First attempt at a WOW

[tropicalpisshead]

Hi Folks.
Just to say I started my first WOW brew yesterday afternoon.
Just can't believe how quickly the fermentation process began.
I put all the ingredients in to my spare DJ and as I had used cold water to dissolve the sugar I pitched the champagne yeast straight away.
About an hour later, I went back out to garage and was amazed to see it bubbling away quite merrily.
Not sure if it is to do withe warmer climate or the fact I used raw sugar as opposed to refined sugar.
Anyhoo as I said it is working away merrily.
Will keep you posted as to its progress if your interested.
:

 

[mwestin]

i've never done a wow so be interesting to see how it goes :)

 

[Chippy_Tea]

@Tropical - I assume it is very hot where you are, that would explain the quick start in a cold DJ.

@mwestin - WOW's are easy to make and whatever you make them from usually turn out fine [not keen on the original orange one] have a look at the link below for some ideas.

 

[tropicalpisshead]

Just a quick update.
Day 4 and things have slowed considerably and a thick sediment is forming on the bottom of the DJ.
still working away quite merrily but looks like a large bottle of dirty puddle water.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

You will probably find by day seven it has all but finished, I leave them seven days to clear up then rack onto a crushed campden tablet, stabilise and add finings.

 

[tropicalpisshead]

Thanks Chippy
Yep your right, day six and nearly stopped gurgling with quite q healthy amount of sediment starting to form.
I will leave it another week and then rack it into a clean DJ with a cam tab in it.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Let us know how you get on. :thumb:

 

[tropicalpisshead]

Well it's day seven and the brown swamp water has slowed it's evil gurgle to approx once every 2 minutes.
Today I think I will give it its first racking and check the SG. Then top up with apple juice and sit back and wait a week to see what happens next.
As Her indoors quite likes wine with a slight effervescence I may stabilize it early to retain some Michael Bubble to keep her happy
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
:
Big Al

 

[Pjam]

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

Yes. If you try WGJ and Pineapple, leave plenty of head space in the DJ

Also, most here suggest WGJ is important to a proper wine taste, so ........ have you considered growing grapes?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Well it's day seven and the brown swamp water has slowed it's evil gurgle to approx once every 2 minutes.
Today I think I will give it its first racking and check the SG. Then top up with apple juice and sit back and wait a week to see what happens next.
As Her indoors quite likes wine with a slight effervescence I may stabilize it early to retain some Michael Bubble to keep her happy
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
:
Big Al

Read the quote below from Moleys WOW guide (especially the bit in blue) i usually let mine get to the point where it only bubbles every few minutes then leave it another 7 days then rack it onto a crushed campden tablet in a clean DJ, i then degas, add stabiliser and finings, i then top up to the neck and give it a stir.
I don't like dry wine and have found this length of time produces a very drinkable wine.
Its a good idea to leave topping up until you have degassed as if like me you use a drill attachment you need plenty of head space so the bubbles don't fly out of the top.

Eventually, the bubbling will slow right down and stop, and here’s where you have to start to learn one of the hardest, but one of the most important lessons in winemaking - patience. Don’t try to rush it, leave it for another week. Here comes the science:

Yeast turns sugar into alcohol plus carbon dioxide, but in between it makes other chemicals called aldehydes. If you try to rush it you will get an alcoholic drink which will get you plastered but might upset your guts and leave you with a headache. Give it a bit more time and the yeasties will finish clearing away those aldehydes and you should end up with a wine which you can be proud to share with your family and friends.

Given that little bit more time a sediment will start to form and compact, and when it comes to the next stage (racking) you won’t lose so much wine. If you are using a PET it will probably have grooves running around it, and sediment will settle on the ridges on the inside. Once a day, give the bottle a quarter turn to dislodge that sediment.

 

[tropicalpisshead]

Thanks for your input folks
Pjam I have considered trying to grow my own grapes but as I live in a very hot and humid climate I feel growing grapes would present massive problems with mildew etc.
It's a shame as it would be great to grow my own because white grape juice seems to be virtually impossible to obtain here.
I can get RGJ no problems but Iwe both prefer white wines. I could buy white table grapes at the local super market and juice them but the varieties available don't seem to have a lot of flavour so I am a little bit tween a rock and a hard place at the present time.
I am sure that a solution will present itself in the future.
:
Big Al