Order you juice now! It’s TIME!!!

Homemade Wine makers in the Tier, I have the list of juices and prices in my hot little hands so drop by the farm website at www.farmatnanticokecreek.com for ordering info. Here are some of the varietals, these are all 6 gallon pails of juice.

Reds

Alicante Bouschet
Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Nebbiolo
Pinot Noir

Whites

Chardonnay (our 2007 came out fabulously)
Muscat
Reisling
Trebbiano
Sauvignon Blanc

There are many others and they begin at $50.00 per pail, each pail will result in 25-30 .750 bottles of wine. We estimate that our cost per bottle for first timers (who will need to buy equipment) will be around $3.00 per bottle. After that you’ll have your juice costs and the nominal costs for the additives you’ll need for stabilization and sanitation.

The satisfaction of making it and enjoying the fruits of your labor…priceless.

Pick up will be here at the farm and orders and payment need to be received here by September 5th, 2008.

Wine making at home 101

Here is a link to our tutorial at Homemadewine.net. While there are parts that seems difficult I can assure you that the process is a simple mix, pour and measure that done once, will leave you with all the skills you need to make wonderful wine.

The equipment list and tutorial

August’s Wine of the month…Watermelon

Yield: One Gallon US
Beginning SG/PA: 1.085

Ingredients:
2 qts. watermelon juice
2 qts. water
1 1/2 lbs. sugar
2 1/2 tsp. acid blend
1/8 tsp. tannin
1 tsp. yeast nutrient
1 campden tablet, crushed
1 pkg. wine yeast

Instructions:

1. Cut melons into quarters, remove all rind parts entirely and discard seeds. Cut meat of melons into cubes.
2. Using nylon straining bag, mash and squeeze out juice into primary fermentor. Keeping all pulp in primary, tie bag and place in primary.
3. Stir in all other ingredients EXCEPT yeast. Cover Primary.
4. After 24 hours add yeast. Cover Primary
5. Stir daily and check S.G.
6. When ferment reaches S.G. of 1.040 (3-5 days) lightly press juice from bag. Syphon wine off sediment into glass secondary. Attach airlock.
7. When ferment is complete (S.G. dropped to 1.000 — about 3 weeks) syphon off sediment into clean secondary. reattach airlock.
8. To aid clearing syphon again in two months and again if necessary before bottling.

This wine is delightful! Those of us who plant watermelon each year always have an abundance. Now instead of woefully begging your neighbors to live on your extras, you can enjoy a taste of summer when the cool winds of fall start blowing in.  Enjoy!