Homemade wine can be made from a variety of ingredients, including fresh fruits and juice. Making wine from fruit juice is also an inexpensive and quick method for experimenting with different flavors. This method can be used for a number of grape varieties, and it is an excellent way to spread out the winemaking season or to get access to wines that are difficult to find in your local area.
How to Make Homemade Juice Wine
The first step in making homemade juice wine is to gather all the supplies you need for the project. This includes a bottle of juice, an airlock and fermentation lock, and some yeast. You can also purchase a kit that comes with these items, as well as other components to help you make the wine.
How to Make Homemade Wine From Frozen Juice Concentrates
One easy and economical method of preparing homemade juice wine is to use frozen juice concentrates found in most grocery stores. These are concentrated juices that have been diluted with water and sugar to make them easier to process and use in winemaking. The juices are usually low in preservatives, so they’re good for making wine from a variety of fruits.
Once you have your ingredients ready, it’s time to get started! Combine the thawed juice concentrate, lemon juice and sugar in a container that can hold about 48 ounces. This is an ideal size to use for smaller batches, and it is a great place to start if you are new to winemaking.
Next, add wine yeast according to the directions on the package. Keep the thawed juice at a comfortable room temperature and check it frequently to make sure the yeast is growing well. Remove the stopper as needed to stir the fermenting liquid and to siphon out any lees that may have settled to the bottom.
When the yeast has been active for about a day, it should begin to emit a light foam of carbon dioxide that signals the beginning of the fermentation process. This is when the wine begins to smell and taste alcoholic.
After a few days, the bubbles should stop and the wine is ready to drink! You can enjoy this beverage with or without ice, and it’s a great alternative to store-bought table wine.
How to Rack Your Homemade Juice Wine
Once the yeast has finished eating all of the sugars from your liquid, it will have produced a layer of sediment at the bottom of the bottle or jar. You can see this sediment if you remove the top of your bottle and look at it from underneath. You will also notice a small amount of cloudiness in the mixture.
This is an important step, as it will allow you to separate out the yeast from the rest of your wine. The yeast will then be able to grow and multiply, eventually producing your desired alcohol level.
Once the fermentation is complete, you can tinker with your recipe by adding more juice concentrate or different types of sugar and fruits to get the best flavor. Just be careful not to overdo it or your homemade juice wine will be too sweet.