Strawberry Banana Wine

[browning348]

First off I'm new to winemaking. I've done several small grape juice concentrate wines and some muscadine. I've branched out and I am trying a 4 gal batch of strawberry banana wine. First ferment is over and the must has been poured into a carboy. I tasted the wine and I obviously didn't put in enough fruit and possibly not enough sugar. OG is around 1.060. I know I can back sweeten with a simple syrup mixture, but my question is how can I add flavor to the wine? Can a juice concentrate be added? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[jensmith]

If you could post your recapie that would make ansering easier How much fruit per gal especially.
In general, with that low of a starting gravidy and being light in flavor, I would add a juice consentrate that would blend well with strawberry. Or more fruit Strawberries are light in flavor to start with so getting a good flavor can be difficult. Adding 100% fruit juice frozen concentrates adds both suger and flavor.
If you add the concentrate without stabalizers it will referment. So take that into consideration. I would not stabalize it yet. Let it ferment a little more. Unless you want that low an abv that is. Which is fine. Rack and clear, stabalize and then add the concentrate to taste.
You can also make an f-pack to add flavor as well. Do a search here, lots of info will pop up. If its confusing just ask for clarification. Someone will help you out!


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[browning348]

Thanks jensmith! 5 gal water, 5lb strawberries, about 3lb bananas. It's just now on to 2nd ferment so it's got a ways to go. I had to add some water to close the gap on the carboy so I went ahead and added 2 more pounds of sugar to raise the gravity, did a tsar and it's not as flavorless as I had thought. I think I'll add some kind of frozen juice concentrate, top it off and leave it be. Any suggestions on juice?

 

[jensmith]

Most lightly flavored wines have 2 1/2 to 3 pounds of fruit per galleon. There are exceptions. Strong flavored raspberries can be overpowering at 3 pounds per gal. Lightly flavored fruits like strawberies can not even be tasted at 3 pounds per galeon.
At less then 2 pounds per gal of strawberiies and bananas your wine will be very lightly flavored. Harder to taste the higher the abv.
Whatever juice you chose to add will have a huge impact on the flavor of your wine. The strawberrie flavor will disapere. Banana flavor will also be hard to detect. I am personally not a fan of strawberries, they tend to make my face swell.
Welches makes several 100% fruit juice frozen concentrates. They have a white grape and peach that would go nicely with your wine. Not sure if they have a strawberry one.

Fyi. 4 cans of welches frozen juice per gal of wine makes a very nicly flavored wine with no added suger. Fewer cans per gal needs suger to bring up the sg. This kinda translates into one can equals one pound of fruit. (Med flavored wine) Most bascic recapies call for 3-4 pounds of fruit per gal of wine. Just some random info


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[browning348]

I decided to pick some Welches grape concentrate. I wanted white grape because I really like the color, but unfortunately could not find it or any strawberry concentrate. I'm going to add 2 cans, let it sit and taste in a day or two to see if it's enough. If not I will add more form there. Thanks for all your advice. I'll post how it ends up.

On a different note, what is a good gravity to start with when making wine? Obviously different kinds have different numbers, but is there a gerneral concinsus?

 

[jensmith]

Sounds like a good plan!

Welches can be difficult to find at times:-(. Walmart usually has the best selection.

Starting sg between 1.085 to 1.100. General rule of thumb, lighter flavor fruit has a lower sg. Heavier flavored wines can take a higher sg.


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[browning348]

So I added 1 can of juice and tasted, much more flavor but needed just a little more umph. I added a second can and it's perfect. The grape juice seemed to bring out the strawberry and banana flavor. I went ahead and added 2 cups of sugar to raise the gravity, which I'll test shortly, and topped the 6gal carboy off with water. Can't wait for this to finish! I may even try to bottle and carbonate some of it. Lots of possibilities with 6gal!

 

[browning348]

So far so good. Checked the gravity and it's just under 5%, tasted and is good stuff. I took out about 20oz and put in the fridge for a while and it was a hit. I think it's on the right track. Just going to let it sit another month or so and then bottle. Thanks for the help!

 

[jensmith]

Glad to have helped. Enjoy!


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[browning348]

Are certain wines better young? I know some age for years but are lighter flavors better sooner than later?

 

[jensmith]

It depends on your taste. That said, white wines, low abv, and lower fruit per gal wines are earlyer drinking. Or simply do not improve lots with age.
Personally I like young wines better then aged ones. Even the heavy wines.



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[browning348]

Awesome! Between drinking them myself and giving out gifts, I won't have much to age!