I am very new to winemaking. My first batch of kit wine is still in
primary fermentation.



But I am already looking forward to the next batch.

I have purchased some Cabernet concentrate from Williams Brewing.

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/CABER..._P1308C169.cfm

I was curious what anyone's thoughts were on using this as my base to
make my must.

I also have questions about obtaining fresh juice. I live in Ohio and
do not have ready access to Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet grapes. I am
looking at local varietals. But most here are very sweet. Concord,
Catawba, Reliance, DeChaunac,

What do others do about getting grapes or juice?

-Wayne

On Jan 30, 8:17 am, Wayne Harris wrote:
...
I have purchased some Cabernet concentrate from Williams Brewing.
...
I was curious what anyone's thoughts were on using this as my base to
make my must.

I have no experience with this particular concentrate, but I've made a
lot of wine from Alexander's concentrate. I've found it difficult to
make a really good wine purely from concentrate. I've used black
seedless grapes and elderberries to bolster several batches; they are
presently showing a lot of promise.


I also have questions about obtaining fresh juice. I live in Ohio and
do not have ready access to Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet grapes. I am
looking at local varietals. But most here are very sweet. Concord,
Catawba, Reliance, DeChaunac,

There are a number of grape varieties that are popular in the Midwest
from which good dry red wine can be made. Among them are Norton/
Cynthiana, Chambourcin, Frontenac, Leon Millot, Marechal Foch,
Marquette, Noiret , Regent, and Vincent. I don't believe that any of
these are quite as good as the noble vinifera varieties, but they can
be made into good dry wine, especially so if they are blended with
some of the noble varieties.

By the way, the varieties you mentioned only end up making sweet wine
when the must is chaptalized.

Greg

Wayne-

What part of ohio are you in; perhaps some one on list has some ohio
links.

Liam
Cincinnati, OH

On Feb 1, 10:13*am, Liam Randall wrote:
Wayne-

What part of ohio are you in; perhaps some one on list has some ohio
links.

Liam
Cincinnati, OH

25 miles south of Cleveland.

I like this place - I visit it and purchase almost each time I'm in Ohio.

http://www.thegrape.net/

It's in Akron. online is great.
They also make wine on site and sell it - so they have lots of advice.
DAve

Wayne Harris wrote:
On Feb 1, 10:13 am, Liam Randall wrote:
Wayne-

What part of ohio are you in; perhaps some one on list has some ohio
links.

Liam
Cincinnati, OH

25 miles south of Cleveland.

Wayne -
I would have to think that there is somebody in Cleveland that
brings in wine grapes from California in the fall. Check with local
produce companies, especially if they sound Italian. Another route
might be Presque Isle over in North East PA. I believe they have
some locally-grown varieties available, as well as being the local
distributor for Brehm Vineyards, which are the best wine grapes you
can find (at any price) if you live outside California. And you may
find locally-grown grape varieties that work well. There are a few
(finally) that even grow up here in Minnesota (most don't survive the
winter).

There are other potential sources he

http://www.ohiowines.org/cgi-bin/grapes.pl
and
http://winemakershq.com

although I can't vouch for any of them. I'm sure if you check around
with other winemakers in your area, you'll get even more potential
sources.


Doug

Wayne -
FYI, according to the winemaking club directory at WineMaker
magazine (http://www.winemakermag.com/referenceguide/clubs/#oh)
there are clubs in the following cities in Ohio:

Akron
Aurora
Columbus
Dennison
Loveland
Northfield

At least one of those is bound to be close enough for you to check
them out.

Doug

On Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:17:50 -0800 (PST), Wayne Harris
wrote:

I am very new to winemaking. My first batch of kit wine is still in
primary fermentation.



But I am already looking forward to the next batch.

I have purchased some Cabernet concentrate from Williams Brewing.

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/CABER..._P1308C169.cfm

I was curious what anyone's thoughts were on using this as my base to
make my must.

I also have questions about obtaining fresh juice. I live in Ohio and
do not have ready access to Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet grapes. I am
looking at local varietals. But most here are very sweet. Concord,
Catawba, Reliance, DeChaunac,

What do others do about getting grapes or juice?

-Wayne

Well, it depends on where you are in Ohio. If you're in the north
east, Presque isle winery offers juice/grapes/young wine in the fall
and mobilia farms offers juice all the time, both in North East (erie)
PA.

On Feb 2, 1:25*am, Hoss wrote:
On Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:17:50 -0800 (PST), Wayne Harris





wrote:
I am very new to winemaking. *My first batch of kit wine is still in
primary fermentation.

But I am already looking forward to the next batch.

I have purchased some Cabernet concentrate from Williams Brewing.

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/CABER...NTRATE_P1308C1...

I was curious what anyone's thoughts were on using this as my base to
make my must.

I also have questions about obtaining fresh juice. *I live in Ohio and
do not have ready access to Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet grapes. I am
looking at local varietals. *But most here are very sweet. Concord,
Catawba, Reliance, DeChaunac,

What do others do about getting grapes or juice?

-Wayne

Well, it depends on where you are in Ohio. *If you're in the north
east, Presque isle winery offers juice/grapes/young wine in the fall
and mobilia farms offers juice all the time, both in North East (erie)
PA.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks all.