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OK So Star-san for sanitizing is on my list, for just general cleaning I understanding that Oxyclean is good is that right?

I need to purchase some sanitizer, I had a fruit kit in which it was included, but now I am out. What is the preferred sanitizer? I read about Star-San, then there is K-Meta, and I am sure there were more. I am confused!

Thank you, this kit just had the tools, and some basic supplies, for one-gallon batches, no fruit or juice. I will go read up on the acid thing! As a beginner, which of the acid measuring methods do you think would be easiest to use and understand? Since I am running out of freezer space...

Thank you! I have seen a few recipes where raisins are added, can I ask what is the purpose of adding raisins? I don't have any elderberries, but I could pick up some raisins if needed. The second question, I have just started making wine, I purchased a fruit wine kit and started there. None...

So I could actually make 3 gallons of wine, One of each variety, and a blend, OR all blended. What yeast would I use? I have the Redstar premiere, but will be ordering some other supplies and could pick up a different yeast. Would I treat this like I did the mixed berry, or chokecherry? Mash...

I have both Beta grapes and Swanson Red grapes growing here, both of these are in the same family as concord grapes (I think). I finished picking today, and am not sure how I should proceed. I am not finding much information on either one of these. I have 21 pounds of Beta grapes cleaned and...

Yeah well for years I processed my fruits into jams, jellies, syrup, apples for pies, dehydrated them and a multitude of other things. But now that it's only the DH and me all that work goes to waste! I end up tossing it after 3 or so years because we can't eat it all. I do give some to the...

I have a 20-year-old champion juicer that is a workhorse! I don't use it much anymore, but I do make fresh juice with the apples every year, I have sometimes processed it for later too, but it's never as good after processing. My hubby wants to try hard cider, and because HE wants it, I might...

That's good to hear, then there is the question How much juice to make a gallon of wine? How much to make a gallon of hard cider? I guess I need to start researching recipes! To date, I have made 3 batches of wine, all within the last 3 weeks. 1 gallon of gooseberry, 2 gallons of Dragon's Blood...

Thank you

Hi there, another newbie here. My freezer is filling up fast, and my apples are just starting to ripen. I have multiple varieties of cold climate apples. The Honeycrisp and Dolgo are ripening now, the Chestnut crab will be starting in a week or so, then there are the Sweet Sixteen, Haralson, and...

Whew!! Then I am set, and can decide on the clearing agent later. Thank you

Thank you! I do have some Campden tablets, can they be used like K-meta? I seem to remember reading that the tablets had K-meta in them.

Day 4 of my second batch of wine, which is the Dragons blood, but only 2 gallons. I am at the point where I removed the fruit, the SG is, .994. But what the heck is "degassing" and how do I do it? Plus It turns out I don't have any potassium Metabisulfite, I do have the Potassium Sorbate. What...

Oh, I need to watch this thread as I have the exact same conditions, 100-year-old house, old dungeon of a basement, damp and cool all year round, with water running across the floor.

Thank you, I was able to add 1.5 gallons of water, and 2 pounds of Chokecherry's, my SG is now 1.090, there is no more space in my primary! I think I will use the EC 1118 yeast with this. I am going to need to get more vessels for secondary fermenting......is there such a thing as a 2-gallon...

OH I forgot to ask in my previous reply, what would a reasonable starting SB be?

Thank you......ugh my bucket is almost full so diluting and adding more fruit is going to be tricky. I will see what I can do!

Hi all, I am new here and new to winemaking. I have started my 3rd batch of wine (first 2 are only 2 and 3 weeks along) and have some questions. I am making chokecherry wine, following a recipe I found online. I have had to modify it from a 15-gallon size to a smaller size to fit my goals. My...

Hi All, I am new to winemaking, but I think I would like to give this one a try as one of my first. But in a 1-gallon batch, as currently I only have equipment for one gallon. I have read through the directions, and have a question, how do you handle the fruit fly issue. I see that he does not...