GeorgiaTiger

Recipes 

Im a complete newb and am planning on doing my first batch of red wine using Welch's grape concentrate. I have been doing a lot of research and am wondering if it really makes a difference between glass and plastic carboys? I want to do this right so figured I would ask here!

Thanks guys!

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Allen
"Im an airlock sniffer...I sniff airlocks"
Primary 1: Empty
Primary 2 (LBK): Empty
On Deck - IPA of some sort
Bottled - Irish Red Ale
Wicked Gnome HomeBrewing

KBentley57

Recipes 

If you really want to do it right, buy a cheap wine kit. For the little extra money it costs, you'll get way better results. But on the plastic vs glass issue, you can ferment in either, but it needs to age in glass.

GeorgiaTiger

Recipes 

What kind of cheap wine kit? Can you make a suggestion? I like cabs so would want something like a cab.

__________________
Allen
"Im an airlock sniffer...I sniff airlocks"
Primary 1: Empty
Primary 2 (LBK): Empty
On Deck - IPA of some sort
Bottled - Irish Red Ale
Wicked Gnome HomeBrewing

GeorgiaTiger

Recipes 

Also, where would I get one? Suggest a website?

__________________
Allen
"Im an airlock sniffer...I sniff airlocks"
Primary 1: Empty
Primary 2 (LBK): Empty
On Deck - IPA of some sort
Bottled - Irish Red Ale
Wicked Gnome HomeBrewing

Yooper

Recipes 

This one's not bad for a cheapo: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/world-vineyard-french-cabernet-sauvignon.html

It's not very complex, but it's fast and easy and about the cheapest wine kit around. A wine kit makes 6 gallons, so you'd need a 6 gallon carboy (glass or plastic, doesn't matter, but it has to be a carboy).

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Broken Leg Brewery
Giving beer a leg to stand on since 2006

saramc

Recipes 

Wine kits come in two thoughts....an equipment supply kit vs the actual wine itself. You can also get a combo of equipment with a basic wine kit for a goid price. If looking for a wine product, not the equipment, it all depends on where you live. US has a wide selection while Canada has some different and same product lines, vice versa.

If looking for a cabernet, go for midline, something in the $100 range. This will yield five or six gallons, 25 vs 30 bottles. As a beginner, I would not recommend dealing with skins, it can overwhelm some. But, be prepared for the aging of a year minimum. When you run i.to products marketed as four week, six week, etc...that is not a timeframe of readiness for consumption. The exception being the mist/twist style kits. Consider that a low end product needs just as much aging as a high end product.

And I use glass and BetterBottle type product...do not use plastic water bottles except for emergency racking. Just my two cents....I find if I have an empty carboy I fill it, so the water bottle keeps me with a wee bit more money in my pocket.

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Motto: quel che sara sara

DoctorCAD

Recipes 

Look on the main page for Vendor List and start picking items and ingrediants.

Oh, and you can use plastic Better Bottles for wine.

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Just because something CAN ferment, does not mean it SHOULD be fermented.

GeorgiaTiger

Recipes 

So I CAN use plastic for making and fermenting? Im confused...kbently says it needs to age in glass...is he talking about once its done and bottled? I would definitely use glass bottles.

Sorry Im so stupid with this, but Im trying to learn.

__________________
Allen
"Im an airlock sniffer...I sniff airlocks"
Primary 1: Empty
Primary 2 (LBK): Empty
On Deck - IPA of some sort
Bottled - Irish Red Ale
Wicked Gnome HomeBrewing

saramc

Recipes 

I have aged in BB for a year + with no issues. Many people prefer glass, but if you visit the BetterBottle website you will see that aging is fine. A matter of preference. Plastic bottles, like that of a office water bottle are a no go.

__________________
Motto: quel che sara sara

KBentley57

Recipes 

It's cool, don't worry.

What they are referring to is the primary fermentation period, that last only a few weeks. In this case, since the yeast are actively producing much CO2, there is no harm of oxygen spoiling the wine, so it doesn't matter that it is in either a bucket or in a carboy. Once that stage has subsided, you will rack into a glass carboy to ferment to completion, and to let clear. It is likely that you will rack it again to either the same carboy or a new, clean one a few times over a span of many months before you bottle it.

You've got a bit of reading to do! But that's the fun part.