Any home winemakers out there?

[tuvor]

Do you make wine at home from kits, or from fresh fruit?

I'm a novice just wondering if there might be enough interest for a DU group.

[seemunkee]

1. Not yet, but going to try a rice wine shortly

I make beer now and sometimes soda. I'm thinking of expanding into rice wine and then sake.

[tuvor]

2. Sounds interesting.

Can you use just any rice?

What's the difference between rice wine and sake? I thought they were the same thing.

[seemunkee]

15. Sake uses a special mold called Koji for starch to sugar breakdown

This helps explain it.
http://www.sake-world.com/html/koji.html

[tuvor]

18. Thanks for the link!

Maybe I'll feel especially adventurous in a year or two. :)

[BikeWriter]

5. I developed a rice wine years ago that aged magnificently...

At three and four years it would knock your socks off your feet. I never aged any beyond that.

[cmd]

3. I plan to start some White Merlot

but I'm doing it at a do-it-yourself winery. I'll start my wine from a kit, then the proprietor will babysit it until its time to bottle it. This little shop just opened in the last month. I'm eager to give it a try.

[tuvor]

4. That's the best way to start out.

Mmm. White Merlot!

Good luck!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. I'd like to start but I would want to build a cellar to do it

A friend built a cellar in his garage and makes some wonderful red wines...I was thinking I might start with dessert wines.

I'd support a group though.

[BikeWriter]

7. You don't need a cellar, a closet will do. Down here we call cellars...

indoor swimming pools.

[tuvor]

14. I have a triangular closet in my basement.

Plenty big enough for 3 or 4 carboys, a few dozen empty bottles, and (eventually) 120 bottles in reserve.

[enigmatic]

8. You know I do

I've got some cherry wine fermenting right now:)

[BikeWriter]

9. Ooh, cherry wine! Good luck with it!

[enigmatic]

10. dupe

[enigmatic]

11. This is my second batch

the first was great stuff; semi-sweet and w/ a hella kick..

[BikeWriter]

12. Mmm, It sounds delicious! My Sons were raised helping me...

make the wine then racking, tasting, bottling and ultimately drinking the wine. The oldest has acres of grape and fruit orchards now. I consider it a most refined hobby. :)

[tuvor]

13. Of course I knew that!

Mmm. Cherry. I think I might give that a shot next year.

[Zenaholic]

16. I use kits

Vinter's Reserve (~30 days). Cost is about $3/750 ml bottle. Very drinkable and consistent. I usually only add 4 gallons or so instead of the 5 they tell you to because I like my wine a little more alcohol-icky. Alcohol adds a sweetness (esp. to red wines).

There is an initial cost to get set up. I.e. Carboys, and primary fermenter, sanitizer, etc. I use two carboys to do a "double rack" for added clarity.

:toast:

[Squatch]

17. Yes...mostly from fresh grapes.

You get more control over flavors with fresh fruit, IMO.