Strawberry Wine

[smokegrub]

The following is a Jack Keller recipe that I have increased to 5 1/2 gallons. Do you have any comments or suggestions. I am going picking today!

Strawberry Wine (Do This)
Jack Keller
19 lb 4 oz fresh strawberries (chopped)
1 lb 6 oz golden raisins (chopped)
1 lb 6 oz dates (chopped)
13 lb 12 oz sugar
8 1/4 t acid blend
1 1/4 t grape tannin
5 1/2 t yeast nutrient
11 t pectic enzyme
3 1/2 gal water (boiling)
5 1/2 Campden tablets (crushed)
Champagne yeast

Place the strawberries, raisins and dates in a strainning bag; tie. Place the bag, sugar, acid blend, tannin aand yeast nutrient in a primary and cover with 3 1/2 gallons boiling water. Stir well to dissolve the sugar; cover. After 2 hours add the Campden tablets. After an additional 10 hours, add the pectic enzyme; 12 hours later add the yeast. Cover; stir daily for 7 days. On the 7th day remove the bag and hang over a bowl to collect any juice. Drain thoroughly without squeezing, about 2 hours. Pour all the liquids into a secondary, top up to 5 1/2 gallons and add an air-lock; set aside. Rack every 30 days. After 3rd racking, bottle when clear. Age at least 1 year.

 

[Wade E]

With any of these recipes check your SG's as fruits will very in their
amount of sugar. Im not sure what SG your shooting for or how to figure
out what that topping off later will decrease it to and you probably
dont want fire wine our a watered down version so I hope someone chimes
in on how nuch adding a gallon of water will decrease an SG so that you
know where to start with this batch.By the way, why 5 1/2 gallons and
not just 6.Is this so you can use a 5 gallon carboy and some in a jug
to top off after racking? If so great idea as this is what I do.

 

[smokegrub]

I find that 5 1/2 normally meets my racking needs to obtain a full 5 gallon carboy. I will target an SG of 1.09, but I tend to find that a somwhat dubious measurement when working with fresh fruit. That is one of the reasons I was looking for input.

 

[Waldo]

I believe I would throw in another couple of pounds of strawberries and drop that acid blend down to about 4 tsp initially. Once mixed well I would taste again and then add more if necessary. Seemsto bea bit much to me.

 

[smokegrub]

Sounds like good advice, Waldo. Thanks.