Using juices to make wine / cider

[lenny1976]

I am a complete novice at home brewing using juice. I have only ever used the wine and cider kits which have everything included.
I have a couple of questions
1. Can I use any juices from supermarkets or do they have to be ones without additives and 100% juice?
2. What is the main difference between the recipe being a cider or wine? (Sorry if that is a silly question)

Also I would love any advice as to what I need in terms of yeast and other ingredients. Any simple recipes would be appreciated. I am thinking of using 5ltr plastic demi johns

 

[Gayle]

many supermarket juices are suitable for winemaking, I usually use the cartons as they tend not to have preservatives anyway. Juices should be 100% juice where possible, like grape, apple and orange etc, whereas mixed fruit juice drinks will usually contain a small percentage of juice and added water and sugar. I use the juice drinks as an addition to Apple or grape juice in cider or wine, rather than on their own, but that's up to you!

Cider is made from apple juice, and can range in strength up to about 8 or 9% before it would be classes as a wine. Wine is normally made with addition of grape juice to give it body, but many recipes don't require it.

I find youngs super wine yeast to be a good starting yeast as you can make pretty much any wine with it, but then I don't have much knowledge of other yeasts so someone may be able to make a better recommendation.

there is a simple wine recipe called Worzels Orange Wine (WOW for short) that is good for beginners, and they're the main type of wine I make (sorry I've no idea how to link you to the thread, but it might be in the How To section)

There's no such thing as a silly question here so ask away, and good luck!

 

[alanywiseman.]

Here is the recipe for a great white, WOW

You can use the same basic recipe and change the OJ for anything else just try and make sure it is juice and not a juice drink (has added sugar so less flavour). White grape and apple makes a great dry white. you can also change the white for red grape to make a rose coloured wine.

For Cider I use:

5L Apple juice
1tsp tannins (or a strong cup of tea)
1tsp Malic Acid
Yeast

For yeast I culture from a bottle of Old Rosie. Once fermented rack and store for 6+months to get MLF (looks a wee bit like mold) then bottle.

This is just the wa I have done it. Other replace malic for citric and omitt the 6+months storage for a quicker one. I have never done this so can not comment on the taste.

 

[oldbloke]

Technically, cider has to be 70% or more apple juice (IIRC), and less than 8.5%ABV.

 

[goan]

Get some juice, stick it in a DJ, yeast and sugar if needed. This is a simple and easy way of doing it, though I found results are usually poor. Experiment with different juices, I usually add some yeast nutrient and a cup of strong black tea to it too. Id recommend the 100% juices as others have little flavor and usually taste quite weak and watery

 

[oldbloke]

TurboCider:
Cheapo apple juice, nutrient, yeast, tannin (powdered or a sillystrong cup of tea). Chuck all into a demijohn and wait until clear. Bottle, condition 2weekswarm2weekscold.
Most yeasts work but a cider or champagne yeast recommended
This will be dry, possibly very very dry. You might want to add a little Splenda (or equiv)
Improvements:
Leave it in the bottles longer to mature
Sub something else for some of the AJ, to round out the flavour, eg cranberry
Up the apple by using AJ concentrate (also ups the ABV a bit) - eg 500ml concentrate, 1/2l AJ, 1/2l cranberry, make up to gallon with water
Add up to 1tsp/gallon malic acid and leave to mature long enough for malolactic fermentation to occur (helps if you use a yeast known to harbour the right bacteria - guide elsewhere on forum for getting it from a bottle of Old Rosie)

Some people add extra sugar. It's well over 5% without, don't bother.

 

[Badger]

I'd managed to make decent apple wine from "Apple Juice Drink" MADE FROM REAL APPLES :| Was about 60% water but turned it fine in the end!

 

[Grand gris]

I've made many wow variants. I've found that the more acidic fruits need longer to settle down - don't know if others find this.

The best so far is an apple with RGJ and a cupful of ribina added. Made a lovely rose