Dfoss - short for the fossil which is what the kids call me - has been brewing for about 50 years. Started on C J Berry's stuff - graduated to minimal ingredient techniques - then sort of settled on a compromise approach - basically light red or white wines designed to be drunk young - originally largely elderberry & damson for a beaujolais nouveau style wine, and Apple & orange juice for a light dry white. I planted a small vineyard - only 16 vines - 4 varieties - just out of interest a few years ago, but most years one S.Blanc in the greenhouse out-performs the vineyard! Any grapes are just added to my county wines.
In recent years I have built a cider press and apple scratter. I make one 10 gallon run of cider a year - that just sits in a stainless steel cider keg under about 5psi of co2 and lasts me throughout the summer for a glass on sunny afternoons. and one 10 gallon run of beer for bonfire night - usually a couple of Northern Brewer type kits plus a bit of dry hopping - into a 10 gallon beer keg - under the same co2. If they don't drink it all on bonfire night it keeps me going till Christmas.
Last year the fruit crop was fabulous and using the scratter and press to get apple juice I made largely apple & grape, apple & banana, and straight apple wine - in 10 -12 gallon runs. Also Damson & grape. The elderberries were poor so just threw a few in with the reds.
This year the fruit crop looks poor so I am looking for a source of decent grape juice or fruit juice. It does not look affordable in 250ml bottles. I would love to here of anyone's experience with supplies of - say 25 litre containers of grape or other fruit juices or concentrates. Also has anyone used "essence" (as described in some Fruit juice websites) to impart a charecter to a bland fruit or grape concentrate wine?
I made about 80 gallons last year (haven't drunk it all) but will struggle to find the materials in the garden this year - any suggestions very welcome.
Dfoss
When you get to my age every day is a new experience!!!
In recent years I have built a cider press and apple scratter. I make one 10 gallon run of cider a year - that just sits in a stainless steel cider keg under about 5psi of co2 and lasts me throughout the summer for a glass on sunny afternoons. and one 10 gallon run of beer for bonfire night - usually a couple of Northern Brewer type kits plus a bit of dry hopping - into a 10 gallon beer keg - under the same co2. If they don't drink it all on bonfire night it keeps me going till Christmas.
Last year the fruit crop was fabulous and using the scratter and press to get apple juice I made largely apple & grape, apple & banana, and straight apple wine - in 10 -12 gallon runs. Also Damson & grape. The elderberries were poor so just threw a few in with the reds.
This year the fruit crop looks poor so I am looking for a source of decent grape juice or fruit juice. It does not look affordable in 250ml bottles. I would love to here of anyone's experience with supplies of - say 25 litre containers of grape or other fruit juices or concentrates. Also has anyone used "essence" (as described in some Fruit juice websites) to impart a charecter to a bland fruit or grape concentrate wine?
I made about 80 gallons last year (haven't drunk it all) but will struggle to find the materials in the garden this year - any suggestions very welcome.
Dfoss
When you get to my age every day is a new experience!!!
