Wine Making co-op in SE london

[ladywotlunches]

Hi

Have just moved to a new house with a large vine in the back garden, that currently has tons of grapes on it turning a very nice red colour. They are definitely wine grapes as opposed to eating ones (shame) and I don't want to see them go to waste, but having done a search on the web for instructions it seems that to make wine from grapes is a very equipment heavy process.

As I don't know how good the grapes will be (and everyone is telling me that with this miserable summer they will be really sour) I don't want to invest in all the kit to have it festering in the cellar for years to come. A SW London friend came round at the weekend and said that near them there is a garden centre that organises a winemaking cooperative- you go in with your grapes, then come out a few weeks later with some lovely wine!

Anyone know of a similar project in our neck of the woods? Or can anyone offer advice for a rookie vintner?

[Cassius]

I can't offer any help but would like to wish you luck - please let us (or at least me by PM) how it goes - it would be something of a dream of mine to make wine............. I'll even come and help you pick them if you contact me!!

[yourmomma]

I would try asking here http://www.brew-it-yourself.co.uk/forum/phpBB2/index.php?sid=d7b2c2e54a25c13a0afe9d5f04591b67

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

LWL - did you have any success finding a co-op? I seem to have a good crop this year but don't know what to do with them.

[????]

homemade wine's up there with homemade haircuts

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I have a pudding basin waiting for you.

[Loz]

Wine making, in theory, isn't difficult - crush grapes, add yeast, ferment, age, bottle, drink. You shouldn't really need too much kit. As a good indicator, the pros get a bottle of wine for every kilo of grapes. YMMV, but if you're only expecting a crop of a few kilos the effort may be more 'of interest' than productive.

London is really too far north for reds. Whites may be possible. England tends to produce wines made of varieties that aren't your usual suspects - a nice glass of M?ller-Th?rgau anyone?

Anyway, you might want to talk to this bloke

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Thanks. It is a red grape: Tafeltraube blau - Regent 4 years' old.

It was brought back from Germany as a thank you for helping with a friend's wedding. Alas, the grape has outlasted the marriage!

[ladywotlunches]

Peckhamgatecrasher

I never did find a co-op, but I ploughed ahead anyway and got 40-odd bottles of red (well, light red/dark rose) wine, aging in my cellar.

The last tasting (back in June) showed that the wine still needs some maturing (OK, so its home brew, but also if you ever look at the commercial reds, they are mainly 2+ years old). I wonder whether last year I picked them too soon. Like you, my grapes this year are looking a nice colour already - but most info I've read says harvesting takes place late October/November. Could be "climate change" meaning they are ripening early, but to get the most sugar, I'm going to leave them as long as I can before the pigeons eat the lot!

This might help. A very basic, chuck it all in and see recipe for generic 'wine':

TAKE 2 GALLON BUCKET FILL WITH GRAPES TO THE TOP, WASH WITH WATER (COLD).

ADD BOILING WATER TO FILL WITHIN 3? OF THE TOP. ALLOW TO COOL.

CRUSH GRAPES AND STALKS ETC. WITH HANDS (CLEAN)

ADD 1 CAMPDEN TABLET (CRUSHED) AND JUICE OF 2 LEMONS AND 1 TEASPOON OF

PECTIN.

ALLOW TO STAND FOR 2 WEEKS ? COVERED.

RECRUSH GRAPES IN JUICE ? ALLOW TO STAND 1 WEEK.

DRAIN OFF JUICE INTO DEMIJOHNS, ADD YEAST AND 2LBS. SUGAR PER GALLON.

FERMENT UNTIL CLEAR.

KEEP AS LONG AS YOU CAN AND THEN DRINK !!

Best place I found for the equipment at a good price was searching online (but remember to buy all at once as they charge delivery whether its a spoon or demijohn). Or if you have a Wilkinsons handy - they do the lot there too.

Good luck, and Cheers!

LWL

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Thank you. I'm not sure I'm brave enough - I reckon I've about another two weeks to go before I need to make my mind up.

Cheers indeed.

[poppy-bees]

I am attempting to make a cider press as we have so many apples we don't know what to do with them

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who is in a similar situation with their apples / anyone who's successfully brewed cider

[woodie]

Also have a red vine. dunno if they are great grapes for wine but anyone is making wine and wants some more grapes we'll have quite a few. Usually the kids wash feet, squash them and we have gorgeous juice to drink.

[Applespider]

I saw a report earlier this month on Chateau Tooting ::o

They're a co-operative which collect grapes from members and help turn it into wine. Might be worth looking into if you have vines...

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Brilliant - I shall see if I can join.

[man_or_mouse]

poppy-bees Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I am attempting to make a cider press as we have

> so many apples we don't know what to do with them

>

> I would be very interested to hear from anyone who

> is in a similar situation with their apples /

> anyone who's successfully brewed cider

I want to have a go at cider too - it seems really easy to do. From what I have found out though you need to use some acidic apples in the mix - eating apples alone won't do. :)-D

[womanofdulwich]

How was eveyoens wine? did any one join the Tooting coop? or started an East Dulwich one? I dont want to create something undrinkable. Thanks

[notapoppet]

Grape Jelly 1!!! My husbands specialty.

Like Jam but not.....added to gravy it is just fabulous....

or another of his "interesting" inventions was a kind of "set" grape jelly sweet, not my favorite, but interesting.

[womanofdulwich]

mmmmy friend gave me a jar of grape jelly for my birthday- not as impressed as I would be with wine!!

[gruit1]

We have used the urban wine company ( chateau Tooting) for last 2 years. We have had in return 10 bottles of wine each year. Approx 2kg of grapes equals 1 bottle of wine. We also choose our name and label on our bottles. Our vintage is 'East Dulwich 1820' which is labelled on our bottles as we share our vine with next door neighbour and our door number is 18. The wine is drinkable a bit like a dry german wine and is blush in colour. It does cost to use them for bottling/ labels/ organisation. This years grapes we have to take to Merton on Saturday 1st October.They also organise a wine tasting evening for the un-bottling of the wine in March. I would recommend them as we have had great fun with serving guests/ friends with our wine from the back of our garden.Hope this helps.

[womanofdulwich]

thats good to know -they have not replied to the email I sent or the phone message I left ( from the web site) can you let me know how to contact them?

thanks

[gruit1]

have pm'ed you

[peterstorm1985]

Chateau Tooting sure ain't cheap. ?110 to join the harvest each year and they only promise 6 bottles back for that. I did try and find out what the 'discounted price' was for any more but I think they realised I couldn't afford it so didn't let me know in their email response. You can buy a lot of equipment to make your own at home for that price.

If you do try and get in contact with them, I think they're quite small so you need to give them time to respond. I got an answer in about a week.

[LadyDeliah]

I just made a load of grape juice. I'd love to know how to make wine as I've got loads of grapes left on the vines.

[womanofdulwich]

how to you keep grape juice?

[peterstorm1985]

Freeze it