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Can I make wine from frozen grapes?
Yes. Frozen grapes can be obtained from online suppliers. They are too expensive for commercial production but
quite suitable for the home winemaker. They also give you the option of making wine out of season. Make sure
you are buying crushed frozen grapes and not a chemically treated concentrate. You thaw the must and let it warm
up to at least 65F before you add yeast for fermentation.
Can I make wine from concentrates or juice?
While white wine works well from fresh or frozen juice, we do not recommend making red wine from concentrates
or juice.
Where can I get yeast from?
You need wine making yeast. There are hundreds of different yeasts available and choosing the right one for your
grape variety and wine style is a matter of artistry and experience. Yeast is supplied in freeze-dried packages which
can be stored for many years. Follow the manufacturer instructions for rehydration and add to the grapes in the
GOfermentor JR to start the fermentation. There are many online suppliers for yeast and other wine making
supplies.
How much yeast do I need?
Typically you need 10 grams of dry yeast for 100lb of grapes.
What other additives do I need besides yeast?
Besides yeast you need to add some yeast nutrients. Typical nutrients are dynastart, goferm. You can purchase
these from online wine making suppliers. Check the manufact
urer’s
instructions for amounts needed. Typically, the
yeast nutrients are added and mixed into the grapes right before the yeast addition. You need to measure pH of
the grapes and adjust by adding tartaric acid if needed. Winemakers add some potassium sulfite to the grapes to
prevent oxidation and spoilage but we discourage this practice. The sealed GOfermentor JR liner will provide
sufficient protection.
Why does wine contain sulfites?
We have all seen the warning labels on wine bottles. Potassium sulfite is added to wine during the fermentation
and aging process and then again at bottling. The sulfite is really a preservative that prevents oxidation of the wine
due to air contact. With the closed GOfermentor JR system you minimize air contact so you can make sulfite-free
or very low sulfite wine. The key is to avoid air contact. You should add yeast as soon as possible to avoid the
grapes oxidizing and to avoid the growth of undesired organisms. After fermentation press the wine into a closed
container and avoid any headspace where air could contact the wine. GOfermentor aging liners are a cheap and
reliable solution. Also, pay attention during bottling to minimize air contact. You may want to add a slight amount
of sulfite at bottling if your procedures are not perfect.
Cannot get a sample
–
clogged?
It is possible for some skins to get into the sample line and prevent you from getting a sample. This is easy to fix.
The blockage is usually in the quick-connect fitting. Simply unscrew this fitting off the cap and flush it with water.
Check that it is clean and replace on the cap. Now the sample should come out freely in the hand sampler