First Time Wine Maker

[Jumpshot]

I have been enjoying wine for a couple years now and I now have my first home made batch brewing! I read labels on my favorite red wines and find that they speak of a taste of different berries. Do they really tint the wine with berry extract or is it just the way that it comes out in the aging process?

[mrdutton]

It better not be tint that I'm drinkin'....

'Sides my dentist would get upset with the stains on me teeth........

Good wine, good fruit; I tend to believe that is real, not seeded after the fact.

Just my best guess, IMHO, as I am the farthest thing from a winemaker as you may ever want to meet.........

[This message has been edited by mrdutton (edited 09-29-2001).]

[Catch 22]

Jumpshot, welcome to the board. The flavors you speak of in wine, come naturally, from the grapes. Different flavors will be present in grapes depending on the grape variety, ripeness, where it was grown, etc. That being said, your homemade wine will probably be a more simple tasting product. Not that it can't be good, but it just isn't likely to have the complexity and subtle nuances that come from a high-end wine (or that rare one that just tastes more expensive). The best quality grapes are sold to the commercial wineries, not the home winemaker. I enjoy making my own wine, and strive to make it as good as possible, but I know there are limitations.
In the future, if you look down below, there is a specific forum for home winemaking. You may get more and better answers by posting winemaking questions there. Good Luck!

[Jumpshot]

Thank you Catch 22. I appreciate your response. I do need to find out a few things about home brewing. I racked my wine after 7 days, yesterday. This morning the air bubbles are gone. Does the gas normally stop that quickly? Thanks again!

[Catch 22]

No, Jumpshot, the bubbling (fermentation) does not usually disappear so quickly.Your fermentation may have stopped. It will be less vigorous, but should still be noticeable after only 7 days. Look in the archives of the home winemaking forum here. I think I recall a similar problem experienced by someone else within the last year.