Welches Niagara Concentrate

[Wade E]

Started 2 /12 gallon batch of Welche White Niagara today. Made stater
yeast and will.throw it in tommorow. Starter is already pretty active.
Used 5 cans and did not add sugar. SG is at 1.065. See how this tastes
when done. I know others have tried this but I have not and I had it on
hand and was bored.
Edited by: wadewade

 

[pkcook]

Hey Wade,


Why so low a starting SG? If I calculated this correctly, this will produce a wine of about 9.1% alcohol.

 

[kutya]

wade: I'm wondering also why the low SG? I think you should add sugar????jh

 

[Wade E]

Actually 10.19% I believe. I felt like making something that wont
be jet fuel. Maybe I'll follow it up with a higher SG batch, but just
wanted to try out something different, kinda lika experimento.


Edited by: wadewade

 

[Wade E]

I dont know, give me an hour and maybe I'll bump it up.

 

[Wade E]

Okay I brought it up to 1.078 which by my calculations should bring it up to 11.9 which works for me.

 

[pkcook]

I'm not sure of the characteristics of the niagara grape. I've made more fruit wine than grape wine and I've always heard that you should shoot for at least 10% ABV. I have seen some grape wines as low as 8% and 9%, so you are likely OK.


How do you calculate ABV?
I use the two following:
http://www.grapestompers.com/calculations.htm
http://honeycreek.us/conversion.htm


You have me second guessing my calculations now

.

 

[Wade E]

I do it this way. Take the starting SG without the decimal point
(1078-990) which = 88 then divide that by 7.36 which gives you - 11.956%

 

[rgecaprock]

wadewade,


I made the Niagara from the Welches and it was great. The only thing I would do different next time is not have the SG so high. The wine finished a little hot none the less, it was excellent. Comparable to any nice white wine.
Ramona

 

[kutya]

Wade: I have heard that if it's not at least 10% Alcohol, you could risk spoilage. PK, that was an excellent calculator???

 

[Wade E]

Ramona, what was your starting SG as I just bumped mine up from 1.065 to 1.078.
Edited by: wadewade

 

[rgecaprock]

wade


It was 1.100 and I don't believe that I didn't write down the yeast I used, it finished out at 15% per my calculations and it was powerful.


Next time I'm keeping it down to about 12%


Ramona

 

[Wade E]

Yea, that would probably run your car pretty good.

 

[rgecaprock]

Yea, wade but once you get past the first blast of alcohol.....it is smooth sailing!!!


Less alcohol will make it perfect.....as I said as good as any nice commercial white...maybe even better


rge

 

[pkcook]

rqecaprock,
Can you post your recipe for the niagara? I have a gallon of Welch's niagara that is no where close to being as good as the cheapest white wine I can buy

. I tested the acid (my second try at this test) and I ended up with .85 on acid! WOW that is high. Likely the reason for the kerosene bouquet! I sweetened it a bit and added a little oak, and I can tolerate drinking it now. A good recipe would be appreciated.

 

[rgecaprock]

pk
This is all I did: 6 cans Welches Niagara frozen concentrate
6 tsp acid blend
3 tsp pectic enz
3 tsp nutrient
sugar to desired SG
water to 3 gallons
I made a yeast starter but didn't write down the yeast I used.
I added some oak cubes that I had previously used in another wine.(didn't make much difference)
I racked it about 3 times over a 3 month period. Then used super kc at the end to get it nice and clear.


Now you have me wanting to make another batch this weekend!!


RamonaEdited by: rgecaprock

 

[AAASTINKIE]

I'm lazy, but I've never made a yeast starter, just spinkle it on top,
if it works for the kits, it's OK for me, I always like the low alcohol
wines the best, 10%, my new Blueberry is 10% and I think it tastes
good, the next one is 15%. I will admit the 18% X-71 experimental wine
did knock one person out...lol

 

[rgecaprock]

Hey now.......Frank

 

[pkcook]

Thanks Ramona! Did you happen to test the TA level on that batch? I have been pretty bad lately on keeping my notes and didn't keep a single note on my Niagara. I can't remember how much acid blend I added.

 

[rgecaprock]

pk,


I haven't mastered the acid test kit yet....... but I did stay at a holiday inn last night........no......I got 3.6 on the ph strips if that helps.


Ramona

Lame know but it just popped into my head!Edited by: rgecaprock