Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[ValerieR]

I got all the kit from freecycle but havent started yet as havent a clue! Any tips?

[Lesley]

I make country wine - but don't drink it......I'm told it is OK.

 

I use a book called Easymade Country Wine by Mrs. Gennery-Taylor

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easymade-Wine-Country-Drinks-Paperfronts/dp/0716020661/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272232656&sr=1-1

[Toots]

for my first go i used a kit. The wine is ... ok, you wont win any awards with it but it's drinkable.

 

It comes with a syrup you dilute, yeast and instructions.

 

you can get them on various websites

[ValerieR]

Thanks guys. I think maybe I'll start with a kit then make some country wines ..... apparently banana wine is good, so is rhubarb! What kinds do you make Lesley?

[Toots]

rhubarb is good, i really like ginger wine, it keeps a little of the heat!

 

actually i might look at chilli wine!

[ValerieR]

ginger wine! sounds good!

chilli sounds a bit too hot for me!

[Lesley]

The last ones I made were Raspberry Pip Wine (recipe on here somewhere), Mint Wine and Elderflower......

[Guest]

we made a lovely cherry wine last year...and the bonus was we used wild cherries so it was virtually free!

 

http://www.wine-making-guides.com/cherry_wine.html

[ValerieR]

ooh right better dust off the demijohns and get started! Where do you guys do it? My utility room is full of cat and chicken paraphernalia - would the garage be too cold do you think?

[Guest]

we do it in a corner of the kitchen or in the conservatory...that sounds like one of those random facebook status things!

[Guest]

p.s. here's a few recipes to keep you going!

 

http://www.wine-making-guides.com/wine_recipes.html

[ValerieR]

we do it in a corner of the kitchen or in the conservatory...that sounds like one of those random facebook status things!

 

 

Thanks for the link!

[Lesley]

Here's the link for Raspberry Wine

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=27135

 

Mine came out quite strong - I used it as an aperatif on Christmas Day.......everyone liked it........or were being very polite!

[ValerieR]

Thanks Lesley!

Strong is GOOD methinks

[Guest]

I will try to find my mothers recipes for rosehip wine she made it every year and we use to collect the hips in her dedicated orange buckets and as a child I remember carrying them for what seemed a long way(I remember them being mashed to a pulp and at some stage being strained. We had those big glass jars with popper (water and air) and I loved watching the fermentation etc. I remember her keeping them in our airing cupboard and very rarely one would explode!

 

I know I have the recipe and apparently it was very nice, I may have a go myself. I do remember them buying beer kits etc from the shops but they werent that good. The hips were free as well. indie

[ValerieR]

Hi INdie that would be fab - I get loads of rosehips in my garden!

[Guest]

me too please, I know where to get loads of rose hips

[Guest]

Rosehip Wine

1 Gallon of Hips(those nice red/orange ones..they came from the field hedgerows..approx 1-2cms long)

3.5 1bs Sugar

1 Gallon Water

1oz yeast

 

1. put mashed hips and water in bowl(I remember the hips being really smashed up)

2. Leave a week stirring daily, then strain and throw pulp away(she use to use linen tea towels to strain)

3.Add sugar and dissolve. Spread yeast on toast and fement 14 days.

4.Strain and bottle keep for 6 months

 

I remember those big glass jars with the popper thing! She put the jars in a warm place as I say it was the airing cupboard.

 

Another one

 

Carrot Wine

1 Gallon Water

3.5 lbs Sugar

2 oranges

6 lbs Carrots

1oz yeast

slice toast

2 lemons

 

1. Wash carrots , do not peel boil in water until tender and strain.(keep the water)

2.Into bowl put sugar ,sliced oranges and lemons mix hot carrots water and stir then cool.

3. Spread yeast on both sides of toast and float.

4.ferment 14 days skim and bottle keep 6 months.

 

I found these and lots of other recipes ie beetroot /dandelion etc too, I do remember her making these year in out! indie

[ValerieR]

Thanks Indie I'll make a note of those.

What is the nicest tasting country wine do you think?

I am getting a heat pad off Freecycle to help with the wine making tonight!!

[Guest]

The nicest country wine I have had was peach in a pub in Hertford that use to sell lots of different homemade wines(a long time ago)

 

My mothers recipes I have no idea as I was too young, I just remember the buckets (in gallons and the performance in the kitchen and lugging the full buckets back through woods and home again)! She has got some foot notes about using honey or syrups etc (I presume to help the dissolving bit). It was her own handwritten recipe book there are lots more! We use to go mushroom picking etc(typically I wish I had listened to her now)! indie

[Old Speckled Hen]

I make blackberry wine every year and every year it gets better

Usually I mix 50% blackberry juice and 50% grape juice, adding 1 kilo of sugar to 1 gallon of must, and get a light VERY blackberryish 12%

 

2 years ago I tried using JUST blackberry juice (no water). I had to pick 16kilos of blackberries for 2 demijohns

It ended up very strong at 16% and tastes like a medium sweet port with that delicious blackberry taste at the end and nose up front It has a little way to go yet and will be wonderful by this Christmas.

Last years demijohns are still bubbling away in the airing cupboard.

[squidsin]

Reading this has inspired me to get some wine making kit - I'm going to have a go at rhubarb and also gooseberry wine.

 

This forum inspired me to get an Eglu and chickens too - it's costing me a fortune. But it's all great fun and totally worth it.

[ValerieR]

Amanda you will be eyeing up LAMBS next, like me! And lusting after a greenhouse and growing your own veg ..... slippery slope! And wondering idly if you could send apig you had raised to the slaughter ..

 

On the subject of wine - I was driving along today totally distracted by all the dandelions growing beside the road , thinking "must make dandelion wine!"

[ValerieR]

I

 

2 years ago I tried using JUST blackberry juice (no water). I had to pick 16kilos of blackberries for 2 demijohns

It ended up very strong at 16% and tastes like a medium sweet port with that delicious blackberry taste at the end and nose up front It has a little way to go yet and will be wonderful by this Christmas.

Last years demijohns are still bubbling away in the airing cupboard.

 

Sounds delicious!!!

 

Where on earth did you manage to pick so many?

[Old Speckled Hen]

I live in the country and the hedgerows are always groaning under the weight.

I have to pick them in instalments and freeze them till I have the full quota.

It will be Elderflower champagne soon... yum yum.

I always pick much more than I need and freeze the flowers so that I can make a few bottles whenever I fancy.

Frozen flowers give you a darker wine but just as tasty