Welch's Grape Juice Wine

[HVCBrewing]

For wines you need alcohol fermentation to complete before moving to clarifying steps. Wine makers do cold stabilize, which involves holding the wine at a cold temperature (28-40) for 3 weeks. This will cause Tartaric acids to crystalize and fall out of suspension. It has a minor clarifying effect. It's not something to consider with a fermenting wine. Let it complete, settle and go from there.

 

[NeverDie]

OK, I stand corrected. Looking into it, it's about $11 for a 4L bottle of Carlo Rossi, which may (?) be one of the least expensive. I had thought it was closer to $7.

I looked at some of that cheap Carlo Rossi in the store today, and guess what? Only 6.5% ABV! No wonder it's inexpensive. And that's for Sangria. Imagine how dilute it will be after fruit and maybe even ice are added.

So, I take it all back. Not really comparable I now think.

 

[MiBeerMan]

Has anybody ever used Vintners Best fruit Wine Base?

 

[shovelheadfreak]

My 2nd attempt may be going down in flames. Made this on 3-19-19 but used 100% fruit juice instead of concentrate. Used 2-1/2 gallon containers so no water. Stirred the sugar in some warm juice to dissolve the sugar. Added other items and let sit for 1 day then added the yeast stirred into small amount of water and added to the container. BG was 1.099 and just racked it this morning 9 days later and the SG was 1.100. This never did much bubbling ever. So I ask what did I do wrong?

 

[z-bob]

My 2nd attempt may be going down in flames. Made this on 3-19-19 but used 100% fruit juice instead of concentrate. Used 2-1/2 gallon containers so no water. Stirred the sugar in some warm juice to dissolve the sugar. Added other items and let sit for 1 day then added the yeast stirred into small amount of water and added to the container. BG was 1.099 and just racked it this morning 9 days later and the SG was 1.100. This never did much bubbling ever. So I ask what did I do wrong?

What kind of fruit juice? Sounds like it had preservatives in it.

 

[shovelheadfreak]

Langers Concord Grape Juice. Bottle says no sugar, no colors, no flavors or preservatives. Pasteurized.

 

[z-bob]

Langers Concord Grape Juice. Bottle says no sugar, no colors, no flavors or preservatives. Pasteurized.

Then I guess your yeast was dead; you can try again rather than dump it. Dump a packet of yeast in about 1/3 cup of 95 to 100 degree water. Give it a few minutes then stir it up. Wait 10 minutes (you should see some activity by now) then add about a half a cup of your juice. Wait another 10 minutes, then stir it into your fermenter.

 

[shovelheadfreak]

OK guess time will tell. Thanks Z. Using RED STAR Premier Rouge yeast dated 12/2021.

 

[HVCBrewing]

One reason to rehydrate yeast, as z-bob described, is to confirm the yeast is active. You can also build a larger yeast colony by repeating the cycle several time. Say 1/4-1/2 a cup of the wine must every 15 minutes. After several rounds you should have a good indication if the yeast is both viable and able to digest the must.

 

[shovelheadfreak]

Is the RED STAR the proper yeast to be using? I used yeast nutrient also.

 

[z-bob]

I'm not familiar with RS Premier Rouge, but it is a red wine yeast; should be fine. But I think red wine yeast like warmer temperatures than white wine yeasts. I use whites for everything because even my red wines tend to be "Nouveau" style (not much tannin, drink it young)

 

[MiBeerMan]

so if i were to want a more sweet wine compared to a dry wine, what is better to do, cut the primary off around 1.010 or so or let it ferment dry and then backsweeten? I'm going to try another shot at this using aldi Grape juice and frozen concentrate to boost alcohol.

 

[z-bob]

IMHO, you ferment it as dry as the yeast will go. Let it clear, add sulfites and preservatives, and sweeten it to taste. (it won't take as much sugar as you think) Wait another week to make sure the yeast doesn't wake up again, and bottle it.

 

[modelafish]

Is anyone else having problems sourcing their juice ? I was nosing around the Walmart website (found a great deal on 10 lbs of honey), which has much more than what is available in stores, and it seems all the white grape juice is either a "cocktail" mix, or it has sulfites. They have Welch's, Ocean Spray, and their own brand; but only the concord seems to be available in a useful configuration. The cocktail mix might be "100% juice", but it's like 4-5 different kinds of juice. I only found the white grape with peach to be 100% juice and no sulfites.

 

[Davedrinksbeer]

Is anyone else having problems sourcing their juice ? I was nosing around the Walmart website (found a great deal on 10 lbs of honey), which has much more than what is available in stores, and it seems all the white grape juice is either a "cocktail" mix, or it has sulfites. They have Welch's, Ocean Spray, and their own brand; but only the concord seems to be available in a useful configuration. The cocktail mix might be "100% juice", but it's like 4-5 different kinds of juice. I only found the white grape with peach to be 100% juice and no sulfites.

I used the Orchard’s canned Frozen Concord concentrate. I Made a test 3 gallon batch
(Used 6 cans I think)and it came out tasting pretty good.
I back sweeten with 2 cans.
My neighbor and wife love it.

 

[Davedrinksbeer]

 

[Brewbuzzard]

Is anyone else having problems sourcing their juice ? I was nosing around the Walmart website (found a great deal on 10 lbs of honey), which has much more than what is available in stores, and it seems all the white grape juice is either a "cocktail" mix, or it has sulfites. They have Welch's, Ocean Spray, and their own brand; but only the concord seems to be available in a useful configuration. The cocktail mix might be "100% juice", but it's like 4-5 different kinds of juice. I only found the white grape with peach to be 100% juice and no sulfites.

Have you tried frozen?

 

[modelafish]

Have you tried frozen?[/Q

I used the Orchard’s canned Frozen Concord concentrate. I Made a test 3 gallon batch
(Used 6 cans I think)and it came out tasting pretty good.
I back sweeten with 2 cans.
My neighbor and wife love it.

I can find the concord OK. It's the white grape that I wanted to try.

 

[z-bob]

Is anyone else having problems sourcing their juice ? I was nosing around the Walmart website (found a great deal on 10 lbs of honey), which has much more than what is available in stores, and it seems all the white grape juice is either a "cocktail" mix, or it has sulfites. They have Welch's, Ocean Spray, and their own brand; but only the concord seems to be available in a useful configuration. The cocktail mix might be "100% juice", but it's like 4-5 different kinds of juice. I only found the white grape with peach to be 100% juice and no sulfites.

Have you looked at Aldi? Their white grape juice works just fine; it's what I blend with purple grape juice.

Sulfite is probably okay.

 

[modelafish]

Have you looked at Aldi? Their white grape juice works just fine; it's what I blend with purple grape juice.

Sulfite is probably okay.

Their closest store is 700 miles away, so....... no. I just checked Albertsons, so Winco is next.

 

[Intheswamp]

Just read all 1040 posts over the last two days. I'm about to try this. I've made mead but never wine, but I guess mead is honey wine, eh? Anyhow, after going through all of these posts I figured I was entitled (aren't we all entitled ) to post here. Anyhow, it gives the thread a bit of a bump for wine-newbs like me.

If I can find some white grape/peach I'm going for a gallon of it and probably a gallon of the regular concord. We'll see. First I've got to look through my old (seven-year-old) mead making supplies that have been sitting on the sideline for quiet a while. I know I need to get some yeast, but I'm wondering about the additives and their shelf life. Gotta get around to taking inventory...

 

[Brandon Boyd]

Just read all 1040 posts over the last two days.

That's commitment right there!

I have one of these Welch's Wines going right now. It's been in secondary for about 5 months and I should be going into bottles soon.

BB

 

[Intheswamp]

That's commitment right there!

I have one of these Welch's Wines going right now. It's been in secondary for about 5 months and I should be going into bottles soon.

BB

Yeah, and I think I'm going to need new glasses after reading through all of it!!!!

 

[Lalo]

I've been reading this thread and was wondering if anyone has experimented adding Welsh's grape juice to beer during fermentation. I am using Nelson and Hallertau Blanc in a pale ale and was wondering about adding some grape juice...if anyone has tried it, how was it? Do you get some grape notes through the fermentation?

 

[z-bob]

I've been reading this thread and was wondering if anyone has experimented adding Welsh's grape juice to beer during fermentation. I am using Nelson and Hallertau Blanc in a pale ale and was wondering about adding some grape juice...if anyone has tried it, how was it? Do you get some grape notes through the fermentation?

Are you trying to recreate Malt Duck? (I've wondered about that, myself)

 

[Lalo]

Are you trying to recreate Malt Duck? (I've wondered about that, myself)

I never heard of Malt Duck! I just googled it, and a review was not very promising: "...if you enjoy grape juice, you could do worse."

Actually I am looking to add some grape notes to a beer (in addition to Nelson and Hallertau Blanc hops) and was wondering, short of adding some late harvest Riesling juice to the fermentor, if it could be done cheaply with store-bought grape juice. I'm sure someone has tried this before but I haven't found any record searching this forum and elsewhere. BTW, I think Malt Duck adds the juice at bottling, so they must kill the yeast first to avoid refermentation. I'd need to add it during fermentation to avoid bottle bombs later!

 

[DixieHellcat]

Cleaning out my pantry and found a 2L bottle of Welch's I bought for my mom (she passed a few months ago) I'm not crazy about drinking it, so thinking I might try making some wine out of it. It's either that or pitch it, and I am thrifty by nature. lol. Stay tuned!

 

[Blacksmith1]

My wife hates concord grape juice and jelly. She like the grapes and the wine made out of them tho. Go for it.

 

[DixieHellcat]

I'm told it will likely turn out fairly sweet, which suits me fine. Was a bit worried that it didn't start bubbling right away (impatient hellcat is impatient, what can I say) but this morning it was getting busy!

 

[se7enack]

You can make this super simple and cheap without all the pomp and circumstance with no equipment and 3 ingredients.

A bottle of Welch's Frozen Grape Juice Wine
1-1/2 lbs granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon of yeast (champaign or plain old bread yeast)

1. Dump out 2 cups of the grape juice from the Welch's bottle.
2. Add the sugar and yeast to the same bottle.
3. Put the lid on tight and shake well for 2 minutes.
4. Back off the lid a half turn, so you can hear air escape when you squeeze the bottle.
5. Store in a dark place at over 65ºF for 30 days.

Now pour into a glass slowly so as not to upset the sediment that's on the bottom and enjoy!