Urban home-made wine? Ask the experts time....

[Brij]

Another "just-wondering" type question... I suspect it's not possible, but it's worth a try!

Is it possible to make some form of home-made wine, bearing in mind it needs to be done in 2 months or less (I'm renting), I can't get hold of home-made wine-making stuff that isn't available from the supermarket (the warden here doesn't like me, so I can't internet-order stuff) and sterilising stuff is probably not an option, either (wouldn't have a clue where to start, unless it's boil-able!) I can probably get hold of some large flasks or something, though if anyone knows of a shop in the Paris region that sells things I may need, I'll gladly do some travelling and carrying.

It's just that two of my local supermarches often have cheap fruit going that they've over-stocked on, and it's such a shame to have to pay for wine (even in France...).

[hamster]

I don't know enough about wine-making to comment, but you could always get some cheap vodka/gin use the fruit to make various kinds of schnapps. I had some sitting happily under my bed when I was in halls... nobody ever knew....

I can tell you how I made my rhubarb schnapps if you like, and I'm sure a quick google would give you countless more recipes.

Ohhh, cheap vodka... cheap wine... good fruit... cheese... I want to go back to France.... *wistful*

[Brij]

Schnapps is a good idea too!

Can you run me through the basics - is it just a case of sticking crushed fruit in vodka and leaving it until it tastes good?

With the wine making, I'm thinking a big plastic bottle, squeezed and under-filled (with a fruit-syrup-yeast mix) so that the CO2 doesn't make it explode might work on a small scale?

[MKG]

It's possible - although not always advisable. The problem with wines made from fruit is the amount of suspended solids you get in the must. They always slow down the fermentation. So, if you can work out a method of juice extraction which leaves you with clear juice to ferment, you're halfway home. Some fruits are good for this, others not so good. Apples, for instance, fall clear very quickly. Which brings me to the point - make your quick wine from juices available from the supermarket. Check that they don't contain potassium sorbate before you buy (it kills yeast). The amount you need depends on the juice. Grapefruit makes wine at the rate of 1 litre per gallon, as do some orange juices (but 1.5 litres might be better. Apple juice can be fermented with no dilution. Assuming that you do the normal acid/sugar/etc. balancing act, the wine you'll end up with won't win any competitions, but it will certainly be drinkable in the shortest possible time. Best of luck.

[hamster]

Schnapps is a good idea too!

Can you run me through the basics - is it just a case of sticking crushed fruit in vodka and leaving it until it tastes good?

Pretty much! Rhubarb being sour I also put some sugar in, which would probably vary depending on what fruit you use, as would the time you leave it, but, it being somewhat less volatile than wine, you're probably freer to experiment!

I've just come across this website http://www.danish-schnapps-recipes.com/ which has lots of info and ideas.

I'm just off to make some lime schnapps, I'll be back shortly!

[Brij]

MKG: I'll have a look into balancing it all out, and we'll see if I can get it to work.

hamster: I've just started off a mix with apple, kiwi, vodka, triple sec and some sugar syrup based on recipes and tips from that brilliant website you posted up... should all go well, providing my flatmate doesn't find out where his spirits have gone!

[sub]

We've a few flavoured vodkas/gins on the go at home...

For blueberries i reckon they should be pricked with a pin, for cherries and raspberries we just halved them, for strawberries we quartered them

We then combined the fruit and spirit (used a bit of sugar with the gin) into swingtop bottles (we used grolsch bottles) and have left it in a cold dark place - giving it a good shake every couple of weeks...

Set them up in december and gonna leave them till june (~6 months)

You could also try freeze/thawing the fruit to burst all the cells and release more juice! We used the reminants of a packet of frozen fruit for one bottle and this vodka looks the best so far!!!

[Pilsbury]

for my fruit vodka i just use the fruit and vodka for a couple of months then strain it through a coffee filter and add the sugar syrup, i find the alcohol extracts teh flavour quicker if there is no added sugar to start with.
I use vanilla pods and chillis as well and for a really quick drink use jelly beans, fruit pastlles or werthers origanls, ready as soon as the sweets dissolve

and nicked from another forum
Mars bar vodka
1) Slice Mars bars into a saucepan and melt over a gentle heat.
2) Add cream, sugar and Vodka.
3) Return it all back into the Vodka bottle .
4) If you can, save for four weeks and then drink.

Because you have made a syrup with the Mars bar, sugar and cream it doesn't solidify.

[the.fee.fairy]

oooohh....mars bar vodke sounds goooood!!

I used to make flavoured vodka using sweets.

Get the cheapest vodka you can find, and some empty plastic bottles. Decant vodka into bottles - only fill 2/3. Then crush sweets and drop them in the vodka.

Leave until the sweets have dissolved. Shake every day or so.

Yummy yummy!

BUT it is best with boiled sweets. I tried jelly baby vodka once and it didn't turn out quite so well...

[Andy Hamilton]

You could boil the equipment as long as it is not plastic. Then perhaps make coffee wine? off the top of my head its yeast, bag and a half of sugar and I think 4 tablespoons of instant coffee. throw it all in and if should be drinkable in 2 months.

[ilan]

two months is a bit quick for a wine made from fruits etc due to the clearing required If you just want some cheap quick drinkable plonk then cartons of juce are the way to go with about 1 kg sugar and some lemon juice , and yeast make a starter bottle up with 250 mm water + tea spoon sugar few drops fruit juice and wine yeast then add to 4- 5 ltrs fruit juice and sugar ater is started frothing

[old tree man]

If push comes to shove there are 3 week wine kits you can get at your local home brew shop, i have made some along time ago it wasn't that bad mind you its still alcoholic

all the best

Russ

[contadina]

We make our wine with n'owt but grapes - but we're only just drinking it now and it was pressed in September.

[Andy Hamilton]

If push comes to shove there are 3 week wine kits you can get at your local home brew shop, i have made some along time ago it wasn't that bad mind you its still alcoholic

all the best

Russ

That stuff is pretty disgusting. Even my alcoholic mate said how bad it tasted.

[chadspad]

Digging this old thread up. Love the danish schnapps recipe site! All the recipes for making a sugar syrup say to combine equal measures of sugar to water. So, if I used 1 litre of water would I use 1000g sugar du reckon? Is it that simple?

Youve then got to use equal amounts of sugar syrup with original schnapps made - so perhaps best to work backwards. Definitely going to have a try with some of these!

Have recently made liquorice vodka and mint vodka by just putting packs of boiled sweets in there to dissolve. Amazing flavours for such a small price!