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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] winemaking book list

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  • From: Pat Armstrong <rancher89@gmail.com>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] winemaking book list
  • Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:49:03 -0400

So far, we've only made wine from kits, and mostly those that are on sale/out of date...we just buy fresh yeast and we've been good to go.

We've been making a lot of beer as well, some of it from scratch, no kit.

Next year we will plant hops and hopefully we will start producing some fruit, other than the Asian pears.  We have hardy kiwi, blackberry and blueberries planted.  

Jerusalem artichokes are a possible future beer base, I've got a large plot of them going.

We've already branched out into ginger beers with spectacular success.  (which is very inexpensive to make from scratch, no kit--I'm rooting some ginger, not sure how it will go, but I'm assuming it won't be hardy in Z 7b??)

Kit wines I've enjoyed making, outside of the French/Australian Merlots/Cabs/Malbecs:

Mango Mint--light, dry, fruity but not overly sweet.  This is getting better and better as it ages, even better than the Cab Blanc that I spent twice as much on....The reviews get progressively better from friends.  I can see making a similar wine from pear....

Hard cranberry lemonade--this is like champagne, with a kick, no surprise since it uses champagne yeast....  EVERYONE liked it and I ran through a 5 gallon batch quicker than anything else I've made.  4 week turnaround, can't be beat.  Problem:  Vinoka isn't making it anymore.  I bought the last two kits at my local supply at 50% off yesterday.  THIS is what we will be toasting with at New Years.....I need to find a supply of cranberry concentrate.....without added sugar.  (Maybe a good blueberry wine idea in the future??)

I look forward to trying out new, from scratch recipes...we've only been brewing since last December, I figure the new year will be a good time to branch out....

The yeast.....that's one of the key things to wine, make sure it's fresh and the type to give you the results you want.

Half of my not large kitchen has been turned into a brewing station....

Pat  

Z 7b

On Sat, Oct 16, 2010 at 2:56 PM, Richard MURPHY <murphman108@msn.com> wrote:
Hi Guys (and Betsy)
 
I have 14 different books on winemaking, but these four are the best at explaining the Hows and Whys.
 
"Winemaking" by Stanley Anderson and Dorothy Anderson. (I 'toilet trained' with this book in 2005)
 
"The Complete Handbook of Winemaking" by the American Wine Society. (very useful, lots of info, odd layout)
 
"Winemaking at Home" by Homer Hardwick. (first printed in 1954, then 1972. The author is a 'smart, regular guy'. Good.)
 
"Progressive Winemaking" by Peter Duncan and Bryan Acton" (Excellent but sophisticated. Read last)
 
I don't believe I spent over $6.00 on any given book. I bought them from Alibris.com and Powells.com
 
There is also an amusing book called, "The official guide to wine snobbery", if anybody gives a crap about that stuff.
 
My wines are popular with my friends and neighbors, and I am currently looking into getting a Farmer Winery permit.
 
Betsy, and pals; once you learn the basics of winemaking (it isn't hard) you might be hooked on it. Especially because you won't be making Grape wines, most likely. Using fruit for wine, YOU make the rules and determine what is good and what isn't. Don't despair if your first batch or two ends up in the drain. Keep your batches down to one gallon each until you can play without looking at sheet music. Keep a journal to avoid repeating mistakes.
 
Glug, burb, ahhhhh !!
 
Murph
 
 
Murph


R A Murphy Jr



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