Brunello Italian Wine ... Yes, you CAN do this Three!

Disclaimer: This is NOT a technical article nor is it meant to be. I am simply demonstrating how I make wine using Wine Expert kits. I also make wine from "scratch" but will post about that later.

I keep forgetting how easy it is to make wine using the Wine Expert kits!  It actually takes more time to write about it than to do it! 

Be sure to read my first two posts on this subject before going on.  You can go to:
http://brewmaven.blogspot.com/2010/05/brunello-italian-wine-yes-you-can-do.html
http://brewmaven.blogspot.com/2010/05/brunello-italian-wine-yes-you-can-do_16.html

I started the wine on 5-16-2010.  Step one was completed on 5-23-2010. 

Step 2 was completed on 6-3-2010.  This involved "racking" the wine, which just means transferring it to a smaller carboy.  So I transferred it using a siphon to a 6 gallon glass carboy. 

But first you need to make sure you check the wine using a hydrometer.  A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the specific gravity (or relative density) of liquids; that is, the ratio of the density of the liquid to the density of water.  In this particular case we are using it to help us determine the alcoholic content and how much of the sugars the yeast have absorbed. 

For a more technical explanation go to:  http://www.timswineblog.com/

So the first reading on the hydrometer I had was 1.093.  After the fermentation "stops" the reading should be 1.010 or less.  This is all explained in the kit instructions.  Mine came in at 0.990 on 5-23-2010. 

After sanitizing any of the equipment I use, including the glass hydrometer, I poured about 8 ounces of wine into a 12 inch tall tube.  Then I recorded the number on the hydrometer that the wine comes up to.  The fun thing about testing with the hydrometer is I can not put the wine that I tested back in with the rest of the wine.  Oh darn!  That means I have to drink it.  ;-)  Even though the wine is just getting past the fermenting stage I can begin to taste some of the notes of it! 

If it matches the 1.010 or less on the hydrometer, you can transfer it to another carboy.  In this case I used a six gallon glass carboy.  To make it easier I used a syphon. 

Here you can see there is space left at the top.  Instructions say do NOT top it off at this point.  This is because the yeasts have just been moved around and could now be active again. 

So it's wait another 10 days. 

After ten days, check the specific gravity again using the hydrometer.  Again, I sanitized all my equipment before I began!  I checked it again the next day to make sure that it is the same.  If it is still going down, this means the yeast is still active. In my readings it was fine, and remained the same.

Then following the instructions I dissolved the contents of package package #2, the metabisulphite and #3 the package of sorbate in 1/2 c of cool water.  Yes, I did remember to sanitize my scissors and the cup! 

After carefully pouring this mixture in the carboy of wine I stirred it up for two minutes.  I use a stirring rod that my husband, Ken, made for me.  The stirring rod fits onto a standard electric drill.  The stirring drives off the CO2 and disperses the stabilizers.  I had to be sure to stir up the yeasts from the bottom. 

                                   

 
Next I added package #4, the isinglass clarifier.  Then I stirred again for two more minutes.  If I didn't add this and stirred it up very well, my wine may not clear so it's an important ingredient and step! 
 
That's it for this part which has been step 2 and 3.  Next step will be bottling! 
 
As I've said before, how is can you get?! 
 

Brunello Italian Wine ... Yes, you CAN do this Two!

Disclaimer: This is NOT a technical article nor is it meant to be.  I am simply demonstrating how I make wine using Wine Expert kits.  I also make wine from "scratch" but will post about that later. 

If you haven't done so already, you will enjoy reading the lead-in to this article:  http://brewmaven.blogspot.com/2010/05/brunello-italian-wine-yes-you-can-do.html

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Ah...so glad you decided you HAD to know how to make wine and save lots of money! 

First...do make sure you have sanitized everything.  It actually takes me longer to sanitize than start the wine.  That is the one caveat.  Keep your equipment clean and sanitized.  But you do that already when you bake bread right?  Or any cooking?  I mentioned this in my post on Pesach Mead (http://brewmaven.blogspot.com/2010/03/pesach-mead-ezzie-way.html) %20about in March 2010.

You'll need a few supplies and can go to the Wine Expert website for an idea of what you need.  Just click here to see Tim's blog (he's the lecturer I've heard 2 times now):  http://www.timswineblog.com/hi-im-tim.  If you want to contact Mr. Steve's to ask about his starter kits for making wine or beer go here: http://www.mrsteves.com/UpcomingEvents.aspx.  Or make it a point to visit your local wine and beer brewing supply store

Once all is sanitized, open your wine kit. 

Pull out the bags of the ingredients.  In the case of the Brunello Italian it was packets 1-4, and four packages of chips to simulate aging in oak barrels.  In this case it included:  Oak chips, 2 packs of Toasted Oak, and one of French Oak. 

Pour 2 litres of hot water in the bottom of the fermentor.  Then pour in packet 1 and stir well for 30 second. 

Add the juice...oh the juice.  OMG the juice is so heavenly...you'll never look at Welch's again!  The juices used in these kits are so rich, flavorful, and aromatic you'll just want to sit down and drink it!  But don't!  Pour it into the fermenter! 

As you can see in these pictures of Ken pouring in the juice, he is bent over and carefully pouring it in.  It's a heavy box so he gets to do this step! 

Still pouring. 

Then fill the bag that the juice was in with lukewarm water and fill the fermentor to the 6 gallon line. 

 

You can use a different type of fermenter.  I have several other fermenters some are plastic and some are glass and came from Mr. Steve's. 

Stir for about 30 seconds or a minute. 

Next open the oak chips packets and pour them in.  Note: if using scissors to open the packets, make sure you sanitize your scissors! 

Stir in the chips, getting them all submerged. 

"Pitch" the yeast.  This means open the yeast packet and sprinkle the yeast on the top.  DON'T STIR! 

In about 24-48 hours you will start to see some foaming action and smell a wonderful aromatic odor emitting from the fermentor.  Ahhhh.  Pure heaven to our noses!  I keep my packets and labels taped to the top of my fermenter along with the instructions just to make sure I don't lose anything. 

Now how long did that take? You spent 30 minutes or so sanitizing.  And then MAYBE 10 minutes to pour the ingredients and mix them.  That's it!  Now you let it sit for 7-10 days.  Then you will take a measure with your hyrdrometer.  If it's to the correct reading you'll go to step 2. 

I'll add more posts labeled Brunello Italian Wine Three and Four as I go through the next steps over the next 6-8 weeks.  Each step is easy and doesn't take much time at all.

Brunello Italian Wine ... Yes, you CAN do this!

OK! Listen up! WHY haven't you tried making your own wine yet? Times are tough, money is tight, and jobs are scarce! So again I ask again, "Why haven't you tried making your own wine yet?"


Ah, too complex you say? Bull.

Too expensive? Bull again.

No time? Triple bull! It takes less than two hours to get your first batch of wine going if using a kit.

However, I do suggest planning ahead. For instance if you want to make wine for your daughter's wedding (oh yes, you will want to trust me!), plan on starting the wine 3-6 months ahead, and even up to 1 year ahead. I'll explain more about this later on in this post. Think about it as you start looking at wedding facilities and reception halls...explain that you will be bringing your own "winery" wine. Oh yes, I am serious!

Making wine from a kit is far easier than making wine from the scratch...I mean the grapes. It's also easier than making beer, and only slightly more difficult than making bread...yes, even the Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day. So read on!

Last fall I attended (for the second time) a lecture by Tim, about how the folks of Wine Expert (a Canadian company) scour the world and select the juice they want for their kits. It was a "sold out" event (actually free, but there was standing room only. Spots were gone just 1 day after seat reservations opened)! The lecture was sponsored by Mr. Steve's where I buy my wine and beer making supplies here in York, PA.

Tim does a great lecture! He brings forth all manner of information of what makes a good vineyard a great place to grow grapes. He talks about how the weather, rain, drainage, type of soil, amount of sunshine come into play for fabulous wine grapes. We learn about the country, the terrain, the district, and the wide varieties of grapes. And he is funny! How can you not enjoy an evening like that?

Then we get to TASTE wines that are similar, but of course not as good as ours will be! LOL. We tasted wine paired with chocolate, fruit, cheese, etc. Sorry, no caviar! Darn! LOL. Think about that next time Wine Expert and Mr. Steve's! LOL.

Finally, we got to place our orders for these Selection International Series. Special warning here, no more of the Brunello is available (at the time of this post). These kits are strictly limited in number, another thing to keep in mind for that wedding! We've ordered kits from Wine Expert at these lectures before and have never been disappointed. They have other kits available year around too! Below are just a few of the types of wines we have made. With these more deluxe kits the labels come with the kits. We've used their regular wine kits also.

2009 was their first offering (special ordering) of Brunello Italian in four years! This is a wine that is deep, dark, and rich, with an abundance of dark fruit flavors, plum, a hint of cherry, and aged oak. So I had to buy 2 kits...one for drinking in 6 months or so (although their info says it's ready in 6-8 weeks) and one for setting back (once made) to age for a few years. Yes, we're that serious about this!

A good Brunello wine will set you back $49.99 a bottle and more. I paid $114.00 for each kit. One kit makes 33 (750 ml) bottles. So let's do the math...that's only $3.49 a bottle! And a little bit of your time.

Yes, there is a start-up investment of $100.00 for the supplies such as the fermenter bucket, a hydrometer (for measuring alcoholic content during the fermentation process), and a few other tools. But there are wine and beer supply stores that allow you to use their equipment and facilities for a few dollars more. This is especially popular for those wanting a fun group activity such as getting the wine bottled for a wedding!

As to bottles, I have only bought bottles one time, and that was when I wanted some blue splits (475 ml bottles). I usually just ask bartenders to save me some bottles and within a night or two I have plenty of bottles. I do try to bottle my wines into the proper shape bottles, but that's not necessary. I clean the bottles well, remove the old labels and sanitize them well before filling them. Again, $3.45 compared to $49.99 a bottle...isn't that worth your time? Not to metion the satisfaction of doing it yourself!

Many friends have certainly enjoyed my wines! Ha! you thought they only got bread didn't you? I gave a bottle of one of my wines to a friend. She wasn't listening well when I gave it to her. She drank it, then went around trying to find it in the wine stores in her area so she could buy more. Hello! I said I made it myself! LOL.

Another time I gave a bottle of one of a regular merlot to the V.P. at work as a Christmas present. He thanked me but didn't say anything for 6 months. I figured he probably thought it was not going to be good since it was "homemade." One day he came in, pulled me aside and said "I finally had the wine you gave me. I was sitting out by the lake and thought I would just have a glass of it. I finished the entire bottle! It was really good!" He had a touch of wonder in his voice! I was smiling all day, especially since he has a reputation of having very discerning taste!  

And when my husband started his consulting business, we held a launch party and served our homemade wines and beers to our guests and they loved it! 

I don't know how many people have asked to buy some of my wines, especially the Chocolate Raspberry Port!  This is a... very... BIG... NO! NO!  Federal regulations allow us to make 100 gallons per person in the residence. We can give it away, donate it (such as to a non-profit fundraiser), but sell it and you'll end up facing federal charges. But you CAN serve it at that wedding coming up!

Please understand, I am not bragging about my abilities in making these wines...instead I am bragging about how this company makes these kits so easy to use, and how you can save alot of money! 

So let's get started!   Go to the next post titled:  Brunello Italian Wine ... Yes, you CAN do this Two!  There you will be able to follow the easy process!