my first batch

[micahmad]

Just registered, and thought I'd say hi. I'm currently making my first batch of wine. Strawberry wine. It should be ready to bottle around Thanksgiving. I'm making 5 gallons, and I have a separate 1 gallon jug I have been using for topping off. I broke down the other night and drank some of the one gallon batch since I wont be needing it anymore. I know nothing about how wine should taste, but damn it was good. A little dryer than I like, but I plan on sweetening the 5 gallons just a bit before bottling.

I havent looked around the forum yet, but I have a question that I may repost if I find the right spot for it. My father made some plum wine, and he's about to throw it out because he says it tastes "yeasty" .He said it tasted that way all the way through, which to me rules out leaving it on the lees too long. Has anyone else had this problem, and if so is there anything that can be done?

 

[Waldo]

Welcome to the forum micah and I would advise your father not ot be too hasty to throw his wine out. Give it some time to age and see if it doesn't improve. With wines, time is your best ally.

 

[grapeman]

Welcome to the forum micahmad. Glad to have you aboard. It sounds like you are off to a good start with the strawberry wine. Take your time and look around. A lot of old information and there is plenty of help here with any new questions you have, or just share your experiences- and get out that digital camera and get some pictures!


How old is your father's plum wine? Unless it has been in a carboy or bottle for at least a year, it's too early to judge it as bad. Has he properly sulphited the wine along the way?There could be a chance of spoilage, but that would be evident with much worse smells and tastes.

 

[Wade E]

Welcome Micahmad, If your wine is already good, in a year, if it makes it that long, it will be outstanding! I dought that the plum wine started off that way so he could have let it sit in primary on the lees like you said to long.

 

[rgecaprock]

Hi Micahmad,


Welcome to the forum. Good job on your strawberry wine!!
Try the kits too, they are Fantastic !!


Ramona

 

[micahmad]

My dads wine has been aging for a year now, and he hadnt tasted it for 6 months when he told me it was bad. I was at his house thursday, and I asked him about it. He said he was going to throw it out. I asked him for a taste, and I thought he was crazy. Apparently age helped because it was very good. He was amazed also.

 

[NorthernWinos]

Glad you are here on this Forum .....this is a good place to enjoy each other and our 'home-made wines'....your wines will be just fine...enjoy what you have.....that's what makes "life good"

 

[PolishWineP]

Welcome to the forum, we're glad to have you here.

Time is the best friend a wine can have. It's free and doesn't demand much from you but patience.

 

[Wade E]

Micahmad, Ive had a couple of batches that were just nasty when done and I almost dumped them when I first started making wine but let the age some and they turned out pretty good also. I havent made a wine that I didnt like yet but some of them really took 6 months to a year to come around. I made a batch of cranberry that was just disgusting when it was done and I put them aside and when I made my wine cellar finally I discovered them and gave 1 to my mom who always wanted 1 but back then I wouldnt give her 1 because they were so nasty. After she drank it she said she wanted another so I opened 1 to give it a try and it really improved so much. It really is nice now. Time can heal!