Fruit score of the month

[cmason1957]

I got a call from our local fruit stand yesterday. Today was closing day until after the New Year and everything must go. Picked up 80 pounds of apples (fuji and gala) and 80 pounds of pears (red and Asian) for tight at $100.

Got home with the fruit and my wife wouldn't let me carry any of it in. The knee doctor said nothing over 10 pounds for three weeks. We cut up the pears added some lemon and popped them in the freezer. The apples will keep in the basement for a bit, since the freezer is crammed.

Now what to do with each. I am open to ideas. Probably not make cider and ferment the apples. I am almost thinking simple pear wine with a hint of cinnamon. Maybe an apple port with caramel flavors added.

Any other suggestions?

 

[jamesngalveston]

apple port with caramel flavors,gets my vote.

 

[seth8530]

Is it still cider if you make it a graff? I really like cider.. But since you said no cider, perhaps a simple pear and Apple wine. I would be warry of cranking the abv up way too high on an Apple our pear wine.

 

[Deezil]

If you throw some pears in with the apples, it will help 'flesh out' the flavor a bit.. You wont so-much taste the pear, but it will add something to the apple, that seems missing otherwise.

My favorite way to do this wine, so far, is fermented to dry & MLF'd.
Makes a very nice wine that way

 

[cmason1957]

That blending of some pear with the apple and then MLF does sound very interesting. Apple wine I have made in the past has always seemed to be missing something, that might be the key. It does sound very interesting.

More thought on Apple Port makes me think maybe not so much. If I do that, it will be a relatively low alcohol port, similar to what you get from a kit.