Andy's Easy Homemade Apple Wine

Just the other day we were talking about the Apple Harvest Festivals I attended as a child when I lived in Southington, CT. I can remember how huge and delicious a tart Macintosh apple was and couldn't wait to bite into one. One thing led to another and Andy decided he was going to try his hand at some apple wine. After using up our apple supply to can apples and make apple-pear butter, we took a trip to the store and bought 16 large Macintosh apples.
I had written how many pounds that came to, but I organized my desk and that is long gone. (UPDATE 2016: I bought two 3 lb. bags of small apples. There was a total of 26 apples. I used 20 apples total or about 4-1/2 lbs.)  The whole time we were coring and crushing the fruit, the smell was incredible.This year has been a great one for fruits. The cherries, blackberries and muscadines we've used this year have been juicy and in abundant supply.

He used the same formula that he uses for his homemade blackberry and muscadine wines. Once the wine cleared, it was the prettiest pale golden yellow I had ever seen! Very delicious!

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 quart of crushed fruit per gallon of wine 
  • 1 pack yeast
  • 3 lbs. sugar per gallon of wine
  • water
ADDITIONAL ITEMS NEEDED:

  • Pillow case
  • 5 gallon bucket
  • 3 gallon wine jug
  • Airlock
We use our food processor to "crush the fruit. Place cored and sliced apples in a food processor.
We use a four cup measuring glass to put the batches in until we get a level quart. Line a 5 gallon bucket with a clean pillowcase. Pour 12 cups (3 quarts) of fruit inside the pillowcase to make 3 gallons of wine.
 Pour in 9 pounds of sugar on top of the crushed apples..

Pour pack of yeast on top of sugar. With a wooden spoon, blend well. Fill the bucket half full with warm water. Stir again. Twist the pillow case closed. Cover the top of the bucket. Andy uses a wire to tighten the cloth over the top to keep gnats out.


Every day, for five days, uncover and stir with a wooden spoon. On the next day, squeeze the juice out of the pillowcase filled with the crushed fruit and remove. Using a funnel, pour the liquid into a 3 gallon jug. Fill up with water to three gallons. 

 Seal off with an airlock.
I cannot wait to "sample" this when it quits processing! It smelled heavenly when we mixed it up.

Comments

  1. How long do you let sit in 3 gallon jug before you can try?

    ReplyDelete
  2. It sits longer than all that other fruit wines, I'd say at least six months. Now I will sample a glass before then. It turns a very pretty clear yellow when we final bottle it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Help! We made apple cider with a 3 layer steam juicer. We had approx 4 gallons accumulated Saturday evening and then had a hectic weekend and both thought the other canned the cider. Monday evening, i discovered the my stainless kettle was full of froth covered cider. Can I still do anything with this to create wine, after sitting for 3 nights? Nothing has been added to the cider. Its just natural yeasts and fermentation going on.

    Would very much appreciate your input. Is it viable or do I need to toss it? Thanks, Heidi ratherbfarming2day@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. keep going with process...that means it is fermenting...and your on your way.

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  4. Ok my wine is ready to bottle,which is the best way to get wine from 5 gal bottle without the sediment?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andy took a long piece of PVC pipe and capped both ends. He took a long piece (about 4’) of clear 3/8” hose and zip tied it to the pipe about 2” from the bottom of the bottle. That has worked great for us. :-)

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    2. Ill try that was thinking of buying a siphon pump??

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  5. What yeast do you use?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you're shooting for 12 to 13% you'll need a good Champagne yeast. Most other yeast's stall after 8.5%. Also add a yeast activator like a teaspoon of tomato paste (not sauce). Make a slurry with the paste, about 1/4 C water, stir or shake the gallon container. Also re-hydrate your yeast before adding by using about another 1/4 C water and let it sit for about twenty minutes and stir until creamy and add to must. Cap with a bubblier and you should see a blip begin in about 3-4 Hrs.

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