Re: pumpkin

Thanks!

Steve - Noobie Oregon

Is there a hint of pumpkin, or is it a strong taste?? I have a gallon batch of pumpkin I started this Oct from Libby's pumpkin pie filling. I know it's certainly not the same thing as fresh, but tho't I'd try it since the label indicated it is 100% pumpkin with no preservatives. It is now in secondary, I haven't obtained a final SG yet but it cleared so rapidly I think I could sorbate, sweeten & bottle virtually any time.

Kim

Kim, I don't taste the pumpkin, just a very slightly sweet white wine taste. Darlene

That's awesome about the pumpkin reply Dar,

I tried both ways. Pumpkin and pumpkin pie!

I'll let you all know when I taste and bottle!

Greg

Hi Darlene, This is the first I've heard of pumpkin wine. I just happen to have a lot of pumpkin that has been cooked down from fresh and frozen in 1 pint containers.. We have always done this for the purpose of pies. I'm assuming this is the same base that you are starting from. I'm also assuming you are diluting in water. Can you get me started.

Thanks, Ed

Ed, If I could, I'd like to send you to Jack Keller's homemade wine site because that's where I picked up the original recipe

Take a look at that recipe and description, I did tweak the recipe by adding 1 lb of bananas, 1 can of frozen Welch's 100% white grape juice,1/4 tsp tannin, and 1/2 tsp pectic enzyme (for a 1 gallon recipe). By doing this, I did lower the sugar amount to 5 cups. Yes, I do add water - 4 quarts + 1 pint (I like to have leftover top-up to add later on). Good-luck. Darlene

Hi Darlene:

Was the pumpkin cooked - fresh, froze? What (if anything) would you do different?

Steve - Noobie (with 20lbs of fresh-frozen pumpkin in the freezer) Oregon

Steve, The pumpkin was fresh(skin taken off, seed & gunk out), then frozen for a couple of months to break it down, thawed, and then used to make wine. In my most recent batch (2 months ago) , I shredded (per Jack and others suggestion) the raw pumpkin, and froze it, then thawed to make the wine. At the time, I used the bananas just because I had some for extra body. In the batches since this one, I have consistently added the Welch's for extra body along with the tannin and pectic enzyme. Oh, I do use oranges instead of lemons for the acid requirement; I'm not a fan of lemons and really don't like the taste at all. I'm pretty happy with how this batch turned out, so for me I wouldn't change anything, but there are recipes out there that add cinnamon sticks (but that is up to you). Good-luck. Darlene Wisconsin

Thanks Darlene. It is always good to hear a good report on a cheap fruit source. I am surprised that there was no pumpkin flavor after you sweetened it. I would have expected it to come back. So much for expectations.

I would not have had the nerve to name a wine after a disaster. Too much of an invitation. I certainly am not going to name one Padang or Ache wine now. ;o(

Ray

Thank you Darlene, I remember that thread now.

Steve

Ray, I was surprised the wine didn't taste more pumpkiny, but maybe my extraction process wasn't as good 2 years ago. I have another batch which is bottled and aging, but that one wasn't as smooth as this first batch. I will see how the wine from my most recent shredded pumpkin tastes in comparison, but that will be another 5 months from now when I bottle it. I forgot to say it before, but I named the wine, more in honor of the crew (and their sacrifice), than anything else. Space exploration and NASA have always been an interest of mine over the years. This wasn't the first time I've been purposely watching the TV to catch a landing or a take-off of a shuttle and something terrible has happened. I remember very clearly, the Challenger disaster to this day; and had I been making wine way back then I would've named the wine in honor of that crew as well. Back then though, I was making babies, not wine. ;o) Darlene Wisconsin

Thanks for the site. There is a lot more than just pumpkin receipts. :D

Ed

I would not have dreamed that you named it other than as an honor to them. Meant no disrespect in that regard. I personally would not want to bring a disaster down on myself by naming my wine after it. ;o) I have enough disasters on my own. Then some people laugh in the face of the gods for freely than I!

Ray

Ray, Please don't think I was perturbed. When I wrote the initial post, it didn't occur to me that it might sound not-quite-right, but after going back, I should've wrote it a bit better. I agree, we all have enough disasters on our own. I've never named another wine; don't know why I did on this one - I guess I just thought it needed to be remembered.... Have a happy new year! Darlene ;o)