Blackberry Wine Advice Please

[Bootstrap]

Hi, I've followed Brewbitz youtube guide for Blackberry Wine, all to the letter except, due to being very busy, didn't strain and rack it until day 10, by which time it looked to have pretty much stopped fermenting.

It's now been in the Demi-John for a couple of days and not a single bubble in sight!

Should I carry on or do I need to throw a bit more sugar in to get it going again?

Much obliged.

 

[Applesnmore]

Depends. What was your SG and what is it currently?
May be that it has done and just wants to mature

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[Bootstrap]

Depends. What was your SG and what is it currently?
May be that it has done and just wants to mature

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Yep, unfortunately, for some reason unbenknownst to me, I neglected to take a starting gravity reading DOH!

 

[Applesnmore]

3lb of sugar will probably have given you 1090.
What is the current reading?
If it is at 990 or less then it has fermented.


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[Bootstrap]

Thanks for that, I'll take a reading tomorrow and see.

Thanks again.

 

[HLA91]

Working per gallon going from your
3lb = 1.36kg Sugar
1.3kg blackberries roughly 63g sugar
So a total of 1.42Kg sugar.
1420g/4.5 = 315g per litre
3.15*36 = 1.113 OG
If that ferments out to dryness as Applesnmore suggested of 0.990 that's a 16% wine you have there. I would be reluctant to add more sugar. Test the FG and if it's at 990 then happy days pop it aside for maturing, if not then let it be it is still working away just slowly. I have had some that only bubbled a few times a day just dropping down those last few points.

 

[Applesnmore]

Liking the maths HLA91, filed that away.

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[Bootstrap]

Thanks for all your great replies. I'm pleased to say that it's reading 990 and definately have had no activity since it's been in the demi-john. Clear as a bell too and even at this stage it tastes pretty ok. Woo hoo!

Should I rack off the sediment now into another demi-john and bung it in the shed or just leave it for now?


Thanks again.

 

[needmorstuf]

rack it off, I did mine twice before bottling it.

 

[Applesnmore]

Agree to racking, leave it and see if anything settles out..
Am of the opinion - if it tastes good on bottling, drink it. If it is a bit harsh, leave it to mellow. Can always hold a couple of bottles back and see how it ages.

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[HLA91]

3rd vote on racking. Agree with Applesnmore as well, if it's drinkable great news, drink 2 bottles then try the remaining 4 at 3-4 months apart and in theory they should only get better.

@Applesnmore I can't take credit for the maths, I was taught by Moley (R.I.P) who no longer resides on this forum, I belive he still pops in on the Harris forum, who was taught by someone else etc..
Basically sugar has an LDK (Litre Degree per Kilo) of 36 so for every 100g in 1L it increases the SG by 36 points, hence my calculation using the magic number of 36. I actually made a mistake in my calcs as I should have used 80-85% of the sugar from the blackberries not 100% as I actually did, I don't think we can ever extract 100% of the sugar.

 

[Applesnmore]

Well done HLA91, tho more control than me clearly.
Thanks for the explanation.

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