2018 Black Raspberry / Merlot
July 2018
My niece loves the “fun wines” I sometimes make. My last bottles from 2011 are now gone … I enjoy them, once in a while, so I don’t make them often.
However, she decided she wanted her own, purchased the materials, and I’m making it for her. This is ok with me, I get to make more wine! 🙂
Ingredients
| Kit | Island Mist Black Raspberry – Merlot kit |
| Additives | bentonite, metabisulphite, sorbate, kieselsol, chitosan (included in kit) |
| Yeast | Lalvin EC-1118 yeast (included in kit) |
| Sulphite | As needed |
Method
| Added 2 cups hot water to primary – stirred in bentonite.
Added merlot bag, rinsing the bag well with water (added to primary). Filled to 5.5 gallons with water. SG was low (typical with Island Mist fun wine kits). Added 10 cups sugar to raise SG. Sprinkled yeast on top. |
07/21/2018 SG 1.090 |
| Racked, moved to 5 gallon carboy. | 07/29/2018 SG 1.003 |
| Racked wine. Added sulphite and sorbate. Stirred with powered rod for 2 minutes.
Added kieselsol, stirred for 1 minute. |
08/18/2018 SG 0.990 |
| Racked into primary. Added F pack and chitosan. Stirred for 1 minute.
Racked back into carboy |
08/19/2018 SG 1.013 |
| Racked & bottled. | 09/21/2018 SG 1.013 |
Notes
| Yield | 25.5 bottles |
| Alcohol | 13.6% |
| Residual Sugar | 1.7% |
| Winemaking Notes | The final alcohol was a bit higher than I originally planned, but isn’t a problem. |
| 12/21/2021 | This wine is very drinkable at this point, with no indication of decline. |