also, that may not happen. 12% is possible, maybe 13.

You make wine at 10/11%; add a carefully measured amount of sugar and yeast and bottle in sparkling wine bottles, that is most of it.

Joe

If you want it conservative, just use a cup of juice. If you want it more liberal, don't add any water. ;o)

Hi John, If you don't mind me jumping in and asking, why is this? I have some wine finishing that's in this region of ABV, and want to sparkle up 4 - 6 bottles of it (in Champ. bottles). I gonna have problems?

Thanks.

Shaun aRe

He can use the beer bottles & caps he's already got sitting around. That's what I use for sparkling wines.

Woods

fermentation

Ahh, I see! You are talking about doing it _the right way_! I was going to cheat ('cos I a bad boy, of course) and force carbonate it before bottling - I wouldn't even entertain the thought of trying to get this re-started in the bottle - it's already finished a little too sweet and won't ferment any more, no matter the tricks I pull on it.

Thanks for clearing that one up for me John ',;~}~

Slanche!

Shaun aRe

Champagne bottles can withstand much more pressure than beer bottles. Invest in proper bottles and closures. Exploding beer bottles are _very_ dangerous.

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required