Hey everyone. I decided that I wanted to give winemaking a shot. I
was thinking of getting a kit but they are all for like 5 gallons and
all my carboys are filled with fermenting beer. I do have a couple of
glass gallon jugs that I figured I could use. What do you recommend in
this case? Are the gallon jugs all right or should I wait to free up
some carboy space/get a new carboy? If I do decide to do it in the
gallon jug, do you think it would work out to get a couple of frozen
grape juice concentrate cans, maybe some fresh grapes to add to the
mix, some campden tabs and yeast and let 'er rip? Or is that a bad
idea?

You have everything you need already, I make beer too. Try some
Welches Niagara; there are lots of posts here on that. You plan sounds
fine, just make sure the juice or frozen concentrate you use does not
contain sorbate; the frozen Welches does not. Niagara can be made
sweet or dry and anything in between.
Joe

Cool. Will it ferment well in the glass jug? I read a lot of stuff
about having open buckets and then racking into a jug after like a
week... What should my racking schedule be like with 1 gallon of stuff
in that type of container?

Yes it will ferment just fine in gallon glass jugs. I agree with Joe that
Welch's frozen Niagara is an excellent choice. Check Jack Keller's site for
the recipe. I have made it several times. It makes a fine young wine.
Very good at only a few months old but my experience is that it only kept
well for about a year so I only make a few gallons at a time. It also
blends nicely with fruit wine or mead. If it comes out too dry just sweeten
with a little honey or sugar. 2 cans of frozen juice to a gallon (not
more). Very inexpensive too.

Ray

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Cool. Will it ferment well in the glass jug? I read a lot of stuff
> about having open buckets and then racking into a jug after like a
> week... What should my racking schedule be like with 1 gallon of stuff
> in that type of container?
>

Just don't overfill the jug, treat it like an ale and you should be
fine. Ale yeast and wine yeast are almost identical. I rack when it
settles down and that depends on the temperature and the yeast.

If you want a general purpose yeast try Lalvin EC1118 or K1V1116, both
are cheap and reliable. It could be done in a week to 3, just shake it
to see how it's doing. It's really very close to ale making.

Joe

New Winemaker

I would go out & buy 1 0r 2 glass carboy's once you get started making
homemade wine you will you will need then. I always keep 1 or 2 empty just
for racking off.



> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hey everyone. I decided that I wanted to give winemaking a shot. I
> was thinking of getting a kit but they are all for like 5 gallons and
> all my carboys are filled with fermenting beer. I do have a couple of
> glass gallon jugs that I figured I could use. What do you recommend in
> this case? Are the gallon jugs all right or should I wait to free up
> some carboy space/get a new carboy? If I do decide to do it in the
> gallon jug, do you think it would work out to get a couple of frozen
> grape juice concentrate cans, maybe some fresh grapes to add to the
> mix, some campden tabs and yeast and let 'er rip? Or is that a bad
> idea?
>