Typical recipe for 5 gallons of wine:

One can of Fruit wine base product

6 cans warm water (4.5 gallons)

11 lbs white table sugar (or 14 lbs corn sugar)

7 tsp Acid Blend

3 tsp Yeast Nutrient

3 tsp Pectic Enzyme

1/2 tsp Tannin

5 Campden tablets, crushed or 5 liquid tsp SOLUTION of bisulfite

1 package of Red Star Premier Cuvee wine yeast. If a sweeter wine is desired, use Red Star Cote de Blancs wine yeast instead

2.5 tsp Potassium Sorbate to stabilize

*****

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES:

· Primary fermenter, a minimum of 2 gallons larger than batch size
· Secondary fermenter, 3 or 5 gallon carboy, depending on batch size
· Fermentation locks and stopper if needed
· Nylon straining bag of size sufficient to hold fruit
· Very fine mesh cloth for fermenter cover
· Siphon/racking equipment
· Hydrometer and testing jar
· Bottles, corks and corking device
· Other useful items include cleaning brushes, funnels, plastic spoon or paddle and thermometer

TYPE OF SUGAR TO USE:

What type of sugar you should use is a matter of taste. Many wine makers use white cane table sugar. Some prefer the taste of corn sugar and say that the difference can be noted in the finished product. Corn Sugar produces a cleaner flavor profile during fermentation and is less sweet than cane sugar pound for pound. If you prefer to use corn sugar be aware that you may need to adjust your usage upward to achieve the desired level of sweetness. Wine conditioner, which is a sugar solution containing a yeast inhibitor can also be added after fermentation is complete to adjust sweetness.

WINEMAKING PROCESS:

The following process is to be used in conjunction with the recipes that appear on each can of Vintner's Harvest products. The recipes may vary slightly with each product.
Sanitize all equipment and utensils with bisulphite solution.
(See note at end of directions for making a bisulphite solution).
Put straining bag in fermenter, add fruit and tie off bag.

Add all ingredients as directed on can label, excluding those with an "*” which will be added later. Add solution of sodium bisulphite (not powder form) and stir well to make sure sugar is dissolved.
Cover with a damp cloth or fine mesh fabric and let sit over night to allow So2 to be released.
Sprinkle yeast on top of must. Temperature should be between 70-80° F.
Next day, gently stir top half of "must" mindful not to stir sediment at bottom. Repeat daily until specific gravity lowers to 1.040 (4 or 5 days).
When gravity reads 1.040, remove bag of fruit. Press and strain juice from pulp and discard pulp. Rack "must" into secondary vessel, top up with water to minimize air space. Attach fermentation lock.
Rack wine again (3 to 4 weeks) when gravity reads 1.010 to 1.000. Add 1 tsp. bisulphite solution per gallon of must.*

After wine is clear (2 or 3 months) stabilize with potassium sorbate to prevent renewed fermentation, sweeten to taste if too dry. Enhance flavor and aroma with natural fruit flavor at this time if desired. Bottle.
Wine can be consumed at this point but will benefit with aging of 6 months to one year.
* Dissolve 5 teaspoons of sodium bisulphite in 1 cup (8 ounces) of water to make "bisulphite solution."

ON MAKING AND USING SULFITE (SULPHITE) SOLUTION

We make a distinction between using powdered sodium (or potassium) bisulphite and a sulfite solution. Please be aware of this difference as it will affect your winemaking process. Dissolve 5 teaspoons of sodium or potassium bisulphite powder into 1 cup (8 ounces) of water to make the bisulphite solution. Of this liquid, you add one liquid teaspoon per gallon of must (unfermented juice) when directed. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid solution per gallon of water to sanitize equipment

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3/5/2012 -- Do I have to buy the ingredients necessary to make the wine seperate from the wine base kit?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes. Other ingredients required are: acid blend, yeast nutrient, pectic enzyme, campden tablets or bisulfite, potassium sorbate and wine yeast.
If you are after an "all-in-one" fruit wine kit, we have those too. See link below.

5/17/2010 -- what is your phone number?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: We can be reached at (425) 355-8865

Our toll free order is (800) 850-2739

5/3/2008 -- how much volume does one of these kits produce?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: This is not a kit, per se, but a large can of berries and juice. To make wine, you would need to add sugar, yeast and some other additives.

Typically, one can is used to make 5 gallons of wine.

1/26/2008 -- I live about an hour (if traffic is good) from the address on your website. Do you have an actual store or is everything here based solely online?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, we have an actual brick-and-mortar store in Everett, WA. People actually walk in and buy stuff!

Our address is:

Homebrew Heaven
9109 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98204

Here is a video of our shop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1a5fKvv8XI

Heck, you can actually call us on the phone, too! It's 425-355-8865. A person will actually answer as long as it's business hours!

11/3/2006 -- What would the average alcohol content be for wine made with your blueberry fruit wine base recipe?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: About 11.5% by volume.

3/4/2006 -- I keep hearing from different sources that fruit wines should be consumed within a couple years because they will go bad. Is this true? What is meant by "go bad?" What is different between grapes and other fruits that affects the shelf life?

Thanks.

Response From Homebrew Heaven: That's the problem with "lots of sources". Everyone seems to have a different opinion. Here is one more.

Made and stored properly, fruit wines can age gracefully, and get even better for years.

"Going bad" is a relative term. Not much meaning. I would only say a wine has gone bad if it had turned to vinegar, or had oxidized.

Fruits other than grapes are no different with repsect to shelf life.

3/4/2006 -- I am considering making wine with your fruit base, probably blueberry. All of my equipment is sized for six gallon batches. Would I be better off to use two cans of your fruit base or one can with one or more bottles/cans of your fruit concentrate?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Personally, I would go with two cans. You will get lots more fruit flavor that way. Cut down on the sugar accordingly is all.

1/29/2006 -- I wanted to know if this wine base blueberry what is it + to as far as fresh blueberrys or is it consintrate?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: It is blueberries, packed into a can. Not concentrate.

3/22/2005 -- I'm using Blackcurrants as a fruit base,and having just read the recipe in the Q&A's section and was curious to hear suggestions on the juice concentrations and nutrient type as I was intending to make a heavy one.

Response From Homebrew Heaven: We don't sell a blaccurrant fruit base.

10/10/2004 -- A friend of mine is into making wine at home in his spare time. I asked him what it would take to make me some fruity wines, perhaps a blueberry or blackberry wine. He said I would need a fruit puree enough to make 5 gallons. My main question is this, would I be better off to purchase the Oregan fruit puree or the wine fruit base of my choice? How long does it usually take ship and what forms of payment do you accept?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: I would go with the fruit wine bases. They are larger than the cans of puree, and are made for wine. A recipe is on each can.

Shipping time depends on where you live(?)...typically, ground shipment takes 5-7 business days if you are east of the Mississippi, and less if you are closer to us. We are located in Everett, WA.

We accept VISA, Mastercharge, American Expresss, Discover, Paypal, and if you mail your order in we take checks, money orders and even CASH!

8/2/2004 -- i was looking for a plum fruit base & came across your complete package for wine making for fruit bases. does it come with instructions on how much of each ingredient is needed & would i then be able to buy that & then 3 cans of fruit base to make 15 gallons of wine? how much sugar is needed?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: The fruit bases come with a recipe (instructions) on each can. Recipes (5 gallons)typically call for:
one can of fruit base
6 cans of water (4.5 gallons)
11 lbs of table sugar
7 tsp Acid Belnd
3 tsp Yeast Nutrient
3 tsp Pectic Enzyme
1 tsp Tannin
5 tsp bisufite solution (potassium bisufite mixed with water)
1 pckg wine yeast
2.5 tsp potassium sorbate to stabilize

2/2/2004 -- Do your wine bases come with a receipe for that particular base and what additives are needed.

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes they do.
Each can of fruit base also comes with a couple of different ways to make each one.

10/31/2003 -- Instead of ordering your peach wine base, would a large can of peaches from the grocery store work just as well?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Probably not. Most have been sweetened AND treated with preservatives that would prevent it from fermenting properly.

10/17/2003 -- Can you take one on these bases and use half the can in the 3 gallon kit and save the other part for the next batch? How about the other wine kits?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, you can do that, but be sure to seal up the container well. Tupperware works well for this, but something similar is good. Refrigerate it also. The idea is to prevent contamination, oxygen and wild yeasts from getting to it until you are ready.

7/28/2003 -- Even though you say one unit of fruit base will make 5 Gal. if I use one and a half or two units will I get a richer flavor and a fuller body wine?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes, absolutely! Just be sure to cut down on the sugar a bit. Shoot for a 1.090 (or so) specific gravity.

6/23/2003 -- Is one unit of base enough to make 5 gallons of wine? What is the cost of shipping?

Response From Homebrew Heaven: Yes; along with sugar, yeast etc. For a really FULL flavored wine, we recommend using two cans.

The cost of shipping depends on where you live (not available to me) and how you want it shipped. You can determine the shipping cost, however, by adding the item to your online shopping cart, and then clicking on "Determine Shipping and Sales Tax". No sales tax is charged on out of state orders.

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