Rhubarb wine making thread with recipe

[p.penn]

How are you all doing with the rhubarb? Mine is still fermenting - taking longer this year as no rayburn on and also it has been cooler weather.

[wyldeflower]

This is a great thread i have been wine making since 1980 i stopped for a few years but have started again..I must admit i havnt ever made Rhubarb wine but its definately a possibility for next year..

[p.penn]

I do hope you give it a go as it is very simple and tasty.

[wyldeflower]

I may very well as i like to experiment i am waiting for the Blackberrys at the moment and maybe a few elderberrys as well..The Rhubarb looks like something i will attempt..

[Willow]

Thank you P.penn for all your help regarding the wine making ..
I was able to give Rhubarb wine, orange wine & dandilion wine as christmas presents this year and I must say they all turned out crystal clear and potent & tasted fab! My elderflower wine still hasnt cleared but I tasted some while decanting into a new demijohn and its really good.
I've been inundated with orders for next year already.. (freinds and family only)
Fun to make and cheap & good christmas presents.. what more could you ask

[albertajune]

My rhubarb wine is coming along beautifully, as is the blackberry. The black grape is a bit on the dry side, although I used the same recipe. I imagine this is due to the conditon of the grapes. They sat on the vine for ages and weren't as sweet as they were last year.
I must learn how to use the hydrometer as fruit will vary from year to year.

[p.penn]

I still haven't racked my rhubarb wine

Really glad yours turned out well Willow - I have to say it is one of my favourites to make as it is so simple, and delicious to drink too!

[Willow]

It was realy good, the dandelion wine is just as good but a little bit sweeter (one heck of a pain getting all the petals though)
I'll be starting another orange wine next week , that one was med dry but had a lovely orange after taste

[fabindia]

I still haven't racked my rhubarb wine

Hi Helen. I am bit puzzled by your adding a camden tablet and still ending up with a sparking wine, surely it kills all the yeast?

[p.penn]

Hello fab - hmmmm. I know it's late (and I know I'm a bit blonde at times) but I don't know why you got the idea it was a sparkling wine?

The campden tabs are added when fermentation has finished, when the wine is racked. In some recipes a CT is added at the beginning to sterilise the must, but if so, you have to wait 24 hours before adding the yeast, otherwise it will not ferment.

Does that help?

[Willow]

I still haven't racked my rhubarb wine

Really glad yours turned out well Willow - I have to say it is one of my favourites to make as it is so simple, and delicious to drink too!

P.penn it was fabulous, as I said I've had orders for the next lot - it went down really really well

'Racked' - that means bottled right?? (can you tell I'm not an expert yet?) I suppose you being a seasoned wine maker dont get so excited about the whole process - I was checking several times a day and couldnt wait for the wines to clear & get them into the bottles
I know my very first wine made with sloes, I bottled far too early and have ended up with sediment in the bottles...

[fishpond]

Hi Willow
If racking means what I think it does
Decanting into 2nd demijohn, prior to bottling.
I also have 2 gall of rhubarb that is gathering dust and needs racking.

[fishpond]

"I also have 2 gall of rhubarb that is gathering dust and needs racking."
It is now racked. both have totally different colours---tastes good though----as does the other 4 gallons of various.

[p.penn]

Yes - racking means taking off the sediment into a new DJ.

And no, still not done it