[fallen angel]

So today has mainly been spent making wine!

First up was ribena wine followed by vimto then apple and mango from high juice and lastly apple and elderflower from high juice.

I am aware the high juice may fail but I am hopefull they will all start bubbling soon! How long do you think it will take for them to start fermenting if they are going to? I used the ribena wine recipe for all of them and I boiled them all first.

They are tucked up in my airing cupboard and I am wary that I may have filled them slightly too much so praying for a gentle ferment!

[fallen angel]

So having stood them all in a bucket just in case I have just checked on them and they have done nothing yet does this mean they have all failed or can I still save them or do I need to be a tad more patient and wait some more!

[grinling]

When I did Ribena, it started fermenting that night. I use a heat mat for 4 demjohns as I cannot maintain a high enough temperature. I have not tried squash at all, but have done various white/red grape juice with other juice cartons.
What ingredients did you use?
What is the temperature in your airing cupboard?
Do not throw as alternatives might be available.

[fallen angel]

I used the ribena wine recipe for all of them just substituded the ribena for the other juices. In all honesty I don't know the temp in there but it's the warmest part of the house I will try and get a temp taken. When I added the yeast etc the mix was still warm will that of killed it off?

Many thanks.

[grinling]

If the temp was over 30 it would have, you could try adding another teaspoon of yeast and should start fermenting tonight.

[fallen angel]

Thank you I will throw some in tomorrow and hope :-) lesson learnt oops lol

I assume I only need to add more yeast or should I add nutrient and citric acid again too?

Many thanks

[fallen angel]

So yesterday I finally got around to adding more yeast. I gave it a good swirl and today I have what appears to be the start of bubbles on the surface :-)

Unfortunatly I only had 3 clear demijohns to hand so one is in a brown one and I can't see what's going on in it.

Hoping to hear glugging coming from the airing cupboard soon :-)

[grinling]

Fantastic.

You might find it easier and cheaper to use grape juice carton and fruit juice carton.   Aldi,lidl etc

When racking, shine a torch in order to see the sediment.

[fallen angel]

Brilliant advice thank you I hadn't thought about a torch I was just going to place it on the kitchen windowsill and pray I could see through it 

[fallen angel]

Is it possible one of these could have fermented out in a month?

I had a quick peek and one looks crystal clear. I am hoping to take a reading tomorrow but not sure it's even possible for it to ferment out this quick?

Many thanks.

[grinling]

It might have cleared, how much sediment is there? I would normally rack into a demijohn and top up to neck, put a stopper in and leave it until it needed bottling.
The only DJ I am going to bottle up next ie elderflower to see if it would be worthwhile to make again this year.

[fallen angel]

There is about an inch of sediment so I'm thining I should rack it off and take a reading?

[grinling]

They do produce a lot of sediment.
you could try the wine you suck up for the reading.

[fallen angel]

So should I take a reading then rack off or rack off then take a reading?

I hope it is done then I can start some more 

[grinling]

 would normally rack into another DJ, top up and leave for at least a month before bottling as your will then get 6 bottles and a glass per DJ.
This is why I have a lot of DJs. I don't bother with readings.
You could bottle, but might only get 5.5 bottles, so you could only store 5 and drink the half.
Have a look in charity shops for a decanter, so that you decant the winebottle so you don't stir up any sediment.