Winemaking books - any recommendations?

[John F]

My main thing is beer, but occasionally I'll make a gallon of wine. I've been using a book by Judith Irwin, and so far have made a load of not-quite-but-nearly-nasty (or just plain nasty) wine, with a few exceptions (borage and malt very good). I was wondering what people think is the best winemaking book available?

[PMH0810]

If you can find it, C J Berry's book is still quite well thought of...

[arturobandini]

I'd try and get a copy of Ben Turner's "The Compleat Winemaker and Brewer". Can be found on eBay for about a fiver usually and gives you a good grounding in Winemaking with some excellent recipes too.

[DREADSKIN]

bollox to books, get 3 jars of jam, and some tinned fruit and away you go!

[timothio]

bollox to books, get 3 jars of jam, and some tinned fruit and away you go!

Quite right too!

[Tequilla6]

C J Berry's book. Great for barbecues....

[John F]

Many thanks - I'll go for the CJ Berry book, I think.

[Mitchamitri]

Theres a 1970s book called WINE MANS BLUFF if you can get it - its like a tc wine book first ever generation

[Curious Brew]

bollox to books, get 3 jars of jam, and some tinned fruit and away you go!

I like the sound of that, do you have a detailed recipe?

[DREADSKIN]

he he he. that got you curious didnt it... go to lydels buy three jars of jam and two or three tins of fruit.
i did two yesterday:

peach melba wine: one blender. cup tea made with 3 bags; two 500grams of rasberry jam and two big tins of peaches. and some pectolaise. stick them all in the blender, and then funnel into dj. add super yeast.

and a strawberry wine: bassiacally the same except three jars of jam and two normal tins of strawberrys, blend and stick them in.
bubbling away nicely now, with 5 cms of crud at the top. looks good.

dont ask the og, ive lost my hydrometer. and dont ask why two or three. i put two in the melba cus the peach tins are huge.[ and i bucked the syrip in to. i imagine its gonna be strong. Hell Yeah!

[Curious Brew]

Sounds good to me!

*writes shopping list*

Do they need to mature or can you drink them from the demijohn like TC?

[simple one]

Anything but the berry book mate.

[Tequilla6]

I tried to tell him ,but my subtle humour was lost ....

[DREADSKIN]

i drink them from the dj when they are clear, but after a month in the bottle they are even better. used to just make them with three jars of jam, but then i went to asda and got their 1 kilo own brand jam and it was a bit tastless, tho strong. thats why i buck in a tin or two or a carton of juice. the best ting is tho its like tc, except i suppose its tw as it takes [censored] all time to ferment and clear. tho use pectolaise just incase...

[John F]

Oookay... perhaps not the CJJ Berry book, then...