Using Vodka to fortify Wine

[Ace]

Does anyone have any recipes using Vodka to fortify wines Country or Vitus Vinifera whites or reds? Thanks.

 

[winemaker81]

There isn't really a recipe -- use Pearson's Square to figure out how much to use based upon the wine's ABV, the spirit's ABV, and the target's ABV.

Personally, I find Pearson's Square to be a PITA to use, so I programmed an Excel workbook to do it. If you have Excel, PM me your email address and I'll send a copy. It's a bit rough, but you plug in numbers and it does the job.

Me? I use EverClear 151 to fortify, so I use less spirit and dilute the wine less. If EverClear 190 was available in NC, I'd use that. Which reminds me, I need to buy a couple of bottles when I travel out of state.

 

[ratflinger]

Everclear 190 is the best, most bang for the buck, so to speak.

 

[Ericphotoart]

Everclear 190 proof is definitely good but a friend of mine gave me a bottle of this spirit from Slovakia. 192 proof and the price is hard to beat.
As for the calculation I found this on line calculator. Very easy to use.

Fortification

 

[ratflinger]

Good price too

 

[Bmd2k1]

Given the thread -- I'm curious what wines folks typically fortify and by how much?

Cheers!

 

[Ohio Bob]

Blackberry. 19-20%.

 

[winemaker81]

Given the thread -- I'm curious what wines folks typically fortify and by how much?

The only wine I've fortified was the Port I assembled last December, and I pushed it to 20%.

So far, I'm happy with the experiment and will probably make a small quantity of Port each fall, at bottling time when I bottle the previous year's reds.

Beyond that? I've considered making a Cranberry and Elderberry might make a nice Port.

 

[winechef]

I actually use brandy from wine that was lower quality. I normally only fortify wines that were too sweet or were less than 12% alcohol. most of my wines i aim for 13 to 14%.

 

[Ty520]

Everclear 190 is the best, most bang for the buck, so to speak.

agreed. I use it for making liqueurs