trying something different, looking for advice

[DStelley]

I am going to attempt a Strawberry Rhubarb wine. It tasted something wonderful when I tried it last! I have Rhubarb growing all around my house. I have 15 lbs in the freezer ready to go. Strawberries just came ripe but the local growers are asking $2 per quart to pick your own. I need 18 qts (about) for a 5 gallon batch.
I'm thinking about using a fruit wine base instead. (cheaper by about $10)

Couple questions before I commit.
1) I will have to add sugar to get a good starting Specific Gravity. I assume I need to get to 1.100 correct?

2) any good tips on blending in this fashion?

 

[djrockinsteve]

Fruit wines should start around 1.080 so the alcohol doesn't over power.

Fruit wine base will work. Adding sugar you won't know until you blend everything.

Not sure how strong rhubarb is but strawberry could be light to medium flavor. Most blends tend to be 50/50, 75/25, 80/20 etc

I made a rhubarb raspberry 2 years ago. 90% rhubarb 10% raspberry. Raspberry was strong. Reason for only 10%

I'd say ferment separately and test blend later or do a good estimate and make 6 gallons.

 

[jensmith]

Hmmm. No clue as to the strawberry. However from what everyone else says it is a light flavor. Rubarb is fairly light as well. Full flavored but not overpowering. It blends well with other fruits, adding complexity more then flavor, due to its lightness. I use 4 pounds per galleon.
I would blend at the start. I also go against custom and start my fruit wines near 1.100. I find the wine to be drinkable and fruity despite the high abv. Bascically I just dump in my ten pound sack of suger and take whatever abv I get (5gal batch) I'm lazy that way
When you rack it over the first time taste the wine. If it is light in one flavor or the other dump in the fruit it was light on and start a small batch ontop of the wine sludge. Use this wine as a top up. I often make this seconds wine as a top up wine.

Wine making is like a lot of things. Many correct ways to get good results!


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