Homemade "Balloon" Wine

[wavinwayne]

Last week, my supervisor at work gave me a sample of some "balloon" wine he made. It was decent, but nothing to write home about. He gave me the recipe, and I started a gallon yesterday. It should be ready around January 3rd.

Basically, all you do is mix up one packet of yeast, 1 can of grape juice concentrate (thawed), and 3.5 cups sugar. Pour the mix into a clean gallon jug, and fill the balance of the jug with water. Then you poke a needle hole in the top of a (rinsed) balloon, and stretch the balloon over the top of the jug. Place jug in a cool place and let sit for 6 weeks, and you've got home-brew.

I'm not expecting anything special from this concoction, but it's sort of a neat thing to try. Have any of you ever made homemade wine this way?

 

[tom slick]

I've done similar with apple juice, it was okay. Is the grape juice regular supermarket stuff or wine making supplies?

 

[wavinwayne]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
I've done similar with apple juice, it was okay. Is the grape juice regular supermarket stuff or wine making supplies?


Welch's grape juice concentrate from China Mart. I used baker's yeast, which as I understand it, would be scoffed at by respectable wine makers. I could have used wine maker's yeast, but by that point, I would have been spending more than a bottle of wine costs. The point here is to be able to make something at home with ordinary ingredients on the cheap.

 

[JHZR2]

if its just OK, whats the point? to get wasted after you drink up the good stuff????

 

[rg200amp]

I wonder what the proof is??

 

[wavinwayne]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
if its just OK, whats the point? to get wasted after you drink up the good stuff????

I decided to do it for the experience of it, if nothing else. Who knows, my home brew may turn out to be darn good.

 

[tom slick]

it's a fun experiment, maybe you'll catch the homebrewing bug.

 

[MarginCalled]

I thought that this would be about prison wine, otherwise known as pruno

 

[wavinwayne]

Originally Posted By: MarginCalled
I thought that this would be about prison wine, otherwise known as pruno

 

[Mr_Incredible]

My Dad used to make balloon wine. Some of it was practically awesome. It wasn't on par with store-bought wines in most cases, but that isn't the point. It shouldn't be judged by the same criteria. It was tasty and cheap.

 

[wavinwayne]

My batch is happily fermenting. Exactly 1 month until it's (supposed to be) ready for consumption. We'll see. I've got a different recipe for the next batch, if I even make another batch.

With W-M selling some wine for <$3 lately, the math doesn't really make my home brew worth it financially.