Got vino?

[ctom]

Our white grapes ran rampant this summer. We have never, ever had so many clusters of grapes. About mid August I trimmed the vines back to where the grapes ended on the main runners and then netted the whole arbor to keep the pesky birds away. About 6 weeks ago I collected the clusters and extracted the juice and made 5 gallons of wine. A week ago I transferred the wine to one gallon bottles after adding the potassium to stop fermentation and an agent to settle the sediment out of the wine. Today I transferred the wine to clean gallon bottles to clarify just a hair more before bottling and corking. Of course today I had to do a taste test. A couple of the grandsons came over to say hi about the time I was finishing with the transfer and they got to sample my handi work as did Carole. I think I did ok on the sauce as they were asking for seconds. Ha.

Tomorrow I start my raspberry-white grape wine. Just a couple gallons. The grandson both want to have a hand in this new wine, but fortunately they'll both be busy while I am doing my thing. I learned a long time ago that too many hands making wine make vinegar. Today's wine tested at 17% alc. Half a bottle should bet Carole loosened up so I can have my way with here. lol

[MO QWACK]

Ooow and your going to bring a bottle or two to the gathering right.............. the raspberry grape sound amazing. Nothing hits the spot like a glass of red wine on a fall night.

[ctom]

I may bring a couple bottles, one of each....if Ma doesn't over-imbibe. lol

I read in my wine-makers manual that I can make a "second" run wine using the mash from the raspberries. I might re-freeze the pressings until I do another batch of jelly and try that method later on this winter. Sounds interesting if it will work without a pile of hassles. I made raspberry wine several years ago and it was something else so this new batch will be a re-visit to old times. I can still remember the fragrance of the raspberry wine when a bottle was un-corked. Funny how some things like smells stick with you and come to life just thinking about something.   

[Denny Welch]

Mo...January is not in the fall.

[CrabbyBass]

Sounds awesome Tom! I used to be into wine big time quite a few years back. I oftentimes hoist about trying my hand at making some, but never got around to it. Yours will be awesome! It is 100% home made by you including growing your own grapes. Cannot wait to hear more about it.

[MO QWACK]

Mo...January is not in the fall.

But October is..... only thing better than wine on an October night is wine in LATE winter. The month after December. Ctom you might want to bump that proof up some and bring a couple more bottles if I have to be around Denny 

[ctom]

Mo....Its Iowa you'll be in with Denny. Iowa sells Everclear. The good stuff. Pure grain alcohol. Get yourself a pint and take a couple swigs and you tolerate just about anything but open heart surgery.

[ctom]

All corked up. 18 bottles of mellow white wine for the girl.

[WALLEYE WACKER]

TOM I can smell them from here. Enjoy!!! mike

[ctom]

I did the transfer to clarify the wine and stop any further fermentation this morning. There was about 4 inches of pretty red wine in the siphon hose so I emptied it into a small glass so Carole could give it a try. Once I got her eyes back to normal I dropped the hydrometer in the jug and came up with about 18% alcohol. I did a small sip and wow. I'll bottle and cork in a week, maybe ten days.

Yesterday I took the rest of the raspberries out of the freezer that have been there since 2011 and thawed them. I got enough juice to do another gallon and now have that cooking. The lock on the jug is rising and dropping with regularity so things are working good already.

I just might have a bottle of this for the get-together.

[Jerry V]

I just might have a bottle of this for the get-together.
       WILL

There... I fixed it for you Tom.  I try to be helpful.

[ctom]

Jerry....you must be able to fix just about anything, eh?

[Jerry V]

Tom we have met...  you've seen me... you know face to face and all...  it should be obvious that I can't fix ugly.

[ctom]

What? I'm ugly now in addition to being a wino?

I'm planning to bring a bottle of each....one of the white grape and one of the raspberry.

[Jerry V]

NO, NO, NO... you misunderstood.  My point was that if "I could fix everything" then I certainly wouldn't look like I DO.  And trust me, there would be a whole bunch of other crap I would fix in this 'ol world as well.