Champagne on Tap!

[passedpawn]

I make a moscato wine (white wine, back-sweetened), then I filter it through 5 micron and 0.5 micron (sterile) filters, then carbonate to about 40psi. It's a little sweet for champagne, but it's tasty

The truth is I gave up trying to bottle it. I have done it before and the gas goes by-by during bottling, and you're left with a tasty still-ish wine.

I really don't drink much of it myself. I've got a superbowl party coming up, so I made it for the fair ladies who I'm hoping come to the party. I know from past experiences that it's a winner.

 

[AkTom]

Do you use grapes or a kit?

 

[passedpawn]

Do you use grapes or a kit?

Kit. I'm not even sure how to get grapes or the juice. I'm interested in doing it, but my LHBS does not carry anything like that.

Do you buy grapes or juice?

 

[bmd2k1]

I make a moscato wine (white wine, back-sweetened), then I filter it through 5 micron and 0.5 micron (sterile) filters, then carbonate to about 40psi. It's a little sweet for champagne, but it's tasty

The truth is I gave up trying to bottle it. I have done it before and the gas goes by-by during bottling, and you're left with a tasty still-ish wine.

I really don't drink much of it myself. I've got a superbowl party coming up, so I made it for the fair ladies who I'm hoping come to the party. I know from past experiences that it's a winner.

Dig it! [emoji111]

Cheers!

 

[bkboiler]

Very cool! Love me some Muscat!

How do you like filtering? Are those single use filters? I priced some the other day at more beer and it seemed prohibitive for my turnover. ..

 

[RPh_Guy]

"Sterile" filter is 0.45 microns ?

 

[passedpawn]

"Sterile" filter is 0.45 microns ?

I rounded I said 0.5 from memory - the label on the bag of them just says "STERILE GRADE". The label on the course filters says "6-7 micron". I think the concept here is that it blocks yeast cells, which are 3-4 micron.

 

[Jayjay1976]

I love this idea, my wife would go nuts if we had good bubbly on tap! What kit are you using @passedpawn ?

 

[passedpawn]

Very cool! Love me some Muscat!

How do you like filtering? Are those single use filters? I priced some the other day at more beer and it seemed prohibitive for my turnover. ..

Yes, single use for sure. Filtering is alright - I've done beer a few times, but it's really unnecessary as my cold crash / gelatin procedure gets it plenty clear. But with white wine, I think it's mandatory. Here's a pic of filtering day. Wine had been in the keg for a few weeks. I dumped the first cup or two, then connected the plate filter with course pads and used CO2 to push it into another keg. Then I repeated with the sterile pads. This plate filter contains two filters actually - you can see wine coming in forks going in.

 

[passedpawn]

I love this idea, my wife would go nuts if we had good bubbly on tap! What kit are you using @passedpawn ?

This is the one. Note that this grape and the kit make a fairly sweet wine. If she likes the dry stuff, try something else. Also, there is a Pink Moscato that I've considered making both times I've made this. Maybe next time.

 

[AkTom]

Kit. I'm not even sure how to get grapes or the juice. I'm interested in doing it, but my LHBS does not carry anything like that.

Do you buy grapes or juice?

I just use kits for now. In Alaska, shipping is outrageous. I’m hoping to move to Texas this summer. Then I’ll try some grapes...

 

[bkboiler]

Wow this is awesome! Hopefully it's not too pricey for the filters. Mind if I ask the name/model?

I've made two reds from kits that cleared somewhat easily with finings and I made a strawberry and a raspberry wine last summer that took much longer to clear. Didn't even think about filtration since I had a recipe to follow. ..

 

[passedpawn]

Wow this is awesome! Hopefully it's not too pricey for the filters. Mind if I ask the name/model?

I've made two reds from kits that cleared somewhat easily with finings and I made a strawberry and a raspberry wine last summer that took much longer to clear. Didn't even think about filtration since I had a recipe to follow. ..

No idea the cost. I bought this plate filter many years ago. Filters as well.

 

[passedpawn]

I'm Leon Phelps, BTW.

 

[bkboiler]

Very timely advice before Valentine's day

 

[passedpawn]

Very timely advice before Valentine's day

Which also happens to be my 34th wedding anniversary

 

[balrog]

Happy anniv.

I put Edworts apfelwein out when the choir comes for a party, and I have to make sure certain sopranos have a ride home. I like the sparkling wine idea very much.

 

[bkboiler]

Nice! Congrats! Way ahead of me...
Need to start brewing my wife's fav (Oktoberfest) in advance of our October anniversary.. .may start in August for plenty of time to lager.

 

[bernardsmith]

But your wine needs to be perfectly clear - perfectly clear - before you can use sterile filters, doesn't it? Any trace of particles in the wine will clog those filters and then you have all hell to clean up.

 

[Maylar]

But your wine needs to be perfectly clear - perfectly clear - before you can use sterile filters, doesn't it? Any trace of particles in the wine will clog those filters and then you have all hell to clean up.

Absolutely true. Or filter multiple times, progressively smaller. I've only filtered once and even at 10 microns it made a mess.

 

[passedpawn]

But your wine needs to be perfectly clear - perfectly clear - before you can use sterile filters, doesn't it? Any trace of particles in the wine will clog those filters and then you have all hell to clean up.

Yep. In fact, it needs to be fairly clear before you use the course. But after weeks in the keg/keezer, it was ready. I had no problem with course or fine (sterile) filters - I dial the pressure to 2-3 psi and flow was consistent, but slow.

As I mentioned above, I ran a couple of cups into the sink before I connected the filters. That cleared any debris that settled.

 

[bernardsmith]

My comment was more for people on the forum who might smack their heads and say "Boy! There's the solution to backsweetening and carbonating. I gotta filter out the yeast" and then proceed straightaway to use a sterile filter while their wine is almost turbid with fruit and protein and tannin.

 

[passedpawn]

Note to anyone serving carbonated wine like this:

I carbonated to 35psi. It has just the right carbonation I think. But to serve it, I need to reduce the pressure to 12psi, pull the PRV to drain excess gas in tank. It will then come out of the tap well-carbed, but without becoming a foamy mess.

Eventually, I suppose the gas will come out of solution and go back to the headspace in the tank, and the bubbles in the wine will lessen. But the rate of effusion is limited by the increased density (gravity) of the sweetened wine, and will be negligible for an evening I think. I have flow control taps and they don't help when the gas is still pushing at 35psi.

Aaaaaand, that just made me think of Don Ho. Guess I'm dating myself here.

 

[applescrap]

Super cool. You never cease to amaze me with what you're up to. Man I bet that would go nice with a little piece of homemade cheese. I've been talking about having a keg of energy drink in my fridge for a couple years now. I love stuff like this. I am curious about buying white wine and carbonating it.