Strawberry tips

[MTD4090]

This is my first batch of wine and I just wanted to double check with you guys before I touch it. I followed the directions in a beginner wine recipe book. Starting SG was 1.090. Transferred it into my secondary with airlock when it hit 1.030 (which I know people recommend racking it when it's lower but I was just following the book). It's currently at .990 which means it's probably done fermenting. I know to check it for the next couple days to confirm that it has finished. After I confirm that it has stopped, degas. Then add Kmeta and sorbate. In 24 hours, add F-pac. After severals days to a week, add clearing agent. Rack until clear. Does this sound about right to you guys? If I still wish to sweeten after adding the f-pac, do I do so before adding the clearing agent? I'll post the recipe I used below in case you guys have pointers. It's for 1 gallon but I made 5. Just multiplied everything but the yeast (Cotes Des Blanc)

3.5 lbs frozen strawberries
water
2 lbs sugar
1 tsp acid blend
1/4 tsp tannin
1/2 tsp pectic enzyme
1 tsp nutrient
1 campden tablet, crushed
yeast

 

[jamesngalveston]

i would increase the fruit to 6 lbs.
i would not add campden till it goes in the secondary

 

[Turock]

Don't sweeten now. Don't use sorbate now. Just let the carboy sit so it degasses on its own and clarifies. I recommend bulk aging it for 9 months, at least. Rack when you have to. It's very important to get as many yeast cells as possible off the wine when you intend to sweeten and use sorbate.

 

[seth8530]

Yes, I would recommend patience. give it some serious time before you add sugar back into it.I too am also a fan of natural degassing since I believe that having the gas leave slowly helps protect the wine as it ages.

 

[MTD4090]

Unfortunately I can't bulk age because I just found out a couple days ago that I'm moving to another state in May. I'm just trying to make sure the wine finishes before I move so I don't end up dumping my entire batch.

 

[seth8530]

Nah, that is plenty of time to get your strawberry bulk aged before you put it into the bottle. Give it until late march before you sweeten at least. Then, make sure it gets all nice and cleared out before you bottle.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

Are you making some kind of FPac yoruself? You dont have many strawberries in there so it going to be very light, if you want to really boost it you can add some more frozen strawberries in your secondary for a week and get a lot more flavor. Adding camden at the start is not a problem, if its not clear by the time you bottle you can get some fining agent to clear it, OR, as long as it doenst taste yeasty what would be wrong with it being a little cloudy? WVMJ