Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Homebrew => Topic started by: composthappens on July 23, 2013, 16:29

Title: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: composthappens on July 23, 2013, 16:29

I made some wine from a wine kit at Wilcos in march, it has turned out really nice but i like my wine sweeter, any tips for making it sweeter? do i add more  brewing sugar?

also does anyone know where i can get half size wine bottles because i like a drink but dont want the rest of the wine to go off in a big bottle once opened.

Thank you, Jackie. ::)

Title: Re: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: Auntiemogs on July 23, 2013, 16:44

I think you can use Splenda Jackie but I'm sure someone will let me know if I'm wrong.  ::) :lol:

Have you thought about using the small plastic water bottles? 

Mags

Title: Re: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: Lardman on July 23, 2013, 16:46

If you've killed off the yeast you could just add some dissolved sugar in syrup form, or you can sweeten with none fermentable sugars.  Next time you brew you could stop the wine a little sooner so there's still some sugar left, I've pinched these hydrometer values from elsewhere

Quote

Dry <1000
medium dry - 1000-1010
medium sweet 1010-1020
sweet 1020-1030
dessert 1030-1040

Small bottles : I found the small 500ml fizzy water bottles the cheapest way to buy smaller bottles a pint is around 2 good glasses.  (I just pour from a DJ now  :blush:  :nowink: )

Title: Re: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: composthappens on July 24, 2013, 21:11

thank you for your replies, I was convinced I had to use glass bottles with corks. Can I use little plastic bottles with screw tops then?  That is really helpful.  :D

Title: Re: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: Kleftiwallah on July 24, 2013, 21:27

When needed, I use 'Young's Wine sweetener.  5ml to a bottle of finished wine.  Add 5ml then check, only then add another 5ml if needed.

Cheers,   Tony.

Title: Re: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: composthappens on July 25, 2013, 08:44

Thanks Tony this sounds the easiest, I wonder if I can get that from wilkos.

Title: Re: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: composthappens on July 25, 2013, 16:32

can you not add the sweetener when the fermentation is over?

Title: Re: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: Capt Zero on July 26, 2013, 19:13

Hi...can I clear up a misunderstanding about campden tablets... :D

This link  Here  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campden_tablets) is from Wikipedia which will explain it all.

Title: Re: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: Capt Zero on July 27, 2013, 08:33

Hi Bobe...

 Campden tablets just 'stun' the remaining yeast but do not kill it with any degree of success,  If you want to stop a fermentation you need to add potassium sorbate which will do a proper job. Potassium sorbate prevents the existing yeast from multiplying..kind of like "birth control" for yeast..with very little chance of fermentation restating.  Campden Tablets were not designed to stop a fermentation.

We like a medium wine, so I check my wines with a hydrometer when I think it's right that's when I stop the fermentation. Don't forget that you can taste a wine at anytime while in the FV, the wine that goes into the test jar gets drunk after checking it... :lol: if it's what my better half & I like, that it.

Another way to stop yeast is to cold crash...this helps with clearing. While cold crashing doesn't necessarily kill the yeast, there's just not a lot of yeast left or much sugar for them to feed on. But if you want to play it safe, you can add campden tablets and potassium sorbate.

Take a look .. Here  (http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/finishin.asp) this guys very good

With back sweetning the wine, I only do this (if needed) by the bottle on the day....if that makes sense.. ;)

Title: Re: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: ilan on July 31, 2013, 21:18

Its very difficult to kill yeasts so just let it go dry rack and bottle it , then sweeten as you use it a couple of sweetex tablets or candrel as is non fermentable adding campden tablets can give a very strong sulpher nose

Title: Re: How can i make my wine sweeter - and I need half size bottles for wine.
Post by: Jackypam on July 31, 2013, 23:39

That's ok if you like the taste of sweeteners!  I have found the Camden tablet and sugar syrup works well ( with country wines, but I can't see it makes much difference! Never tried the kit ones).  Just adding sugar syrup has led to some interesting bottle explosions though, thought we were being burgled one warm night! So be a bit careful.