Which variety of peach?

[geek]

I will be heading to Lyman Orchards this week to pick some peaches for possible a 3 or 5 gal wine batch.

Their website states that "Varieties available early in the season are classified as ‘cling-stone’, indicating that the sweet flesh of the peach clings to the pit or stone. ‘Free-stone’ peach varieties become available mid to late season.".
Price is $1.65/lb

Varieties available now:
-redskin (yellow)
-harcrest (yellow)
-encore (yellow)
-summer pearl (white)

The "free-stone" means that it is easier to pit the core out even by hand.

Which would be the better one for wine?

 

[Arne]

I really don't know as I have never made peach wine, but I would taste them and go for the one with the best flavor. If they are about the same, think I would go with the free stone ones as they will be easiest to remove the stone. Back to being the lazy guy again. LOL, Arne.

 

[geek]

That is the plan.

 

[Turock]

Free-stone peaches have more flavor than the cling. I agree with tasting them first--I'm not familiar with the varieties you posted. Also, if they have nectarines, include some of them in the batch too.

 

[geek]

Would a 5lb/gal be a good ratio if adding water?

 

[bkisel]

That's a good price, a bit less per pound than what I paid to pick my own.

For what it is worth...

After washing it I think I averaged just under 30 seconds to quarter, pit (clinging), k-meta spritz and toss the pieces into a freezer bag - per peach. I can't imagine free-stone peaches saving that much time to make pitting alone a deciding factor on which variety of peach to get.

Also, the hand picked peaches from March Farm took 6 days to ripen. Wife tasted one quarter slice and said it was delicious.

 

[Turock]

It's not about ease of pitting them. I've read that free-stone peaches have better flavor than cling peaches.

Geek---DO NOT use water. You won't be happy with the result.

 

[geek]

It's not about ease of pitting them. I've read that free-stone peaches have better flavor than cling peaches.

Geek---DO NOT use water. You won't be happy with the result.

How many lbs per gallon would you recommend?


Sent from my iPhone using Wine Making

 

[Buehler91]

How many lbs per gallon would you recommend?


Sent from my iPhone using Wine Making

Just sent mine to secondary yesterday.
Used 70# of peaches and 5# of nectarines.
I have just under 8 gal of fermented juice.
So I'd say 10# per gallon.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

I have to wonder if Turock even uses water to take a shower with Some people think the red stuff at the pit makes peach wine bitter so they prefer to use clingers and just squish the flesh off, if you can slice the peaches they may not be ripe enough yet, you should just be able to squeeze them in your hands to remove the pit whether is cling or freestone, no knives. WVMJ

 

[seth8530]

I too would avoid using water to make peach wine. If it was my batch, I would buy say 15lb per gallon I wanted to make or so, and whatever ended up being too much, I would simply consider that gravy.

 

[geek]

I have to wonder if Turock even uses water to take a shower with. WVMJ

ditto....

 

[geek]

Oh, is 71B a good yeast for peach?
I think this yeast is good reducing some malic alids during primary ferment but not sure if peach produces much malic acid anyway.

 

[Boatboy24]

No water!!

8-10 pounds per gallon. If you MUST add liquid to raise your volume, use 3-4 cans of Welchs White Grape Peach concentrate to a gallon of water.

Go with Montrachet or Cotes de Blanc for yeast. I'm partial to Cotes, but only since I've not used Montrachet. I have read that Montrachet does require more nutrient management though.

 

[geek]

I was thinking of doing a DB variant which uses water, so I could get an early drinker but we'll see after I go to the orchard....

 

[Turock]

71B might make it too flabby. You need some acid punch on this wine. The malic on this fruit is not too harsh.

Water IS for taking showers--but not fit to shower your peach wine with it!!

 

[geek]

Water IS for taking showers--but not fit to shower your peach wine with it!!

I hear you....LOL....