Hillbilly wine brewday

[Horden Hillbilly]

I have had a winemaking session this afternoon, a 30 bottle Vintners Reserve World Vineyard Australian Shiraz, took some photos as well!



Gear & kit used, time to sterilise.



All the bits and bobs included with the kit.



Adding the Bentonite to 2 litres of hot water, this stuff can be like mixing spraymalt (Difficult!)



Ready to pour, these cut outs on top of the box don't arf make pouring easy.



A large funnel also makes things much easier when pouring, not a drop spilt!



Rinsing the bag out with hot water.



Topping up with filtered water, I use a water gem filter.




Adding the toasted oak chips.



Adding the yeast.



All done now, cap & air lock fitted, thermometor placed over the handle for quick temperature check.

[Jim]

Nice pics, HH. I see you have a helper as well - they do come in handy occassionaly, don't they.

[Horden Hillbilly]

Nice pics, HH. I see you have a helper as well - they do come in handy occassionaly, don't they.

Two helpers at times, my eldest son took most of the photos & Mrs H held the funnel while I poured the contents of the bag into the fermenter, a joint family effort, why should I always do everything!

[roger the dog]

Great pics HH, I'm doing a Selection white merlot kit myself at the moment, first 30 bottle kit I've ever done. It didn't smell too great whilst it was in the primary so I'm not quite sure how it's going to turn out, hope I don't end up with 30 bottles of vinegar ! Anyway, it's now in a 5 gallon glass carbouy for 10 days. I'm not looking forward to cleaning/sanitizing all the bottles though

[prodigal2]

I'm not looking forward to cleaning/sanitizing all the bottles though

I thought grape squeezers just sluced the bottle under a tap.

Great pics there HH, the Mrs did a fine job. I assume you had to pay her with a drink.

[Horden Hillbilly]

Compliments to Mrs Hillbilly on the pics, presumably the99 flakes are hers

How did you guess? It is a fact in our house that whenever I fancy something tasty the box is always empty, I am sure Mrs H leaves the empty box out on purpose to annoy me!

Great pics HH, I'm doing a Selection white merlot kit myself at the moment, first 30 bottle kit I've ever done. It didn't smell too great whilst it was in the primary so I'm not quite sure how it's going to turn out, hope I don't end up with 30 bottles of vinegar ! Anyway, it's now in a 5 gallon glass carbouy for 10 days. I'm not looking forward to cleaning/sanitizing all the bottles though

I am a big fan of the selection kits myself, I am drinking the Cabernet Merlot at the moment & have a Cabernet Shiraz maturing. I recall the first time I made one of these kits, temptation got the better of me and I opened one that had been bottled for 6 weeks, I recall thinking it was somewhat on the harsh side and dissapointed. I then left them for about 6 months, the difference was unbelievable, all the harshness had vanished, the wine had really developed its true character and the added oak was subtle but not overpowering. It says on the box of a selection kit that the wine is ready to drink in 6-8 weeks, take it from me it won't be. To enjoy these wines at there best IMHO they should be left at least 6 months before drinking. I am not to keen on bottling myself, but these wines are worth the effort.

Great pics there HH, the Mrs did a fine job. I assume you had to pay her with a drink.

Yes, I poured her a lager later in the evening, that wine is all mine! Mrs H prefers white & rose wines herself, I am a red drinker.

Just had a look at yesterdays wine & the airlock is slowly bubbling now, another 12 hours or so it will be time to find some earplugs!

[pongobilly]

I am not to keen on bottling myself, but these wines are worth the effort.

what do you put your finished wine in HH

[Horden Hillbilly]

what do you put your finished wine in HH

Sorry for the confusion, I do bottle my wines, it's the sterilising & rinsing bit I am not keen on!

If you look at my last photo you will see a 30 bottle wine rack behind the fermenter, all the bottles in there are empty, this is where the wine will end up.