booger

[booger]

I'm a newby to winemaking and would like some pointers from you out there. I tried my first batch of dried elderberry wine; 2 lbs berries, 10 lbs sugar, 1-packet Red Star Montrachet yeast. Mixed sugar in hot water, added fruit in ferment bag, stirred. 24 hours later put yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water for 15 mins. then added to fruit mix. I have not added any other chems to the mix. I removed the fruit bag after 5 days and the wine mix started out smelling really good but now doesn't smell like the beginning elderberry. Suggestions?

 

[Duster]

For Starters, Welcome aboard, fermentation has an order to it. Is it possable you are detecting this?
also you may want to read this http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14202

 

[Redtrk]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[booger]

Thanks for the welcome Duster and Redtrk. Also, the link for beginning fermentation. I have wondered about using all of the "chems" as in the early days; fruit, water, sugar, yeast, was all that was needed. Sounds as though I need to spend more time with SG, etc., to get a better result. I have a brewbelt that I use to keep the temp consistant, that probably helps. I might try the next batch and use 3#'s of elderberries instead of 2 and see how that works. In reading some other info, sounds like using a 1/4 tsp of nutrient might help too with the ferment process. Thanks for the response and I look forward to the guidance from all of you.

 

[SarahRides]

Welcome booger!
How big of a batch are you making? I started a dried elderberry batch over the summer....it is still aging in the carboy, so I don't really have too much input on the taste. The smell and flavor will change over time as it ages.

 

[FTC Wines]

Welcome, I'd made a lot of dried Elderberry Wine, it's good at 12 mo. but put some aside for 18 mo. & 24 mo. It really improves with age. I've also blended it with Blueberry & that was REALLY good, Roy

 

[Arne]

WELCOME, lots of answers here, just ask away. Arne.

 

[Larryh86GT]

Suggestions?

Welcome to the forum. The only suggestion I have is don't call your wine "Booger wine".

 

[booger]

WOW! Thanks for all of the responses. Won't call it booger wine, . SarahRides; I started with 2 lbs dried berries, 10 lbs sugar, 5 gals water, one packet Red Star Montrachet yeast. First batch came out really good. Batches since just don't have the same flavor/aroma as the first, so has me puzzled as to what I am doing wrong. That is why the question earlier; do you guys use potas sorbate, yeast nutrient, etc. when doing a batch? I do use easy clean to make sure all it sanitized. Another thought is where to get good, consistant berries, as I am sure different vendors will vary the product. Fire away with answers and suggestions.

 

[SpoiledRotten]

Welcome Booger and I won't ask how you got that name.

 

[booger]

Thanks for the welcome Randy. Actually, I gave my wife something a long time ago and when she opened the gift, she said "oh ya booger". So I thought it was a good log-in name. Really looking forward to getting tips for my endeavor from the Seniors and others into making my own wine.

 

[Flem]

Welcome to the forum! Between you being a booger and me being Flem, we should get along well. We just need a snot to join us. LOL

 

[Rocky]

Flem, now that was funny! (My wife just said to me, "What in the heck are you laughing at?")

 

[Larryh86GT]

snot that funny.