To many Raisins?

[Tess]

I starting a blackberry, Blueberry wine today. I wanted to add raisins to my fruit pack so I bought a big 20 oz box of natural sunmaide raisins.
I went to dump some into my fruit pack (Paint strainer) and almost dumped it all in. I though "What the heck probably will be good" then i tied up the fruit pack gave it a few good squeezes.
The fruit pack was so full it almost made my 7 gal fermenter over flow when I lowered it in. My question is this, Is there such a thing as to many raisins? Should I go down and pick some out? lol

 

[Tess]

Im more concerned about the sugar level then anything. I haven't taken a reading yet. I will here in an hour or two. I want to make sure all the sugar is devolved. Wont pitch the yeast till tomorrow

 

[novalou]

Im more concerned about the sugar level then anything. I haven't taken a reading yet. I will here in an hour or two. I want to make sure all the sugar is devolved. Wont pitch the yeast till tomorrow

Sounds like you have 1.2 lbs of raisins in 6 gallons of must. I wouldn't worry about it. You will get some sugar, but it will dilute in the volume you have.

 

[Tess]

I'll get a reading here in a little while. My fermenter is about to spill over I had to remove some of the must. Not much but I did. If its high I guess I will just top off with water instead of wine. lol

 

[novalou]

I'll get a reading here in a little while. My fermenter is about to spill over I had to remove some of the must. Not much but I did. If its high I guess I will just top off with water instead of wine. lol

Refrigerate that must and use it to top up the carboy when the time comes!

 

[Tess]

Refrigerate that must and use it to top up the carboy when the time comes!

Yesss!! thats what I'll do!! Thanks

 

[Luc]

Just be aware that raisins are 50% sugar. So you did not add raisin flavor, nutrients but also a lot of sugar. So take that in consideration with your sugar calculations.

I hope you mashed them up. Or did you just drop them in ???
If you just dropped them in and remove them in a few days it will not matter much as the yeast will not have access to all sugar.

Also be aware that raisins are heavily sulphited so that may cause a problem with fermentation. Keep a close eye on this.

http://wijnmaker.blogspot.nl/2007/11/rozijnen-raisins.html

Luc

 

[Tess]

theyre in the FP with the other fruit why wouldnt it add any flavor? they're rehydrated now and being squeezed every day with the rest of the fruit, Maybe I should add more energizer and nutiant

 

[Tess]

If I opened it now I seriously doubt I could tell the difference between them and the blueberry's so I hope it works out now

 

[Tess]

Yep. It was bothering me, I couldn't stop thinking about it. This fruit is expensive so I went down, took the fruit pack out and was going to see if I could get them out. At this point I cant tell a blueberry or blackberry from a raisin. I pitched the yeast this morning. Its starting to ferment now. I guess I will just have to watch it. Could it stall the fermentation? Is that what I need to be worried about?

 

[loumik]

Tess,

I use raisins all the time when I make fruit wines and have never had a problem with fermentation not starting. The small amount of sulphites on the raisins is insignificant compared to the amount of must you have in your fermenter. I wouldn't worry about fermentation not starting.
However, in the future when you add raisins to must it would be a good idea to smash or chop the raisins before adding.
Good Luck,

LOUMIK

 

[Tess]

well, dumped the fruit pack and added all new fruit. It got a few good squeezes over the last couple days. I hope it works out (fingers crossed) live and learn.

 

[Tess]

Just saw that Lou, I will remember next time. I dumped it. Had extra fruit in the freezer. Thanks If I had your post first I might have stayed it out lol

 

[Tess]

So what am Im doing now? Im adding raisins. I just have to. I need more then a two Dimensional wine! I just poured boiling water over them. I will put them in the food processor in the morning and put them back in a Fruit Pack . Let me know if you think this is a big mistake or anything else you think I need to know!!

 

[Luc]

Oops. Sorry was meaning to write:

So you did not ONLY add raisin flavor AND nutrients but also sugar.

Luc

 

[Tess]

Well I just put them back in. Soaked them over night, rinsed them off and put them in the Food Processor