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Produce => Drink .... => Topic started by: Fingle.... on July 05, 2005, 16:29:56

Title: My first attempt !
Post by: Fingle.... on July 05, 2005, 16:29:56

I have just mixed up all the ingredients for my first batch of wine  (from concentrate) (oh cherry btw) and i have a good book and a warm cupboard, but one thing keeps bothering me.

Should wine brewing be left in the dark or rather, will light in any way harm the process

(by first cupboard for it had no door)

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: jennym on July 05, 2005, 22:38:20

Light will at worst only fade the colour. I tend to leave wine where I can see what's going on - once had a very messy explosion under the stairs, took years to clear it up!

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: adrianhumph on July 06, 2005, 08:17:15

Hi fingle,  :D
                    During fermentation the wine will be just fine in the light. Keep it out of strong sunlight  or this may make the contents too hot. When you have racked the wine after fermentation then it would be better in a cool area out of  the light, a cool garage or under the stairs is fine. In the good old days  :'( you could get brown demijohns which helped to keep out the light , sadly these seem to be un available these days.
                             Adrian.

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: Fingle.... on July 06, 2005, 09:20:15

Touch wood it shouldnt explode as the lid is barely on it, in a week or so I will tighten it and let the airlock on the lid look after the anerobic fermentation

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: philcooper on July 06, 2005, 10:29:45

Fingle,

I would keep the lid on all the time, small flies, wild yeast and, worst, vinegar can get in otherwise

Phil

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: Fingle.... on July 06, 2005, 16:22:06

Lid is ON, but just not screwed on yet. No danger of stuff getting in, only air getting out.

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: philcooper on July 07, 2005, 12:51:34

Fingle,

What sort of container are you talking about? I'm not familiar with a screwtop fermentation vessel

Phil

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: Fingle.... on July 08, 2005, 12:21:08

Its a little 6 bottle one. (one at the bottom of this page...click pic to see)
http://www.art-of-brewing.co.uk/acatalog/intro.html

Starting small, as im just learning. my aim is to harvest apples and plums from the lotti and try making wines from them.


Screwed the top right on today to see if gas was being made...it is...loads of it !!!

every bubble = same amount of alcohol !!! hehehe

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: philcooper on July 08, 2005, 14:30:11

Fingle,

The link to the page you sent was to the home page - I was unable to find a 6 bottle fermentation vessel on the site - but screwing the top onto any fermentaion vessel is not a good idea - unless you want to clean up the mess after the explosion.

I'm afraid I have bad news for you on the alcohol front, the amount prodcued is equal to the amount of CO₂ but only in terms of molecules not volume

Just slightly less in terms of weight, so weigh all the gas produced and you'll have some idea of the alcoholic content  ;)

Phil

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: Fingle.... on July 11, 2005, 09:49:31

the screw top has a built in airlock valve thingy with water in. so gas can escape but not enter.

essentially its a plastic demi-john

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: Fingle.... on July 20, 2005, 10:29:56

Bloody Hellfire !!
Just did my first racking before adding finings. It already tastes like a REALLY GOOD red wine !!!

I hope nothing ruins that taste !

Im hooked !!

Thanks for all the advice on here all !!!

Now to go buy a bottle washer brush ..... ;)

Title: Re: My first attempt !
Post by: Derekthefox on July 20, 2005, 11:25:57

Makes you wonder why you never started earlier eh?

Next stage - fresh fruit?

My rhubarb is going great guns!

Ah sheer joy!