Topic: Blackberry Wine - more like cordial !

[fitzsie]

I was going to bottle my first ever attempt at making wine which I had made from blackberries.

Had a little sip and it was just like tasting blackberry cordial, very sweet and nothing resembling alcohol ! What could I have done wrong and what do I need to do now ?

any suggestions ?

[galina]

I was going to bottle my first ever attempt at making wine which I had made from blackberries.

Had a little sip and it was just like tasting blackberry cordial, very sweet and nothing resembling alcohol ! What could I have done wrong and what do I need to do now ?

any suggestions ?

You need to get it fermenting again pronto.  I take it you haven't decanted the wine off the yeast sediment yet.  A good shake/stir to mix in the yeast that has settled at the bottom and then leaving the brew in a warm place should get fermentation going properly.  If you have already taken the liquid off the sediment (racked the wine) or if shaking does not get fermentation going again, you will need to add new wine yeast (and perhaps yeast food to make sure) to get everything started up again.

The airing cupboard is a good place for the first few days until fermentation is brisk again.  Good luck.

[French-Dream]

Hi.
Do you have an Hydrometer you really need one if your brewing beer/wine.

You say it's very sweet,  to my mind the sugar as not been used by the yeast,  if it had fermented out the sugar would now be alcohol.
It would be a dry wine, as Galina said you need to try and restart the wine.  You could take a small amount of the wine in a plastic bottle, add more yeast to it, give it a good shake to add oxygen when this starter is working check the temp of the other wine is near the same as the starter and add that, and if you have a vitamin C tablet pop one of those in the wine also.  Vitamin C acts as a nutrient

Interesting read Here

[fitzsie]

Thanks folks,
yes Galina, I had racked the wine, obviously too soon !! I shall add a small amount of yeast and try it again. I think I have Vit C tablets somewhere as well.

As I said this is my first time at making wine and the instructions make it sound so much more simpler !

[galina]

Thanks folks,
yes Galina, I had racked the wine, obviously too soon !! I shall add a small amount of yeast and try it again. I think I have Vit C tablets somewhere as well.

As I said this is my first time at making wine and the instructions make it sound so much more simpler !

I would add the normal amount of yeast as you have racked the wine already.  I like French Dream's idea to get fermentation going briskly in a small bottle (much easier to shake ) and then introduce the bubbling contents into the demi-john with the rest of the 'dormant' wine.  Do find a warm place for the demi-john.  Good luck 

[fitzsie]

Have a lovely warm airing cupboard ! I shall do what you suggest as well Galina with the yeast .