Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Does anyone drink white wine?

Making homemade wine is simple. Red wine is a primary source of anti-oxidants due to my restricted consumption of fruits. It is known to contribute to longevity.

The most difficult part of making wine is waiting 9-12 months until the wine is ready to drink

Here is how I make red wine.

I buy 22.8 liter pails of pure California red grape juice from a local wine/beer supply store. I don't buy wine kits that use juice concentrates because they contain a lot of chemicals.

Remove the lid from the plastic pail and stir the juice. Make a hole in the lid large enough to hold a rubber stopper with an airlock. Here is a picture of a rubber stopper with an airlock. Let the juice sit a room temperature for 3-4 weeks. It will bubble as the natural yeast in the juice ferments the sugars into alcohol releasing carbon dioxide bubbles.

Place the pail in a cool dark place for 8-9 months (50-60 degrees F). During this time the natural chemicals in the juice react together in the presence of alcohol to give the wine body and taste.

Usually, 1/2 way through the period I decant the wine by siphoning with plastic tubing into an empty pail to remove the wine from the grape sediment. Throw away the sediment. Put the cap with the stopper and air lock on the pail you decanted the wine into and let continue to sit.

At the end of the period, add 1 tbsp potassium sorbate per pail (it is not related to sorbitol) to stop the wine and let it sit for a day or two. Sterilize screw top bottles and siphon wine into the bottles. Drink as you wish.

You will find the wine gets better when it gets to be 14-16 months or older.

I do things a bit different for white wine because the chemistry of making white wine is a bit different than for red wines. About a month after the fermentation is finished instead of decanting into another pail I decant into a carboy. Place the carboy in a cool dark place and wait until the end of the period. Stop the wine with potassium sorbate and transfer to sterilized bottles just like red wine. Drink

I have 2-3 pails on the go all of the time. I buy the juice in the autumn immediately as it comes off the truck from California. It costs $50-$65 per pail here which on a per bottle basis is about 1/5 to 1/3 the cost of store bought wine. This amount gives gives me enough wine for two people to have one glass of wine with supper every evening. And there is plenty to give friends when they come for dinner too

If you decide to try making some wine and if you have any questions please ask.

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