[anitaws]

Hi

as a complete novice what is the bare minimum of equipment i would need for a batch of home made wine.  I am more thinking of fruit, sugar and water type receipe than anything more kit orientated. 

I've seen the very first post on here for apple and blackberry and fancy trying it but I don't know where to start.  I know that these arn't in season at the mo but there must be something that is?

Thanks
Anita

[SG6]

I wrote these bits previously, just hope I have got it right.

1 gallon bucket - Wicks 99p (2 might be easier for one stage of the process)
1 gallon demijohn - Wilkinsons 4:99
Tea towel.
Sieve - plastic.
Funnel - plastic.
Wooden spoon.
Air lock - Wilkinsons - cannot recall the price.
Demijohn airlock cork.

Later:
Half a dozen bottles.
Syphon tube - Wilkinsons again.

As to what to try, visit a market late in the day and see what they have going cheap, try the frozen cabinets at Tesco or similar for frozen fruit.

[anitaws]

 :)Thanks a lot, I'm off to wickes shortly so will look for 2 buckets I'll call into Wilkinsons later next week.

I asked my mum yesterday, she used to make wine from kits but shes thrown a lot of stuff away, luckly she still has a garage full of wine bottles.  At least I know I wount have to buy those.

So I've had a really good think about fresh fruits for wine.  I'm planting a couple of modern blackberries to run riot down the side of the garage, My mum has a victoria plum tree and my inlaws have a bramley apple they never use all the fruit from.  So its the freezer sections for fruit til later in the year as I never get down to the market as its shutting.  My sister does occasionally, unfortunatly not local to where i live, and she brought back a whole salmon going very cheap, shes been eating frozen portions for weeks now.

Cheers
Anita

[SG6]

Forgot the plastic jug
Need that to get the stuff out of the bucket and pour through the sieve.
Again a cheap Wilkinsons item, 50-60p

[SG6]

I have Waldo and Loch Ness blackberry.
Crop well but remember that they crop on year old wood so nothing this year.
I pick when available and freeze until I have enough for a gallon, simply easier.

Also I have blackcurrants that grow on 2 half standard bushes.

Made raspberry wine when I had them, used autumn fruiting ones as they fruit in the first year and I find easy to prune (CHOP)

Plums and apples are OK as well.

Try mead if you have nothing easily at hand.