Recent content by steveh1155

Yeah, filling the half gallon up with some other wine would probably be my least favorite option. I think I'll order some more airlocks and various sized bungs and rubber grommets, so I'll have some other options in the future. I can get a clear glass 1/2-gallon growler delivered by Wednesday...

Well, after a two-year hiatus from anything wine making related, I have some time to dabble in this again! We bought a big old farmhouse (basement perfect for winemaking equipment) out in rural Indiana last year and I have plenty of room to grow fruit now, part of which will turn into wine...

The strawberry cider wine has managed to get to 1.034 (13.6%) and seems stuck there so, since this is only a quart, and still too sweet, I think my best option is just to blend it into the 2 gallon strawberry batch that's fermenting on the pulp. I've been punching the cap down a couple times a...

The cherry juice wine has been bottled now. The cloudiness cleared up nicely after a couple day when I added some bentonite and racked it again. I'll let it set for a few months...hopefully the taste will improve. The strawberry cider juice fermentation seems to have stopped at about 1.050...

Day 16 now on the strawberry wine. Still fermenting slowly but steadily and SG is now 1.060 which is about 10.3% ABV thus far. I tasted it and still sweet and sparkling right now...about another week of fermentation to go...I think it'll finish sweet. The quart of cherry wine has been at 0.996...

I was looking through things from my late fathers estate and noticed this fruit press in the barn. I think this is what my grandfather had used to crush and press the grapes he grew when he produced his own wine but I could be wrong. I was wondering if this would be useful if I decide to grow...

Thanks for that information! The strawberry juice, which was labeled as strawberry cider, was purchased at a farm market and according to the ingredients list contained only citric acid as an added ingredient, so I think it should ferment ok. I think my first mistake was not checking SG before I...

I checked the SG yesterday at day 5 and it was 1.111. I checked it again today and it's 1.104. It seems to be fermenting slowly but steadily. I tasted a few drops and it's still a bit sweet but not at all yeasty like the first batch I attempted. At what SG should I get an airlock on it? This is...

Hi all! I took a stab at trying to make wine for the first time at home...not sure how it'll turn out! I started off with a quart of cherry juice, added a few tbsp. of sugar and a little bread yeast and after a few hours it was bubbling away. I didn't have a hydrometer yet so I have no idea what...

Hi all! I retired not long ago and have plenty of time for new hobbies so I thought I would try some winemaking at home. I recall my grandfather growing grapes and making his own wine. He actually made quite a bit of it every year and would mostly give it away to family and friends. My...