Fortifying Wine

[springtime]

I am currently brewing a Butler Portavino kit and was wondering how to fortify the final product. The kit estimates that the final outcome is around 18% abv but I am assuming that its probably gonna be more like 15%. A friend of mine has kindly given me a litre bottle of vodka so I thought that I might use this to bring it up to around the 20% mark.
Does anybody know how much vodka I should add to each wine bottle to achieve this e.g. 0.5 inch, 0.75 inch?
I will also want to do something similar with a batch of blackcurrent wine which I estimate will be around 11.5% abv when I get around to bottling it.
Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[Moley]

http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/blending.asp

 

[SloeBrewer]

Out of interest, what does the Portavino taste like? I bought one of the kits today, but was surprised at how little concentrate is in the box. Thought I'd give it a go for a tenner, but not really expecting too much from it, but so long as it's drinkable, it hopefully won't be money wasted :)

 

[wino2012]

I have the same kit brewing for the first time. interesting stuff :thumb:

 

[SloeBrewer]

Started this yesterday, was bubbling furiously this morning. Will write a review once it's finished.

 

[ingypingy2]

I've done the portavino kit 3 times, and have another in the porch ready to put on :) I just love it. Have never fortified it yet though as it usually does turn out around the 18%. It's been a massive hit with friends and family and the 6 bottles never last for long :) It's drinkable as soon as you finish racking , clearing etc, but def improves even more after a couple of months in the cupboard (though I have only managed to keep 2 bottles long enough to let it mature as it's so good!). Would def recommend this kit as a must try :)

 

[Stu]

I'm toying with this one. I'm partial to a port.

A review I read suggested that rather than backsweetening at the end, add some red wine enricher.

Anyone care to comment?

 

[alanywiseman.]

Adding wine enhancer, which I believe is grape concentrate, will add body and complexity to the port.

I had planned to do it to my elderberry port but it is certainly not lacking in body.

 

[Stu]

Adding wine enhancer, which I believe is grape concentrate, will add body and complexity to the port.

I had planned to do it to my elderberry port but it is certainly not lacking in body.

Ah thank you. I guess it's a "try it and see". For a tenner, I'll have a go at it as-is (well back sweeten). If it's rough, I'll try some with the concentrate.

Would you recommend extra glycerine to make it smoother?

 

[graysalchemy]

I back sweeten my port with demerara sugar makes it very nice :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Stu]

I back sweeten my port with demerara sugar makes it very nice :thumb: :thumb:

Ooh that sounds good.

 

[RobWalker]

guidance? drink with care. :lol:

 

[bigboots]

I think...............
4 bottles at 15% (75cl)
1 bottle at 37.5% (75cl)
4x15=60
+1x 37.5
= 97.5. Divide by 5 to get average
= 19.5% per bottle.(5 bottles)
:

 

[alanywiseman.]

Surely 15% abv is 15% in 75cl or 300cl?

 

[dennisdk2000]

Surely 15% abv is 15% in 75cl or 300cl?

Indeed, but as you're mixing, you need to consider how much alcohol by volume each bottle contributes. While your maths teacher would probably have a fit if you worked it out like this on a maths test, it does give the correct result. :thumb:

Dennis

 

[caitlintilt]

You can get super wine yeast which is specially made to tolerate high alcohol levels, so why not just use this to brew instead of fortifying afterwards? You can get up to 20% I think :)

this kind of thing..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Home-Brew-Wine-Making-VinClasse®/dp/B0036Z5LQO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368017138&sr=8-1&keywords=super+wine+yeast