yeast,nutrient, stabaliser and other stuff

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Oldhippydude

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Just getting back into making wine after a few decades off.
Have realised I did not buy everything I need so have some questions before either going to the city or making an internet order.I almost imediately realized I did not buy camden tablets.

Firstly, yeast- I bought some general purpose Youngs yeast. I have used it to put on 3dj of apple juice. This is an old mainstay and variations are likely on the cards.Elderberry and possibly bramble and plum may be on the cards as well.
What improvements would a more specialist yeast bring?
Youngs super wine yeast, what makes it more super than Youngs normal yeast.

Nutrients- Never used them back in the day.
What do I need to know?

Stabilizer- I used to let my brews stop naturally but I want to get a stock built up so will be stopping my wine at an appropriate point.
What are the options?

Other stuff- I live a bit out of the way of brew shops so I want to be stocked with everything I need only making the odd trip into the city or internet order.
Anything I should add to my shopping list that I may not have thought of?

Thanks.
 
Firstly, yeast- I bought some general purpose Youngs yeast. I have used it to put on 3dj of apple juice. This is an old mainstay and variations are likely on the cards.Elderberry and possibly bramble and plum may be on the cards as well.
What improvements would a more specialist yeast bring?
Youngs super wine yeast, what makes it more super than Youngs normal yeast.
I have used Young's Super Wine Yeast Compound from day one and never had a fermentation fail.

Young's Super Wine Yeast Compound is an all-purpose wine yeast, which includes a yeast nutrient to get your fermentation off to a flying start. The compound also contains Bentonite, which will help your wine clear naturally, without the need for finings. This is a fairly alcohol tolerant yeast so will enable you to brew quite strong wines. Particularly suitable for country or juice wines, this 60g tub contains enough yeast compound to make 10 gallons (45 litres), just add one teaspoon per gallon. Refrigerate after opening.

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Nutrients- Never used them back in the day.
What do I need to know?

As the above description says the YSWYC already has it but i like to add a level teaspoon just to be on the safe side.

When used at a rate of one level teaspoon for each gallon of wine this nutrient provides nourishment to the yeast helping it to achieve a rapid and complete fermentation.

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Stabilizer- I used to let my brews stop naturally but I want to get a stock built up so will be stopping my wine at an appropriate point.
What are the options?

I use youngs Fermentation stopper (wine stabiliser)

Use this to stop fermentation of your wine and preserve it's state of sweet/dryness. Many people use fermentation stopper in conjunction with Campden Tablets / Sodium Metabisulphite to ensure a stable wine and one which will not begin to re-ferment and pop it's corks!

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Other stuff- I live a bit out of the way of brew shops so I want to be stocked with everything I need only making the odd trip into the city or internet order.
Anything I should add to my shopping list that I may not have thought of?

If you plan on clearing it quickly so you can drink it get some KwiK clear finings, they are two part and work very fast (48 hours)

What are you going to use as steriliser, i use Milton tablets they are no rinse and only need 15 minutes contact time.
 
Thanks for that.You seem to have covered all of the bases.
I bought VWP cleaner steriliser it was not so much a choice as what I got in the shop when I asked for steriliser.
I actually have some Miltons I use when making jam or nicotine liquid for my e-cig so I will probably move to that for most purposes.

Finings was also on my to get list to buy so thanks for that too.
 
Finings was also on my to get list to buy so thanks for that too.

If you buy the 2 part finings like KwiK Clear (annoying name) or youngs Clear It get yourself a thin syringe from the chemist as they make measuring the finings so much easier, the hole in the pots is about the size of a BIC biro (maybe a bit bigger) the one i use only holds 2ml.
 
My nicotine mixing involves syringes so I am ok on that front.
Did I not read on another thread that two part finings do not store too well once opened.
In an ideal world I would want to buy supplies a couple of times a year when I go to Edinburgh so that could be an issue.
I imagine I could buy small bottles/packs/whatever it comes in, but I do tend to be drawn to the savings buying bigger quantities.
I will do a bit more research on finings before deciding the way to go.
Thanks
 
Clear it has a short shelf life (1 month after opening) KwiK clear doesn't have a date other than (on my latest pack) BBE June 17.

The bigger pack clears 135 to 270 litres. (i use 1ml per DJ for the juice wines i make and they always clear in 2 days)

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It looks like kwik clear is the way to go.
The Edinburgh shop is where I bought my kit.
Just have to decide whether to go into town in the next week or do an internet order.
I am noticing that you guys are turning over batches of wine much faster than we did back in the 80s.So as soon as I finalise my shopping list it will be full steam ahead while the temp is not too cold.(a heating belt is on the list come winter.

Thanks again for your help.
 
I finalise my shopping list it will be full steam ahead while the temp is not too cold.(a heating belt is on the list come winter.

I regularly make wine in my kitchen where the temperature is around 15c in winter and don't use a heat source, fermentation is a little slower but it only adds a day or two, heat belts can be a right pain to use as you have to keep moving them up and down to get the temperature right, a better method is to use a water bath with a thermostat controlled fish tank heater.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hidom-Sub...-Sizes-/251390029052?var=&hash=item3a88036cfc

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