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Peach Wine - First Timer

Discussion in 'Winemaking Forum' started by karch, Aug 31, 2015.

 

  1. #1
    karch

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Aug 31, 2015
    Came into a decent amount of peaches and decided to try out a peach wine. Did a little bit of internet browsing to find a recipe I thought sounded good, yet simple enough for a first time wine.

    This is the original recipe (5 gallons):
    -13 lbs. of peaches
    -10 lbs. of sugar
    -1 tbsp. Yeast Energizer
    -1 tsp. Pectic Enzyme
    -2 ½ tbsp. Acid Blend
    -1 tsp. Wine Tannin
    -1 Packet of Wine Yeast: EC-1118
    -10 Campden Tablets (5 prior to fermentation and 5 at bottling time)

    I converted the recipe to make two gallons. It went pretty smooth for my first wine try. Only mistake so far is that I prepared two gallons of water, instead of one > adding fruit > topping off to two gallons, so as I added the peaches into the fermentation bucket, I got a bit of spillover.

    Here's the peach must after ~16 hours, getting ready to add yeast:
    [​IMG]

    Twenty four hours after pitching yeast, there was a lot of activity and bubbling coming out of the fermentation bucket. I'll update/add to this post when I rack from the fermentation bucket in a few days.

    Karch
     
  2. #2
    decoleur

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Aug 31, 2015
    I just did this a couple of weeks ago, same recipe and also downsized it. I wish I have used the mesh bag. When I racked it off of the fruit I was down to .982 with an ABV of 14+% I am wondering if I should have caught it earlier because most of the peach is gone and it is really dry. I am waiting for the time to filter it again and then bottle it.

    Let us know how yours goes.
     
  3. #3
    karch

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Aug 31, 2015
    Will do! It still smells really peachy, I hope that flavor stays.

    thanks for the reply.
     
  4. #4
    Yooper

    Ale's What Cures You! Staff Member  

    Posted Aug 31, 2015
    You mean .9982? or .992? It's not possible for it to be .982. But .992 sounds about right.

    You may not have to filter it (do you have one, or can you borrow one?). I think peach will throw quite a bit of lees for quite a while, and should clear with some time. I'd just rack whenever lees got to be 1/4" thick, or after 60 days if there are lees less than 1/4" thick.
     
  5. #5
    decoleur

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Aug 31, 2015
    Thanks for the feedback Yooper, I will take another look at my hydrometer and confirm and rack when appropriate. Not to derail the thread but... (He does it anyways) My biggest concern is that I have 2 gallons in a 3 gallon carboy. What should I do with all that headspace?
     
  6. #6
    Yooper

    Ale's What Cures You! Staff Member  

    Posted Sep 1, 2015
    Rack to two one gallon carboys right away. You want no more than about an inch or so of headspace below the bung once fermentation slows and stops.
     
  7. #7
    decoleur

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Sep 1, 2015
    Thanks Yooper,
    Racked mostly clean to a 1 gallon and a half gallon jug.
    The SG was .992, good call.
     
  8. #8
    karch

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Sep 2, 2015
    I racked the peach wine last night. It tasted like it has potential and had a great smell. It wasn't down to 0.99 (closer to 1.010), but I wanted to try and preserve some of the natural peach flavor. Because I made two gallons, I racked into two separate one gallon carboys. I'm going to let them age and settle for a while then re-rack. Will try and remember to post a picture when that happens.
     
  9. #9
    Yooper

    Ale's What Cures You! Staff Member  

    Posted Sep 2, 2015
    It won't stay at 1.010- it should go to .990 or so. You can sweeten later on if you want a sweet wine, after stabilizing it.
     
  10. #10
    decoleur

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Nov 22, 2015
    Mine went dry and smells great, but tastes really hot. Will that mellow out? Should I wait to bottle or just go for it....
     
  11. #11
    karch

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Dec 21, 2015
    Hey Everyone,

    After about 3.5 months of sitting in carboys, I racked the wine onto fresh carboys and will let it sit another 3 months before bottling.

    I pulled a little bit out and sampled it. It tasted pretty good with an obvious peach flavoring. Looking forward to how it tastes in 3 months. I added a picture of the wine pre-racked.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. #12
    Elkobrewer

    Supporting Member  

    Posted Dec 21, 2015
    Looks tasty
     
  13. #13
    decoleur

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Dec 21, 2015
    Did you use anything for fining?
     
  14. #14
    karch

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 19, 2016
    I bottled up the two gallons of wine and got 8 bottles out of it. I'll let it age in the bottle for at least 3 months before cracking into it.

    The flavor was good. I was happy with the peach flavor and aroma. Wine was crystal clear. I liked how it was dry, but the fruit flavor gave it just enough sweetness. Only critique I'd have of it is that it lacks some body. I'm hoping the body will increase in the bottle. Not sure how that works.

    I'll update again when I open the first bottle.
     
  15. #15
    ValdemarQ

    Member

    Posted Feb 19, 2016
    Hi, looks like you did well and have quality wine there!

    I have been making peach wine too, I did use old traditional recipe without adding any yeast, since peaches have wild yeast's on them, if they were not washed out. I did wrote everything in step by step guy, so if you anyone is going for another peach wine, feel free to use my tested recipe - http://www.moonshiners.club/peach-wine-recipe
     
  16. #16
    karch

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Apr 18, 2016
    Missed this last time.

    No, did nothing for fining. Cracked open the first bottle this weekend (the wait was killing me), I thought it tasted pretty good. Almost like a chardonnay with a peach scent/taste. I think it'll be delicious on a summer night garnished with a fresh peach slice.
     
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