Recent content by FrostedPatriot

I liked you on facebook! :br

I'd like to make a toast to my first wine making season! This summer I somehow stumbled through four 1 gallon batches from fruit that are in different stages of clearing at this point...the first I believe is about ready to bottle. #1 - Grapes from my backyard! It tastes OMG delicious and...

Check, adding sulfite test kit to list of things to get...

Thank you, good to know...if I add sorbate now do I need to add again if I am sweetening before bottling? Sorry I've officially derailed this thread :)

Thank you for the input! It is a gallon batch and I added a crushed campden tablet when I put the whole thing together at the beginning on Sept 12th or 13th...so should that be enough? When should I add another? It isn't clear enough to bottle so I was going to look at it in a month or so...

Hey guys...not to drag this back up but it seems to be a pretty "timeless" debate. I ran out of one gallon glass carboys and had an empty one gallon juice container from the store...happens to be plastic. I racked a gallon of grape wine from fruit into it as a secondary (I'm just waiting for...

sure, just when I think I have something figured out! *sigh* Oh well, ok...I suppose now that I think about it that makes sense...the "line" was pretty fuzzy when I was trying to figure it out on the refractometer. I've only ever seen solid lines with it as I usually use it with my saltwater...

Ok, I tasted it and tested it. The hydrometer said it was sticking true at 1.00 and then I remembered that I have that refractometer! Refractometer I trust more and IT says 1.045 THAT I am more willing to believe than that it dropped from 1.11 to 1.00 in just a couple days. Agree? Oh...

Thanks for the encouraging words Allie & Smurfe! That helps me out a lot...I just want to see if I can keep from ruining this first batch. Like I said, I'll settle for drinkable LOL We mashed them in my kitchen, didn't add anything to them as we were mashing except after we got them all...

Great thanks so much you guys :)

I'm totally excited to make my own wine...but um...enthusiasm can't make up for lack of equipment or knowledge LOL *sigh* I'm 27, work full time, go to school full time, have a menagerie of animals (dog, cat, horse, fish) and enjoy all kinds of alcohol :) I'm a sucker for some kinds though...

Get ready to laugh and cry :( ...and then hopefully recover and offer me some advice. Feel free to toss rotten tomatoes because I totally deserve it. Thursday 9/3 - 1 gallon fruit wine kit delivered WOOT! Now I can make wine. Friday 9/4 - Notice squirrels stealing my precious grapes...