Grapes

[crow]

I'm in SA (read gods country) and Grape season is under way :happy-partydance: :happy-partydance: :happy-partydance: I was thinking I would put some wine down and take it back home for running, unless I run some here to show the brother in law how to run the old pot still
So who else has grapes in their sights for this season and what varieties are you looking at/have access to

[emptyglass]

No grapes here, but I've heard you can use the same method/recipie for slivovitz and you will make pisco. Not sure of the best varietys though.

[invisigoth]

mudgee isn't too far away for me. i know there is cab sav and chardonnay out there, but i had heard there was also some italian and portuguese vines kicking around out there too. i had some metaxa once. i'd be keen to do something similar. :dance:
think i need access to muscat for that.

[crow]

Pisco is made from muscat varieties, but the fortified wine known as muscat is often made from gordo's which I believe is somewhat similar to white muscat as is palamino's . I will take what I can get cheap or free and it will get made into brandy.
Peeps if you can only get black grapes don't panic , you can still make a nice clear white wine and here's how. when you press/crush the grapes make sure you strain out the mark (skins and flesh) as soon as possible, the longer you leave it the most tannins ect will leach into the juice. Ok now once strained of pitch the yeast and you will very soon see any remaining mark and colour drop as sediment on the bottom of the fermenter, whul la : bianca vino :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Goldie]

I am interested in putting some wine down, wanna try a red first up but unsure what is a good grape to begin.
I Have been looking at grape prices here and everything seems very expensive, haven't had much time to explore and find something decent but hopefully will be able soon.

[bt1]

Crow,

Not sure on grapes ...it's new area for me so is it poss to get a basic method for doing grapes so got some ideas on what's needed how it's done sorta stuff.

I guess what are the normal drinks made for distillers would be a good start to work out if it appeals.

bt1

[crow]

@ Goldie try aproaching growers in the Swan Valley , they may let you clean up the vines after mechanical harvesting for free or quite cheap
@ bt Just make a very basic white wine for distilling . Just crush the grapes, strain if they are not white grapes
(You can strain anyway if you wish). There will be no need to add water or sugar and try to pitch with a wine yeast.
There is wild yeast on grapes but this is more often slow moving . Depending on the variety you may have to adjust the pH

[MacStill]

I am interested in putting some wine down, wanna try a red first up but unsure what is a good grape to begin.
I Have been looking at grape prices here and everything seems very expensive, haven't had much time to explore and find something decent but hopefully will be able soon.

Cheap Grapes WA :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Goldie]

Cheers Mac, all my last gumtree searches have been dismal.

[wynnum1]

Interesting comment on Bob Katters Facebook page" Kevin McCarthy My neighbor will be dumping 150 tonnes of Rhine Riesling on the ground shortly. No wineries want them, even though they are top quality. They have to be harvested , if left on the vine they continue to draw next years nutrients, so on the ground they will go. Anyone know anyone who wants them?"

[blond.chap]

Yes please

[crow]

Your kidding , wheres that? Yeah bloke working at a winery here was talking but yeast , said I need to get some wine yeast does that mob sell it he laught and said he'll bring me in a sandwich bag of it tonight :handgestures-thumbupleft: . I've been to busy to get on to any growers yet, got a 60 ltr bucket of apples to do as well (no fucking way to crush them though) :roll:
Edit reisling is top shit for brandy :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[BackyardBrewer]

60L of apple ? I'd do half as cider and half as apple calvados brandy.

Lucky mongrel!

[SBB]

got a 60 ltr bucket of apples to do as well (no fucking way to crush them though)

Anything wrong with running them through a juicer Crow????

[BackyardBrewer]

SBB it's tedious and time consuming and you end up with a lot of pulp that's fine if you're doing cider, but really hard to filter for a spirit.

I've done a lot of pears for perry cider from our tree through the juicer and it took forever to do and forever to clear and filter.

Crushing would be work heaps better.

[crow]

Well I got grapes , late yes I know but I'm amazed at how much juice they still have and being so late very very sweet

[emptyglass]

Whats the plan??

[crow]

maika de vino den maika da grappa :D

[emptyglass]

If anyone can, the brandy man can

The brandy man can, cos he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good.

You got just the still for the job mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[crow]

yeah but not here I don't hmm might be carting low wines home and all my wine making stuff has been re purposed :roll: .
Datsa ok we do it lieka day do in de old country .