Question 1

I have my own grown grapes. do i add the sodium metabisulfite to my initial must?  how long do i leave it before i add the yeast?

Accepted Answer

I can only answer from my personal experience, which is limited.  I used wild muscadines, which I picked from the woods near my house.  I added campden tablets to the crushed muscadines to eliminate wild yeasts, small amount of boiled water, then let it set for 3 days in a stainless steel container, open at the top and covered with cheesecloth.  I did not strain or press the must to allow for color to develop.  Alcohol extracts color from the skins.  I added the sugar,  tested it for specific gravity.   Should be 1.1.  I added the pectic enzyme, which helps the wine to clear ... just after I added the yeast.  I think you’re supposed to add it several hours before fermentation starts, but I forgot.  I left the must for about 3 weeks, then strained the wine and added it to the carboy.  Use fermentation locks.  You can add campden tab to water in fermentation locks, but I didn’t do that either.  Sugar, wine yeast, pectic enzyme all in the must 3 weeks, then strain.  Let fermentation continue until specific gravity reaches 1.1.  I tested for acidity but couldn’t get an accurate reading.  It’s not finished fermenting, was at 1.01 when transferred to the carboy, but it tasted great and was a beautiful red color.  I’m just waiting.  Use star sans to sterilize everything.  I boiled some implements for 20 minutes.  I put cheesecloth in the dryer for 30 minutes on high.  I made a lot of mistakes, but so far
so good.  I used an old family recipe.

Question 2

What else do I have to buy to make wine that's not in this kit?

Accepted Answer

Kit has everything,  just need to select grapes or wine kit, and either purchase bottles or recycle bottles. Great kit were on or third batch.

Question 3

Can I use my own fresh ingredients?

Accepted Answer

Thanks for Thanks for contacting Northern Brewer. Yes, you can absolutely use this Master Vintner Home Wine Making Kit to make wine with your own fresh ingredients, however you will need to purchase some additives to be able to make the wine. We also carry a Fresh Harvest Wine making kit that has all the equipment, plus the additives needed and a recipe book to make wine from fresh ingredients, but it comes in a 3 gallon kit. Cheers!

Question 4

Hi , I bought the 6 gal starter kit and Concord grape juice.   I'm looking for a recipe for red table wine using juice does anyone have a good recipe

Accepted Answer

There are many recipe sites and info online, I'd do a Google search for "Concord Grape Wine Recipe" - and you'll surely find several.  I cannot put links to other web pages up here, or I would!

ASIN	B00W3PZ1GS
Best Sellers Rank	#135,520 in Kitchen & Dining ( See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining ) #15 in Wine Making Starter Sets
Customer Reviews	4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (304)
Date First Available	April 14, 2015
Item Weight	24.7 pounds
Manufacturer	Northern Brewer
Product Dimensions	27 x 13 x 27 inches

Master Vintner Wine Making Starter Kit – Complete Home Fermentation Equipment for 6 Gallons – Compatible with Wine Recipe Kits

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