Watermelon Wine Recipe - Watermelon is not just for eating!

[homebrew4less]

Watermelon Wine -- 1 Gallon

 

q      2 qts. Watermelon Juice

q      2 qts. Water

q      1 1/2 pounds sugar

q      2 1/2 tsp Acid Blend

q      1/8 tsp Tannin

q      1 tsp nutrient

q      1 Campden tablet (crushed and powdered)

q      1 pkg wine yeast (1 pack is good for up to 5 gallons of juice)

 

Starting SG 1.085

 

   1. Cut melons into quarters, remove all rind parts entirely and discard seeds. Cut meat of melons into cubes.
   2. Using nylon straining bag, mash and squeeze out juice into primary fermentor. Keeping all pulp in primary, tie bag and place in primary.
   3. Stir in all other ingredients EXCEPT yeast. Cover Primary.
   4. After 24 hours add yeast. Cover Primary
   5. Stir daily and check S.G.
   6. When ferment reaches S.G. of 1.040 (3-5 days) lightly press juice from bag. Siphon wine off sediment into glass secondary and attach airlock.
   7. When ferment is complete (S.G. dropped to 1.000 -- about 3 weeks) siphon off sediment into clean secondary and reattach airlock.
   8. To aid clearing siphon again in two months and again if necessary before bottling.

[atteberryrc]

Hi I have been wanted to make a Watermelon wine, about how many Lbs of watermelon will it take to make enough juice for a 5 gal batch. Also I am new to this game, does the type of wine yeast make a huge difference or is any wine yeast good. If I need something specific for fruit wine, what is the best?

Thanks for the help   

[wvbrewer]

Do some researech on some internat sites.  Try winemaking talk or look for Jack Kellers site.  If you can find what you are looking for try using Lalvin EC-1118 it is a basic go to yeast although it will ferment out 100% so you will have to back sweeten.  I read somewhere its about 1 and a half good size mellons for one gallon of juice.

Check this out

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8241

http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/reques11.asp

Dave

[PetenNewburg]

Dave,

  Thank you for responding to this question.  I have no experience with wine other than my Hard Cider beer/wine.  That was very accidental!  I have 2 wine kits to try.  Just don't have the time right now.

Pete

[atteberryrc]

I'm in the Military and right now i'm stationed in Korea, I have kind of picked up wine making as a hobby. I have order most of what I need from homebrew4less but I have some questions and would really like to talk to someone or have email contact with them. The time difference makes it hard but the number on the website doesn't seem to work even if I stay up late to call. Any suggestions?

If someone from homebrew4less wants to email me its atteberryrc@gmail.com ...also I started a blog with the guys that help me its www.firedogwinery.blogspot.com ...oh if the blog name didn't give it away i'm a military firemen

[NelsonC79]

atteberryrc:

Besides champagne yeast, you could also give Red Star Côte des Blancs or Lalvin 71B-1122 Narbonne a try.

[wvbrewer]

It maybe a good idea to use a flavor pack after you have stablized your wine for a couple of week, bcause the fermentation process sometimes removes most of the fruit flavor.