August 2009 Newsletter
August 2009
News from: Winemakers Depot
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE:
- Tips, Topics, & Factoids
- New Products
- Featured Products/Seasonal Products
- Promotions
- What’s New at Winemakers Depot
- Drop us a Line
- Recipes from Our Friends
TIPS, TOPICS, & Factoids:
There are a lot of different glass jugs and carboys out there with non-industry sized openings so we put together the following
Stopper Sizing Chart to help pick stoppers
We are often asked about the use of glass carboys versus plastic carboys as a secondary fermenter for wine making and brewing beer. What are the differences (besides the obvious that one is glass and the other plastic), does it matter which is used, and or which one is better?
Well, here are the pros and cons the way we see them:
Carboy Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Glass | Glass is easier to clean and sterilize | Glass is heavy and slippery when wet |
| Glass does not scratch | More expensive to purchase |
| Stopper seals a bit better with glass | More expensive to ship as it is heavier |
| Glass will not transfer any air reducing oxidation | Will break, crack, or shatter when dropped |
| Carboy handles and stoppers are less expensive to purchase | |
Carboy Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Plastic | Less expensive to purchase | Plastic can scratch while cleaning |
| Plastic is lighter & easier to handle | Scratched plastic surface can hold onto bacteria and threaten wine or beer |
| Less expensive to ship as it weighs less than glass | Plastic can hold onto the odor or flavor of its prior contents |
| Plastic is not as slippery when wet | When a full plastic carboy is lifted the bottom can bulge out creating a vacuum and pull airlock water into the carboy |
| Will not break when dropped | Stopper does not seal as well as glass |
| | During long term storage or aging plastic can transfer air through the actual plastic causing oxidation |
| | Stoppers and carrying handles are more expensive for plastic carboys |
| | |
In conclusion, plastic carboys certainly will and do work to make wine and beer, however we feel they have enough drawbacks causing us to prefer and recommend the use of glass carboys rather than their plastic counterpart. In short, glass is more sterile, won’t pick up flavors from its prior use if properly cleaned where plastic can, but glass is more expensive to buy and heavier making it harder to handle and more expensive to have shipped.
Life should not be a journey with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a chocolate in one hand, a glass of red wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “Wo hoo what a ride!”
NEW PRODUTS:
FEATURED PRODUCTS:
PROMOTIONS:
Here are a few of the items we have on special right now:
We will also add items during the month. For more information on current promotions Click the Following Link:
PROMOTIONS
WHAT’S NEW AT WINEMAKERS DEPOT:
We have the first two parts to our new Wine Making Tutorial written and put in our Information Directory on our website.
We have added the following to our website:
· Have a question about a product
· If there is a product you need but can’t find on our website
· If there is there is a topic you would like to see covered in our next or future Newsletter
· If you have a recipe you want to share
RECIPE of the MONTH: (Okay… How About 3 Recipes this Month)
Dandelion Wine Recipe - Makes 1 Gallon
(Even though many parts of the country no longer have flowers on their dandelions we know there are still quite a few that do)
Ingredients:
- 7 cups dandelion petals
- 1 gallon HOT water
- 1 1/2 lb. sugar or until Specific Gravity is 1.085 to 1.095
- 1 cup white grape concentrate
- 3 1/2 tsp. Acid Blend Powder
- 1/4 tsp. Tannin Powder
- 1 Campden Tablet
- 1/4 tsp. Yeast Energizer
- Wine Yeast
- We suggest a Starting Specific Gravity of 1.085 to 1.095 for 11% to 12.5% Alcohol by volume potential.
Instructions:
- It is most important to use only the petals - NO GREEN.
- Put straining bag into the primary fermenter
- Place dandelion petals into the straining bag and pour BOILING HOT water over them.
- Add the sugar to the hot liquid
- When the liquid has cooled to about 80 degrees crush campden tablet and add with all remaining ingredients EXCEPT wine yeast to straining bag, and tie securely.
- Cover with a plastic sheet, after 24 hours and when the must is below 75 degrees, add yeast.
- Ferment for three days after fermentation first becomes apparent, or until Specific Gravity reaches 1.040.
- Strain off dandelions.
- Press, and rack into a one gallon jug and attach an airlock.
- Rack after the first week, then one week later and again in two weeks. Rack every 2 months until the wine is clear and no sediments are formed on the bottom.
- When wine is clear and stable, bottle - before bottling, add 1/2 tsp. of anti-oxidant powder per gallon.
- Age 6 months or more before drinking.
Homemade Dry Concord Grape Wine Recipe
1 gallon water
10 lbs Concord grapes
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon yeast nutrient
1 package wine yeast
Bring water and sugar to boil in a large pot. Separate grapes from stems and place in primary fermentation container. Crush grapes and pour water into container. Let cool until room temperature. Stir in yeast nutrient and yeast. Cover and let sit for 1 day. Ferment for 3 weeks stirring once a day. Strain through mesh bag into secondary fermentation container. Let rest for 1 month. Rack and let sit for 2 months. Rack into bottles and let rest for at least 9 months before serving.
Homemade Sweet Concord Grape Wine Recipe
1 gallon water
4 cups sugar
6 cups Concord grapes
1 Campden tablet
1 teaspoon yeast nutrient
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 package wine yeast
Bring water and sugar to a boil. Crush grapes in primary fermentation container. Add water, crushed Campden tablet, yeast nutrient, and lemon juice. Let cool to room temperature. Add yeast, stir, and cover. Let rest for 1 week. Strain into secondary fermentation container and airlock. Rack every month for 8 months. Place in bottles. Wine will be ready in 1 year.