when to bottle

[gird123]

I have a blueberry raisin 5 gal I started 2 months ago 8/10. It is bright and clear. The hydrometer is reading .999 and has been for a while. Can I bottle now or should I wait. I have no patience I want to drink it.

 

[winemaker_3352]

I have a blueberry raisin 5 gal I started 2 months ago 8/10. It is bright and clear. The hydrometer is reading .999 and has been for a while. Can I bottle now or should I wait. I have no patience I want to dink it.

The longer you wait the better off you will be. 2 months is pretty early. My apple spice has been crystal clear for about 3 months now - i just bottled yesterday. Mine was in the carboy for about 6 months.

 

[jet]

When did it fall still?
Have you racked it off the sediment?

 

[winemaker_3352]

About 2 months ago.

I added a fining agent to to ensure it was clear - filtered it - and then bottled.

 

[gird123]

My blueberry started clearing about 2 weeks ago. I have only racked once out of the primary. Should i rack again now? I ordered 3 carboys from paklab ($28 and free shipping). They take forever. I have no patience.

I think i started this one before i found this forum.

BLUEBERRY WINE (1) (Full Bodied?) from Jack Keller's web
10 lb. blueberries $2.5/lb at cosco
4.5 lb. raisins sunmaid $7.50/4.5lb at cosco
10 lb. granulated sugar $5
.5 oz. pectic enzyme
7 tsp. acid blend tested about .7 TA 8/14/10
2.5 tsp. yeast energizer
water to 5 gallon
crushed Campden tablet 4 tablets and wait 12 hrs for pectic
wine yeast ec-1118

8/11/2010 SG 1.108
8/12/2010 juice bubbling out of the airlock
8/14/2010 removed about 2 lbs of fruit and squeezed

8/17/2010 racked to glass secondary. SG 1.010. Used straining bag to squeeze juice. Produced 5.5 gal of juice.

10/4 .999
10/6 .999
10/7 .999

 

[winemaker_3352]

With 3 consecutive days at the same SG - fermentation is done. I would rack, sulfite, sorbate it, add f-pac and backsweeten.

 

[jet]

It sounds like it's a little early to bottle. When you rack it, draw off a sample and taste it. If it's ready to drink, go ahead and bottle it. You're the ultimate judge of when your wine is ready.

 

[gird123]

"I would rack, sulfite, sorbate it, add f-pac and backsweeten." -winenemaker

Is it better to back sweeten? Is blueberry a good dry wine?

I have no idea what it is supposed to taste like. So to sum up what jet said if i like it drink it. If i don't, wait 3 to 6 months and try again.

 

[winemaker_3352]

"I would rack, sulfite, sorbate it, add f-pac and backsweeten." -winenemaker

Is it better to back sweeten? Is blueberry a good dry wine?

I have no idea what it is supposed to taste like. So to sum up what jet said if i like it drink it. If i don't, wait 3 to 6 months and try again.

Yeah - essentially it is all up to your palate - you can use our comments as a guide - but if you like a dry blueberry - don't sweeten it. As far as an f-pac - if you want a stronger blueberry taste - add the f-pac - otherwise let it ride.

 

[gird123]

maybe i will do half sweetened and half not. Do you sweeten to a specific sg?

 

[winemaker_3352]

maybe i will do half sweetened and half not. Do you sweeten to a specific sg?

Well - that depends on your taste as well - when i sweeten i try to hit around 1.020 - border line semi-sweet to sweet. I don't like a real sweet flavored wine.

 

[gird123]

I tasted it today. Smells a little like blueberry yogurt. I don't think it is ready to drink so i will give it more time. Very clear. Thank you for all the advice.