Make:

you can get much better (real) wine cheaper by buying Charles Shaw at Trader Joes....

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yah, but that wouldn't really be an interesting post on make :)

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I have had a pierced ear for over 20 years because of this exact same recipe and process, even down to the Welches and the balloon.

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Yay for 2 Buck Chuck! I agree, just get Charles Shaw.

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Sounds like a great link to read, but alas, the site is password-protected now.

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I sent the author of the page a note, and he fixed the password problem- now you are free to ferment away! :-)

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You guys are missing the point. Sure two-buck-chucks is a great value, but only if you are able to purchase it!

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Actually, the way to go is kool-aid. Back in college (when my taste buds were far less refined) we made wine with strawberry-flavored kool-ad. It turns out that KA has a decent balance of sugar and tartness (tannin? I doubt it). The funny thing was, the color precipitated to the bottom during "aging", leaving a clear liquer.

You can also use raisins and tea.

Buy decent champagne yeast. Its cheap, and it tastes MUCH better than baking yeast (which tastes really nasty)

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Actually, the way to go is kool-aid. Back in college (when my taste buds were far less refined) we made wine with strawberry-flavored kool-ad. It turns out that KA has a decent balance of sugar and tartness (tannin? I doubt it). The funny thing was, the color precipitated to the bottom during "aging", leaving a clear liquer.

You can also use raisins and tea.

Buy decent champagne yeast. Its cheap, and it tastes MUCH better than baking yeast (which tastes really nasty)

Reply to this comment

Actually, the way to go is kool-aid. Back in college (when my taste buds were far less refined) we made wine with strawberry-flavored kool-ad. It turns out that KA has a decent balance of sugar and tartness (tannin? I doubt it). The funny thing was, the color precipitated to the bottom during "aging", leaving a clear liquer.

You can also use raisins and tea.

Buy decent champagne yeast. Its cheap, and it tastes MUCH better than baking yeast (which tastes really nasty)

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I second the buying of champagne yeast. You should be able buy cheap, dried yeast packest either on-line or at your local homebrew shop for $1 or so each. This way you eliminate that icky bread taste in your final product. Also, if you're going for alcohol punch, chances are you won't get as high of alcohol content with the bread yeast, either. If you use a dedicated wine yeast, the strains can stand a higher alcohol content.

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I mixed 2 cans of welch's grape concentrate with 2 cups of sugar into roughly 3.5L of room temp water, I did not boil the water, then activated the fleishmans bakers yeast and poured it in. Sterilizing is overrated, just make sure everything is clean and rinsed with very hot water. It is 1 week later and it's still bubbling, alcohol content is 7%, and it tastes like a mixture of red wine and welch's grape juice with a hint of carbonation. Useful, but not required tools for this besides measuring cups and a funnel are an air lock, a hydrometer, and a turkey baster (use the turkey baster to take out some wine and put into the hydrometer container that came with it). Instead of using the balloon, just place the lid on the container and don't screw it. Whoever says Trader Joes is cheaper is wrong, $4 for grape juice, 30 cents for yeast packet (I bought 3 packets for $1) and about 20 cents for the sugar, so for less than $5 you get 4.5 bottles of wine, plus its fun!

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"you can get much better (real) wine cheaper by buying Charles Shaw at Trader Joes...."

sounds like a bitter failed brewer

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