Winemaking?

[Djewell87]

I am trying to get into winemaking and was wondering if any members on here make wine. Are there any good places to buy equipment or supplies in Baton Rouge or Lafayette? I'm just looking for some info to point me in the right direction and for advice as i get it going. Thanks

 

[toddrod]

Why yes I do. I do muscadine, blackberry, Japan plum and some kits. There are no homebrew shops in the areas you list that I am aware of. There is a nice one in New Orleans called Brewstock. I find it just easier to order online from Winemakers toy store in Texas. 2 days and you have your stuff. The forums I like the best for winemaking are

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/index.php

http://www.winepress.us/forums/index.php

 

[Crippler7815]

Marcello's Wine off S. College and Johnston in Lafayette is a one stop shop for wine/beer making supplies (minus the fruit) and I think they still have a group of homebrewers who meet up over there every month or so to bs and swap recipes over a few.

Never been lead wrong there. Prices are a bit higher than the internets, but they usually have what you're looking for. They'll get it if they don't have it.

 

[Djewell87]

Thanks, I tried to check out marcelo's a three or four times and they were closed a week or so ago. I don't know if they are relocating or remodeling. I'll try them again when I get back on land. Where do you get your muscadines? Ive been looking at some kits and I will post a link later to see if it's a good kit or not. Do I need a crusher or press?

 

[Djewell87]

This is the kit I'm looking at http://amzn.com/B003XDGWT4
Is that a good place to start or should I go to a local shop and piece one together?

 

[PPBart]

There's a little place on Hwy 190 east of Denham Springs -- The Homebrew Shop, 8611 Florida Blvd -- that sells supplies for making beer, wine, soft drinks, cheese. Only open limited hours so best to call before going 225-665-0307. I've made wine for about 15 years -- pear, muscadine, lemon, apple are standards, plus I will occasionally buy a good kit. Purchase of a all-in-one kit like you propose is a good way to get started, but you'll quickly identify additional items needed. Get a good how-to book, like Winemaking by Stanley Anderson. Forums like winemakingtalk.com are great resources for answers, advice and recommendations. It's a great hobby, so good luck!

 

[LACamper]

lemon wine?

 

[mmccal8]

I just started by first batch of strawberry wine. It's on its 4th overall week. There is an enormous amount of information on the internet about wine making. I started my ordering a kit from ECKraus: http://www.eckraus.com/wine-making/wine-making-kits/your-fruit-necessities-box.html
That kit is designed to make a country wine and you only have to add a fruit.

lemon wine?

Have yall ever heard of skeeterpee? I'm thinking that that might be my next batch.
http://skeeterpee.com/

 

[drumz2129]

lemon wine?

Lemon is one of my best wines. Mine is not skeeter pee, it is a true wine.

My uncle gave me all his old equipment and got me started about 4 years ago. I have made black berry, blue berry, huckel berry, strawberry, wild plum, persimmon, pear, lemon, orange, lemon-orange mix, orange-banana mix, grape fruit, and fig.

Citrus wines, when done properly (and aged) are surprisingly good. I do not touch my citrus wines until they have atleast 1 year of age on them.

The only disappointing batch I have made was an attempt at water melon.

Right now I have 3 gallons of Louisiana Sweet orange ready to be bottled, 3 gallons of Japanese Persimmon in secondary, 3 gallons of Carolina Persimmon in secondary, 6 gallons of Lemon from last year ready to be bottled, and I just stared 12 gallons of Lemon.

I highly recorded www.winemaking.jackkeller.net/ for information, technique, and recipes.

 

[gunner_lee]

I've been homebrewing and home-vintning for about 20 years. Haven't had a store-bought brew since I started my own. Currently have 5 gallons of mead in secondary fermentation and it will be there til May. Then I'll bottle half in beer bottles with priming sugar and half in wine bottles. whew. Good stuff.
Fixing to start a batch of amber wheat and get my muscadine wine started. I'm running out of carboys/fermenters.
Try also midwest supply online. They're fast, not too bad on prices and their catalog is top notch. Good luck- you'll enjoy doing your own.

 

[RedNeckRuger]

Austin Homebrew has some kits. Brewstock in NOLA is awesome.

 

[Djewell87]

Thanks for all the help, what do y'all recommend for a crusher or fruit press or can I do without them for the time being?

 

[RedNeckRuger]

Thanks for all the help, what do y'all recommend for a crusher or fruit press or can I do without them for the time being?

When I make blackberry wine, I put 'em all in the fermenting bucket and crush them with a mason jar...redneck style.

 

[Crippler7815]

Thanks for all the help, what do y'all recommend for a crusher or fruit press or can I do without them for the time being?

Getcha a barrel and some rain boots, get it done old school!

 

[toddrod]

Before I got my grape crusher I was using a soil compacter. Basically a flat piece of metal on the end of broom handle. Put fruit in a large Rubbermaid container and smash away.

 

[toddrod]

Where do you get your muscadines?

I grow my own.

 

[PPBart]

Lemon is one of my best wines. Mine is not skeeter pee, it is a true wine...

Not sure what you're defining as "true wine"(?) I have a neighbor with Meyer lemon trees and he gives me at least a bushel of lemons every year. I juice the lemons and then follow a recipe to make a fermented beverage similar to Skeeter Pee. It's just a hard lemonade (without carbonation) that we drink over ice -- gotta be careful, though, because it will sneak up on you!

 

[Djewell87]

Thanks

 

[RedNeckRuger]

Williams Brewing has some good "real" wine kits. I have made their Merlot several times. And it is always amazing.

 

[drumz2129]

Not sure what you're defining as "true wine"(?) I have a neighbor with Meyer lemon trees and he gives me at least a bushel of lemons every year. I juice the lemons and then follow a recipe to make a fermented beverage similar to Skeeter Pee. It's just a hard lemonade (without carbonation) that we drink over ice -- gotta be careful, though, because it will sneak up on you!

I have made skeeter-pee too and you are right, it will sneak up on you. It does hit the spot on a hot summer day when chilled. What I was referring to is citrus wines (and skeeter pee) tend to lack 'body' that traditional wines have. I usually use either 100% white grape juice frozen concentrate (no preservatives) or chopped golden raisins in my citrus wines. It really helps to add body but you still get the flavor of the citrus.