In message >, Jack
Keller > writes

>In developing the recipe for my fresh fig wine, I used an unknown fig
>variety given to us in quantity by friends. This fig is very light
>brown with yellow undertones and is very good but very low in acid.
>We were recently given some other figs, purple in color, which seem to
>have a different (higher) acidity than the others. I need to contact
>my friends and find out the names of the fig varieties, because I
>wouldn't add 3-1/2 teaspoons of acid blend to the purple figs. I may
>be modifying the recipe on my site once I have learned more about fig
>varieties and their sugars, acids and tannins.

Jack, (and everyone else who have given their views), thanks for the
input. My figs are quite large, and not the dark purple-brown variety.
They're mostly green, and as they ripen, they get flushed with
reddish-purple, as they become squishier. They certainly don't taste
that acid.

Anyway, I've made the wine, last night. Added about 1 1/2 pints of
redcurrant juice to the gallon, and brought the SG up to 1090. As you
suggest, I'll worry about adding any extra acid later on. It surely has
an interesting aroma! By tonight, it's bubbling away quite merrily.

I'll report on how it goes!

thanks again, cheers,
robin

>
>But, to answer your question, I think the redcurrants would work well
>with the figs. Certainly they would mitigate the need for some
>(perhaps most) of the acid, but how much I cannot say. I would expect
>them to dominate the flavor (even if only a pint of juice), but you
>haven't mentioned how much you have.
>
>Citric acid is perfectly acceptable to use, and I wouldn't worry about
>it's often reported instability. I have been using it for many years
>and have never had an acetic acid problem (let me just knock on some
>wood....).
>
>Make the wine. Use an orange or a lemon for acid (use one of each if
>the amount of redcurrant juice is not too much). If the finished wine
>tastes flat, it needs more acid (and possibly a pinch of tannin). You
>can doctor it then.
>
>Jack Keller, The Winemaking Home Page
>http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/

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