Château Desertphile; The basics of making wine

[Kargoneth]

Crazy amount of bubbles.

[allenjalali]

Dear Desertphile...

I Live in Iran. As a Muslim country wine-making is forbiden in Iran. Although as a Christian I am allowed to use wine for sacremental purposes, it is near impossible to find all the gadgetaries that you used in your presentation.

* Can I use regualr Yeast.

* Can Not use Wine Yeast???

* Can I not use "Air-lock Sealant "???

* What is ideal tepmreture for the Fermentation period????

Thank God for Youtube...and.

Thanks again..

[faylinameir]

ive read some of the comments and i can say that you're wrong.Its much cheaper to make your own wine if you know what youre doing or prepare yourself correctly, ive been making wine for almost 3 years now.When you're as picky as Im about wine it really does taste better,you can  adjust the sugars, and varying alcohol levels. you can also experiments with different grapes, fruits, etc even flowers ;) on a darker note, making wine is not something that easy, not careful and alochol poisoning for u

[Paul07901]

Champange yeast can tolerate a much higher alcohol level.

[100curious100]

i've made wine & beer a few times (it's common in canada, where the basements are as big as the house!), but it never is as good as a good bottle from an established vineyard....

[mtanti87]

Why does it ferment faster with time? Is it because the yeast multiply? I thought that it was just temperature which affected alcohol production...

[impurrfect1]

That looks like a lot of time and energy. It is so much easier and quicker to buy a bottle or two while at the grocery. Why do you make your own wine? What is the advantage?

[Desertphile]

"Why do you make your own wine? What is the advantage?"

I have never made wine before, so I wanted to try it. As far as I can see there is no advantages to making one's own wine--- store-bought is far easier and less expensive.

[impurrfect1]

I thought you were going to say that you make your own wine because it tastes better or because it is healthier. I thought it was cheaper too. You really surprised me.

[mtanti87]

"That looks like a lot of time and energy. It is so much easier and quicker to buy a bottle or two while at the grocery. Why do you make your own wine? What is the advantage?"

Industry produced wine has lots of "other" stuff and chemicals. Not to mention that when you produce your own wine you can control the taste and alcohol content.

[dagda825]

HEY! DP! I thought you didn't consume alcoholic beverages. I make meade and beer myself. My first batch turned to vinegar unfortunately. Happy wine making!

[Desertphile]

"My first batch turned to vinegar unfortunately."

Howdy! I dislike the taste of alcohol, but I attempted a batch to give to friends. Unfortunately I may have vinegar also! :-) Ah, well: that's life. I might give away all of my wine-making equipment.

[theoriginalSkooby]

I am interested in some wine making equipment. I would be happy to pay a reasonable amount or I could offer a trade.

[Desertphile]

"I am interested in some wine making equipment."

If you are anywhere near northern New Mexico you could come get it for free.

[theoriginalSkooby]

I live near SLC Utah. I was considering a trip to the Rainbow Gathering this year. Would that be a possibility? That is, of course, if you are planning to go and if you still have it by then.

[Desertphile]

"That is, of course, if you are planning to go and if you still have it by then."

I don't know what "rainbow gathering" is, so I do not plan on going. The bottles and stuff cost a great deal to ship: more than the stuff is worth I suppose.

[theoriginalSkooby]

Oops. I read a statement wrong on one of Notsooldhippy's vids. My bad.

[theoriginalSkooby]

Nice video. I'm making wine from a gallon of cranberry juice. I didn't know about the sulfite's. But it has been bubbling for nearly three weeks so I think I am safe. You mentioned that you are contributing to global warming by making the wine. I don't think so. The carbon in the juice is 'in cycle'. GW is being caused by the release of out of cycle carbon. Your contribution of stored CO2 would be from the transportation. The CO2 in the juice would have been released anyway from decomposition.

[Desertphile]

"But it has been bubbling for nearly three weeks so I think I am safe."

Golly, I hope so--- it would be a shame to have it go bad on you. Did you add sugar to the juice?

[theoriginalSkooby]

I did add sugar. I added two cups. And it turned out fine. I have already drank it all. I made a vid on it if you care to see it and have the time. I have started a new batch with various juices including another cranberry batch. I used Champagne yeast this time and doubled the sugar. All of my juices have fired off nicely except for the cranberry. It is bubbling but hasn't picked up the pace to full boil yet. I am considering adding more yeast if it doesn't pick up soon.

[dagda825]

theoriginalSkooby: before you add more yeast, check the temperature of your must. It's been my experience that sluggish yeast may be due to too cold a temperature. A good rule of thumb for must is between 68 and 75 degrees fahrenheit. too hot and the yeast dies.

[theoriginalSkooby]

I put a thermometer in to check. It is right on 70 degrees. I did notice that the apple wine started up first and is bubbling aggressively. I was wondering if that is because of pectin. Would it help to add pectin to my next batch of cranberry?

[dagda825]

As I understand it, pectin aids in juice extraction, clarity and body. It wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it'll help the yeast. If it doesn't pick up, add more yeast. Let me know how it tastes, I've never tried cranberry wine. It sounds delicious! :-D oh, google eckraus. They have great tutorials for new winemakers. Cheers!

[theoriginalSkooby]

I've made a short vid about my first batch of cranberry wine that you can watch from my channel. It was really delicious. It was still somewhat sweet.

[LordShadrach]

I WANNA MAKE THIS WINE!!!

[kainoo7]

hw much sugar did you add to that 6 gallons

[Desertphile]

"hw much sugar did you add to that 6 gallons"

None, but I should have.

[Devoimprov]

funniest wine making video ive seen today.

[nicanicabad]

Does the air lock keep out room air because it has liquid in it? could the whole air lock be ejected?

[Desertphile]

"Does the air lock keep out room air because it has liquid in it? could the whole air lock be ejected?"

Yes, the air lock keeps out air, which would ruin the wine by letting in evil microbs and oxygen. The air lock could be blown off if it gets clogged. I must bottle it soon.

[nicanicabad]

I appreciate taht you answer these tedious questions-so what did people 'use' in days gone by as air locks? Or was it all just lambic?

[Desertphile]

"... so what did people 'use' in days gone by as air locks?"

Horse dung. No, really: it was dried out and a layer of horse shit was lain on top of the wine to keep air out. Later, jugs with small opening at the top were invented.

[phxariz85020]

if you don't want to monitor the air lock... run a tube from the bung (cork) to the orange juice pitcher with water in it... any over flow will fill your pitcher and having the hose in the water will keep air from getting in your carboy. this will help keep your air lock clean until fermentation is less active.

[senrab42]

Interesting video, I have ordered a wine making kit and am axiously awaiting it's arrival. My wife and I love dry red wine.

BTW DP did you finally get all of those gophers off of the golf course, when you acted in Caddyshack?

[Desertphile]

"... when you acted in Caddyshack?"

Sort of: I accidentally killed all the golfers. :-) You will probably do a MUCH better job with the wine kit than what I have done--- the juice is much better from a kit. I didn't have a hydrometer so I do not know if my batch will turn out: I'll find out in the spring.

[higgrobot]

I'm about to start fermenting a batch of 14% alcohol from cane sugar and turbo yeast (Alcotec 24hr) for distilling, Today was a bit cool but tomorrow I'll see how i Go. My plan is to distill it to as high % as i can get it, carbon filter it then mix it with various juices. I'm living in a sunken Aircraft carrier here in the Bermuda triangle so It's perfectly legal to make my own jungle juice

[Desertphile]

"I'm living in a sunken Aircraft carrier here in the Bermuda triangle so It's perfectly legal to make my own jungle juice"

I just *LOVE* your plan! An electric pressure cooker makes a good still. (Mum's the word)

[jimthehappymonkey1]

one would think this was incredibly boring.. like watching paint dry. However I found myself fascinated lol

[Desertphile]

"one would think this was incredibly boring.. like watching paint dry. However I found myself fascinated lol"

Yeah, it's weird how I go and watch the air lock bubble.... I could watch it for hours! Sheeeish. As for wanting to know how it all works, maybe you can make a video on the subject--- seems to me many people would be interested including myself.

[jimthehappymonkey1]

the yeast feed on the sugar, and because they respire anaerobically (without oxygen) the waste product is not co2 but ethanol (the type of alcahol used for drinking) when the sugar runs out, the poor yeast diez :((. Then you have a dry, acaholic, non- sweet wine

[jimthehappymonkey1]

Know how the wine process works scientifically? if not do you want to? I have sooo much random information in my head and this is part of it

[geyser]

This brings back memories of watching my granddad make elderberry wine...

[InfoJunkieHolland]

izz you making bombs? TERRERIST!!!

[Desertphile]

"izz you making bombs? TERRERIST!!!"

It is only a bomb if one doesn't let the CO2 out. Then it's BOOM!

[InfoJunkieHolland]

well,... make a boom.

[lirpa69]

Does homemade wine taste good? If so, do you like to share? =)

[synth3s1s]

you bet it tastes good :D

[smaakjeks]

Science IS fun!

[synth3s1s]

it is best when you grow your own grapes. of course it does need a little sugar, but you can have 100% natural wine. like i do :D

[Hez1337]

Cool! How much for a bottle of DP?

How different is the process for making port?

[Desertphile]

"Cool! How much for a bottle of DP?"

I will give it away, perhaps have a YouTube "prize" challenge or two. I dunno. :-)

[Johannes9126]

Nice. I peronally like very young wine best, when there is still much sugar in it (must?).

[werewolfchewtoy]

NICE!, I don't drink much red wine because of the sulfur content... :(

[Desertphile]

"NICE!, I don't drink much red wine because of the sulfur content... :("

Sulfur Dioxide ought to be aerated out just by leaving the bottle opened for an hour or so. But I know nothing about such things: I don't like alcohol.

[werewolfchewtoy]

I'm not much of a drinker either...though I was in my early twenties..., I do drink a beer or two every now and again and that is about it...

[TheEternalMagus]

This brings back some memories. The first year i did this I used the same type of carboy. How many pounds of sugar did you use? I used 5 pounds in mine.

[Desertphile]

"How many pounds of sugar did you use? I used 5 pounds in mine."

Howdy. I did not add any sugar: the Concorde appears to have enough on its own, and I broke my hydrometer dang it. :-( I will see if I can get into Santa Fe and get a new one.

I am keeping my fingers crossed in the hope that there is enough sugar in the juice itself to raise the alcohol high enough to preserve the wine. It's been all guesswork so far.

[HiwayHauler68]

Hey DP,maybe you should add some green plant's to the room to use up the Co2 and give some O2 back...

[Desertphile]

"Hey DP,maybe you should add some green plant's to the room to use up the Co2 and give some O2 back..."

Well heck! I didn't think of that! Maybe I'll move in some geraniums or sage brush. There sure is a heck of a lot of CO2 coming out.

[Hez1337]

"Hey DP,maybe you should add some green plant's to the room to use up the Co2 and give some O2 back..."

haha, thats great.

[pyromania152]

Contributing to Global Warming to get drunk? I'm disappointed... tsk tsk tsk....

Nah, interesting video; yeast are feisty little microbes. I'm underage and have no real interest in brewing or drinking my own alcohol :-\

[Desertphile]

"I'm underage and have no real interest in brewing or drinking my own alcohol :-\"

Neither am I interested in drinking it. :-) But the owner of the ranch likes wine, and I have all these bottles that need filling.....

[EvilZoe]

I've always wanted to experiment with wine making, but I never really got around to trying it. Since I don't actually care for wine, it was the process that intrigued me more than anything, and I'd have ended up with a bunch wine (more likely vinegar) laying around...lol

[Desertphile]

"...and I'd have ended up with a bunch wine (more likely vinegar) laying around...lol"

That is why I'm doing it: it's the MIRACLE itself I like, not the wine.

[mobiltec]

You know what this means don't you DP? Now, because of this video, they are going to blame global warming on alcoholics and then they will start a GW Tax on all alcoholic beverages...

Say "Thanks DP" everyone...

[deathweaselx86]

Excellent video! I'll try this myself; maybe with apple or orange juice just to be weird.

[Desertphile]

"Excellent video! I'll try this myself; maybe with apple or orange juice just to be weird."

Apple will make a much better drink. You can also jack it in the winter: freeze out the water and leave the alcohol. ;-) That's against the law in most USA states.

[Tonio31]

Drink responsibly :)

[Ender1zero1]

Looks like something fun to try.

[Ender1zero1]

Not the drinking responsibly part the making your own wine part.

[SofaKingLoaded]

Agreed, use a coaster..