The Winemaker Speaks: On Making Homemade Wine, Part 3


Homemade winemaker Tony Spinelli Sr. of Seymour, Connecticut, talks about some of the winemaking issues viewers have written to him with. A must-see for do-it-yourselfers and those who would like to be!
- egyptianpriest

Comments

25 Responses to “The Winemaker Speaks: On Making Homemade Wine, Part 3”

  1. vallo3838 on July 20th, 2008 2:56 pm

    subzerocobra-this is the winemaker.
    Use potassium metabisulphite.vallo3838

  2. SubZeroCobra on July 22nd, 2008 2:22 am

    Do you need potassium sorbate before bottling or can you use the potassium metabisulphite?

  3. vallo3838 on July 24th, 2008 9:44 pm

    bearo657=this is the winemaker.Yes
    you can make alcohol water wine like
    you are doing/This is a great way to get the feel of fermenting and fine wine.

  4. bearo657 on July 26th, 2008 12:51 pm

    Thanks for the information, I’m just beginning this hobby. For my very first attempt, I tried a recipe that I’ve seen online for sugar wine, which is just 4 cups of sugar, a packet of bread yeast, and water in a plastic gallon jug. (I’m guessing you’ve seen that recipe) I’ll get into more complicated recipes as I go, but I thought I’d at least give that simple one a shot. What do you think of that recipe?

  5. vallo3838 on July 27th, 2008 3:46 am

    drunkfux1-this is the winemaker speaking
    No i have never made wine from can
    fruit.Let me know how it is.

  6. drunkfux1 on July 27th, 2008 1:17 pm

    Winemaker, have you ever made wine using tinned/canned fruit? If you have what was the results like, I’m making some now

  7. vallo3838 on July 30th, 2008 8:57 pm

    any beer and wine kit supply store or on line.

  8. gsierra954rr on August 1st, 2008 5:06 pm

    Where do you buy the wine yeast?

  9. jiffcat on August 3rd, 2008 1:11 am

    thank you, my first batch is underway as per your instructions and it is fizzing away just like you said it would. The Sodium Metabisulphite seems to have caused a rash on my wrist and my hands look very red. Rubber Gloves from now on.

  10. vallo3838 on August 5th, 2008 10:05 am

    jiffcat-this is the winemaker speaking.
    Sodium metabisulfite or potassium metabisulfite are the primary that are used
    to preserve wine.They are both the same as
    preservatives in wine.

  11. jiffcat on August 7th, 2008 6:20 am

    Mr Winemaker – my local homebrew store sells Sodium Metabisulphite (I copied this from the invoice so I know its right). Has this anything to do with Potassium Metabisulphite? I can’t get this.

  12. vallo3838 on August 9th, 2008 4:31 am

    MetallicMoment-this is the winemaker speaking.
    Potassium sorbate is used in the preserving
    of wine and juices by killing bacteria and
    stopping the growth of mold thus extending
    the shelf life of the product.Yeast will not
    thrive in this juice or wine.

  13. MetallicMoment on August 10th, 2008 1:29 am

    Could you shed some light on potassium sorbate that is used in juices as a preservative. Will Red Star champagne yeast still thrive in the presence of this preservative in the juice?

  14. vallo3838 on August 10th, 2008 2:11 am

    LarsonGirl4-this is the winemaker speaking.
    Filter the batch and add one campden tablet
    per gallon and waterseal.Let sit for 48 hours.
    Rack wine after 48 hours.This should cure the wine.

  15. LarsonGirl4 on August 10th, 2008 3:18 am

    Hi Mr. Winemaker, I have been trying to make a pear wine. Two bottles turned out with no problems so far, but the third bottle has a jelly like film on the top with white specks in it. What is this? Can I still use the wine or is it harmful?

  16. vallo3838 on August 11th, 2008 5:29 am

    scienc30-this is the winemaker speaking.
    Ask any question-it will be answered.vallo38

  17. scienc30 on August 12th, 2008 2:28 pm

    Thank you very much Mr Winemaker, this is really cool, after 1 1/2 full days from starting the batch, I can’t believe how vigorously it is bubbling. Now I see why you say don’t worry about water sealing it for the initial fermentation, there is nothing but outward pressure at this point.

  18. vallo3838 on August 14th, 2008 9:11 pm

    scienc30-this is the winemaker speaking.
    When making wine from store juice it does not
    require stirring.When making wine from fresh
    crushed grapes stirring is required.vallo38

  19. vallo3838 on August 15th, 2008 7:19 am

    scienc30=this is the winemaker speaking.
    When making wine from store juice it is does
    not need stirring.When using fresh crushed
    grapes you should stir the must.vallo3838

  20. vallo3838 on August 15th, 2008 10:53 am

    scienc30-this is the winemaker speaking.
    Transfer after the five day period.The reason
    for this is that the LEES or dead sediment
    can impart a bad taste in the wine if left.
    Racking is not only for clearing but for
    taste quality also.vallo3838

  21. vallo3838 on August 18th, 2008 4:49 am

    scienc30-this is the winemaker speaking.Leave
    the wine at least one inch below the base
    of the airlock.vallo3838

  22. scienc30 on August 21st, 2008 2:41 pm

    Another question Mr Winemaker, when transferring into the secondary container, should the wine fill the container with no air space?

  23. scienc30 on August 21st, 2008 3:46 pm

    Do I need to transfer the wine to another container after the 3 – 5 days or can I simply water seal the same container after 3 – 5 days and wait 14 days before transferring?

  24. scienc30 on August 21st, 2008 4:03 pm

    Mr Winemaker, do I need to stir the must during the first 3 – 5 days of initial fermentation before transferring to the carboy/airlock system?

  25. vallo3838 on August 22nd, 2008 11:12 pm

    drunkfux1-any problem let me know.Thank you
    for comment.vallo3838

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