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["bert dunn" <helbert@idirect.com>]

I have never had this elderberry goo.

I strip all berries from the 'umbrellas' with a fork- thus no stem material. Stem material may be the problem

Elderberry wine blended say 15% by volume enhances 'kit' Cab Sav wine. Asippin on a glass right now.  

Miekal, what is a citrus cleaner?   Cheers        Bert

 

Bert Dunn  Box 352 Schomberg    LOG1T0     1-905-880-4453     

www.hardygrapes.tottenham.on.ca
Think Blending-Not Varietals

 

From: mIEKAL aND

To: North American Fruit Explorers

Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 1:01 PM

I've found that the riper the elderberries the less goo that is produced.  Also, the last two years, I used a steam juicer to extract the juice & that makes a tremendous difference in the amount of goo.  However, the steam juicer  produces a much different wine than using whole fruit in the primary, I've found it to have a lot less tannins.

~mIEKAL

Also if you want to use something organic for cleaning the glassware, I've found that the citrus cleaners work quite well.

On Dec 11, 2006, at 11:42 AM, Michelle Horner wrote:

I don't remember if it was members on this list or the "grow wine" list that commented earlier this fall about the gummy residue when dealing with elderberries.  Well, I had the same experience and had a huge mess trying to clean up my initial utensils.  My primary fermentor is still sitting in the kitchen with gummy on its sides and I just have not had the heart to tackle it.  Of course I was dreading my 1st rack--I had a 5 and 6 gallon carboy both with elderberry young wine going.  I could see the same green gummy stuff adhered to the sides from the shoulder to the mouth.  UUGGH.  I was figuring I'd have to sacrifice the carboys, and I dreaded the thought of gumming up anything else!  Well, its a miracle!!  In desperation I put about 3/4 cup of Oxy-Clean powder (detergent enhancer) in the 5 gallon carboy.  It is as clean as a whistle!!  I recycled it to the 6 gallon, added some water to the top.  It is also clean as a whistle!  3rd recycle into that nasty primary fermentor--its soaking right now, but looking good.  yipppppeeeeeee!!!!

 

Michelle Horner  zone 4/5 SE WI