Apple tree wine recipe help!

[ErinRae]

Hi,

I'm collecting my neighbours apples hoping to make a nice apple wine..or a apple-other fruit wine. I'd like to make a 5 gallon batch. This is my first time making a batch this big of non-kit wine and am hoping to receive some tips and thoughts about ingrediants and amounts...

I have about 12 pounds of apples..half of very tart and the other half are tart but do have a bit of sweetness. I'm planning on just chopping and freezing them..then mushing them when they defrost. Im thinking I would need at least 20 lbs for a 5 gallon?

Because these apples are so tart...I was gonna mix in a 2nd fruit that was really sweet...I was thinking canned pears (with the juice in the can). Has anyone tried that?

I'm just unsure about the fruit amounts for a 5 gallon...and worried that I won't put in enough. And also the additional sugar?

Whats does acid blend do? Do I need this? What about tannin? I have some raisons I can dump in as well.

Thanks for any tips!

 

[medwayimports]

12 pounds of apples equal about 1gallon of juice

 

[novalou]

Visit Jack Jeller's website, you'll find some recipes there.

If your apples are tart I would not add the acid blend when you start the wine. Wait until it ferments out, see if you need additional "bite" and add if needed.

The raisins would give your wine more body. Tannins add flavor and aid in body.

 

[Yooper]

I use about 6 pounds of apples per gallon. I have a crabapple wine recipe posted, and my apple wine is the same recipe, using windfall apples instead of crabapples.