A guide on how to make apple wine at home, including the necessary ingredients and equipment.
Checkout this video:
Introduction
Apple wine is a type of fruit wine made from apples. The sugar content in apples makes them ideal for fermentation and the production of alcohol. Making apple wine at home is a fun and rewarding project that you can enjoy with friends and family.
There are a few different methods for making apple wine, but the most common method is to use a combination of sweet and tart apples. The ratio of sweet to tart apples will depend on your personal preference. You can also add other fruits or flavors to your apple wine to create unique flavors.
Once you have gathered your ingredients, the first step is to clean and sterilize all of your equipment. This is important in order to prevent bacteria from contaminating your wine. After your equipment is clean, you will need to crush or chop the apples into small pieces. This can be done by hand or with a food processor.
Next, you will need to add the yeast to the apple mixture and stir gently until all of the yeast has dissolved. Once the yeast has dissolved, cover the mixture and allow it to sit in a warm place for 3-5 days so that the fermentation process can begin.
After 3-5 days, strain the apple mixture through a cheesecloth into another container. This will remove any solids that may have formed during fermentation. Cover the container tightly and store it in a cool, dark place for 3-5 months so that the flavors can develop.
After 3-5 months, bottle the apple wine and enjoy!
What You’ll Need
Before start making apple wine at home, you’ll need to gather a few supplies. You’ll need a fermentation vessel, like a food-grade plastic bucket or carboy, along with an airlock and stopper. You’ll also need some basics like a siphon hose and bottle filler, a hydrometer, and some bottles. Of course, you’ll need apples too!
Equipment
You’ll need a 5-gallon carboy, an airlock and stopper, a racking cane and tubing, and a funnel. You should be able find all of this equipment at your local homebrew supply store. You’ll also need a big pot (at least 8-quarts) for boiling the cider, and some bottles for storing the finished wine.
Ingredients
1 gallon of fresh apple cider
3-4 lbs of sugar
1 package of yeast
1/2 teaspoon of yeast nutrient
1/2 teaspoon of pectic enzyme
1/4 teaspoon of grape tannin
Water to make up one gallon
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making apple wine at home is a fun and easy project that anyone can do. You’ll need to gather some supplies and ingredients, and then follow the instructions below. With a little time and effort, you’ll have a delicious apple wine that you can enjoy for months to come.
Sanitizing the Equipment
Sanitizing the equipment is critical in making sure your final product is safe to consume. The good news is that sanitizing the equipment is easy to do. You will need a sanitizing solution that is made specifically for wine making. You can find this solution at any home brewing supply store.
1)Start by cleaning all of your equipment with hot soapy water. This includes the fermentation vessel, airlock, funnel, siphon hose, and hydrometer.
2)Once everything is clean, it’s time to sanitize. Fill your sink with hot water and add the recommended amount of sanitizing solution.
3)Submerge all of your equipment in the sink and let it soak for the recommended amount of time stated on the sanitizing solution bottle.
4)After the soak, rinse everything off with hot water and allow it to air dry on a clean towel or rack.
Making the Must
The first step is to make the must. You will need about 21 pounds of apples for every gallon of finished wine, so choose your apples accordingly. The varieties that are best for making wine are those that are high in sugar and low in acidity, such as Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty, Jonathan Apples, Braeburn, and Winesap. Stay away from Red Delicious apples, as they are too high in acidity.
Wash the apples thoroughly and cut them into quarters or eighths, depending on their size. There is no need to remove the seeds or cores. Place the cut apples into a food-grade plastic container or bucket and Crush them with a potato masher or your hands until they are a uniform pulp. If you want a clear finished wine, you can put the pulp through a food mill or strainer to remove the bits of skin and core.
Once the apples are crushed, stir in enough water to cover them by two inches (5 cm). Add one Campden tablet per gallon (3.8 L) of must and stir well. Cover the container tightly and let it sit for 24 hours..
Adding the Yeast
Once the must is cooled, it’s time to add the yeast. You can use any type of wine yeast, but we recommend a Lalvin EC-1118 yeast. This is a tough yeast that can withstand high sugar levels and produces a lot of alcohol. It’s also tolerant to warmer fermentation temperatures, so it’s a good choice for apple wine.
To prepare the yeast, hydrate it in a small amount of must before adding it to the main batch. This will help the yeast cells wake up and start reproducing. To do this, sprinkle the yeast over the surface of 1/2 cup of must and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, stir it gently and add it to your carboy or fermenter.
You can also add some nutrients at this time to help the yeast cells reproduce quickly. We recommend using Fermaid K or Go-Ferm Protect according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Fermentation
The first step in making your apple wine is fermentation. You’ll need to gather your supplies and ingredients, including:
-Apple juice or cider (unfiltered, with no preservatives)
-Yeast ( champagne yeast is recommended)
-Airlock and bung
-Fermentation lock
-A clean, sterile glass or plastic jug or carboy
-Funnel
-Muslin cloth or coffee filter
Once you have everything you need, follow these steps:
1. Sanitize all of your equipment. This is critical in ensuring that your wine turns out well and doesn’t get contaminated. You can do this by boiling all of your materials for about 20 minutes, or using a product like One Step sanitizer.
2. In your sanitized jug or carboy, mix together 1 gallon of apple juice or cider with 1 packet of yeast. Stir well to make sure the yeast is fully dissolved. If you are using a glass container, be careful not to agitate it too much and risk breaking it.
3. Fit the airlock into the bung, then insert the bung into the neck of the jug or carboy. Fill the airlock about halfway with water. This will create a barrier that will allow carbon dioxide to escape during fermentation while keeping oxygen out, which can spoil the wine.
4. Place the jug or carboy in a cool, dark place and let it sit for 2-3 weeks while the yeast ferments the sugars in the juice into alcohol. You may see some foam form on top of the liquid during this time – this is normal and nothing to worry about.
5. After 2-3 weeks, carefully remove the airlock and bung from the jug or carboy (taking care not to spill any of the contents) and proceed to the next step.
Racking and Clearing
After primary fermentation is complete, you will need to rack the cider off of the sediment that has collected on the bottom of the fermenter.
Bottling the Wine
After the wine has completed secondary fermentation and has cleared, it is time to bottle it.
1.Sanitize all of your equipment that will come into contact with the wine. This includes the bottles, corks, Corker, funnel, and measuring cups.
2.Using a siphon, carefully transfer the wine from the carboy into the bottles, being careful not to disturb any sediment that may have settled at the bottom of the carboy. Fill the bottles to within 1 inch of the top.
3.Cork the bottles using a Corker.
4.Store the bottles in a cool, dark place for at least 3 months before drinking to allow the flavors to develop and mature.
Tips and Tricks
Making apple wine is a fun and delicious way to use up extra apples. It’s a great project for beginners, and you can make a tasty batch with just a few ingredients and supplies. Follow these tips and tricks for making the best apple wine at home.
Choose the right apples: For tart apple wine, use apples like Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Honeycrisp. For sweet apple wine, go for Golden Delicious, Fuji, or Jonathan Apples. Avoid mealy or bruised apples as they will affect the flavor of your wine.
Sanitize everything: Wash your hands thoroughly and sanitize all of your equipment before you start. This will help prevent bacteria from contaminating your wine.
Prepare the apples: Remove the stems and any bruises or bad spots from the apples. You can leave the skin on or take it off, depending on your preference. Chop the apples into small pieces and place them in a large bowl or container.
Add sugar: Add sugar to the bowl of apples according to your recipe or to taste. Stir well to combine.
Add yeast: Sprinkle yeast over the top of the sugar-apple mixture. Stir gently to combine.
Cover and ferment: Cover the bowl with a clean cloth or lid and set it in a warm, dark place to ferment for 7-10 days. Stir once daily to prevent mold from forming on top of the mixture.
Press the cider: After fermentation is complete, strain the cider through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into another clean container. Press down on the solids with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard solids.
FAQs
Some of the most frequently-asked questions about making apple wine at home are answered here. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us!
What is the difference between cider and apple wine?
Cider and apple wine are both made from apples, but they are different beverages. Cider is a refreshing, non-alcoholic drink made from apples. Apple wine is a strong, alcoholic beverage made from fermented apples.
What is the alcohol content of apple wine?
The alcohol content of apple wine can range from 6% to 14%, depending on the specific recipe and method used.
Can I make apple wine without sugar?
You can make apple wine without sugar, but it will be very dry and not very sweet. Most recipes for apple wine call for at least a cup or two of sugar, which helps to balance the tartness of the apples and gives the finished wine a little more body. If you do decide to make apple wine without sugar, you may want to consider adding honey or another type of fermented sweetener to your recipe.
