Tomato Wine Anyone ?

[Gardeneer]

Has anyone here ever made wine from tomatoes ? Or knows about it ?

The reason I am asking is that I have collected over 2 gallons of Sungold and Esterina grape tomatoes. They are perhaps few of the sweetest and low acid tomatoes that there is.

I have made wine from grapes and purchased grape juice concentrate few tomes in the past. So I know little bit about wine making process, from fermenting, to clarifying, ... bottling etc.

The way I understand, it is the characteristics of the fruit that make the difference in wine. The sugar is converted into alcohol in the process. And the alcohol percent will be proportional to the brix (sugar contents ).

I have also lots of Elderberries that I can flavor with.

Any ideas, comments will be appreciated.
Gardeneer

[Salsacharley]

I've got 5 gallons of tomato wine sitting right now from last year. I tested a bottle a couple of weeks ago and I was surprised to find it quite good. It has a gold tint and is semi-dry. There is a hit of tomato flavor but not much. I got the recipe from a local brew/vintner shop. I'm going to bottle it in the next couple of weeks. I've kept it in the dark and a cool room along with 5 gal each of prickly-pear, crab apple, and peach wine. It is fun!

[zipcode]

Well, wine is usually made out of 20% brix or more grapes. Considering those tomatoes have 10 brix at best, it's going to take a lot of sugar. Low acid also is not that good, for grapes smth like 3.5 pH is desirable.

[Gardeneer]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Originally Posted by zipcode

Well, wine is usually made out of 20% brix or more grapes. Considering those tomatoes have 10 brix at best, it's going to take a lot of sugar. Low acid also is not that good, for grapes smth like 3.5 pH is desirable.

Brix/sugar is not an issue, as it is converted into alcohol. Adding sugar can take care of that. But what I think what is important is the color, flavor, aroma that come from the fruit. That is what makes every wine from various grapes , various year different. So an aromatic flavorful tomato should make a better wine.

My recipe was juice from 17,5 lbs of tomatoes (about 30 varieties) juiced in a Jack Lalane juicer, 12,5 lbs sugar, 5 cups raisins and enough distilled water to fill my ferment bucket to 6 gallons combined. The only other additives were campden tablets, acid blend, nutrient,tannin, and vintners yeast.

Charley, thanks for the recipe. I will have to get those item via internet, as there is no vinter store near me.
I have a brix measuring device that I can use to regulate the amount of sugar, to have a 10-12% alcohol.

Keep your comments coming.
Another way to enjoy tomatoes, tom make wine with it.

[Salsacharley]

My recipe was juice from 17,5 lbs of tomatoes (about 30 varieties) juiced in a Jack Lalane juicer, 12,5 lbs sugar, 5 cups raisins and enough distilled water to fill my ferment bucket to 6 gallons combined. The only other additives were campden tablets, acid blend, nutrient,tannin, and vintners yeast.

[KarenO]

hmmm, that sounds very interesting to me. I have never had or made tomato wine but I would definitely try it if I had the chance
KarenO

[carolyn137]

Ihave a link here somewhere in my faves about making wine from Riesentraube,it was published in the Newsletter that Craig and I used to publish about tomatoes called Off The Vine, and a recipe was also given.

I was sent two bottles of that tomato wine and it was excellent,like a dry sherry.

I'll see if I can find that link when I have time.

OK, I found it, note the date on the link, and it was my good friend Neil in Canada who still had that issue of OTV with the recipe. And yes,it was that Neil who first sent out seeds for Fish Lake Oxheart as well as Ashleigh,which is a great variety and needs to be grown more,say I. I know I offered it in a seed offer here and the Fall reports back were wonderful.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Ashleigh

And now the link with the recipe

http://www.tomatoville.com/newreply....ote=1&p=655834

It was Will Weaver who did that.

Carolyn, who feels just terrible since Glenn Drowns (Sandhill Preservation) just called on my medi alert box as I was typing and he said it really is too late for him to sow seeds.So yet another person I've disappointed .

[imp]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Ihave a link here somewhere in my faves about making wine from Riesentraube,it was published in the Newsletter that Craig and I used to publish about tomatoes called Off The Vine, and a recipe was also given.

I was sent two bottles of that tomato wine and it was excellent,like a dry sherry.

I'll see if I can find that link when I have time.

OK, I found it, note the date on the link, and it was my good friend Neil in Canada who still had that issue of OTV with the recipe. And yes,it was that Neil who first sent out seeds for Fish Lake Oxheart as well as Ashleigh,which is a great variety and needs to be grown more,say I. I know I offered it in a seed offer here and the Fall reports back were wonderful.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Ashleigh

And now the link with the recipe

http://www.tomatoville.com/newreply....ote=1&p=655834

It was Will Weaver who did that.

Carolyn, who feels just terrible since Glenn Drowns (Sandhill Preservation) just called on my medi alert box as I was typing and he said it really is too late for him to sow seeds.So yet another person I've disappointed .

The second link is not working right - it takes me to the reply box for this thread??!! Am I doing something wrong?

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by imp

The second link is not working right - it takes me to the reply box for this thread??!! Am I doing something wrong?

No,You aren't doing anything wrong at all since I just tried it myself.

The link was from a much earlier thread here at Tville about tomato wine,if I can't fix it when I have time I'll have to go back and find it since I see I didn't save it to my faves, and may be cut and paste the recipe.

But I do know that I can contact Neil in Canada and he probably still has it.

Carolyn

[PhilaGardener]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

No,You aren't doing anything wrong at all since I just tried it myself.

The link was from a much earlier thread here at Tville about tomato wine,if I can't fix it when I have time I'll have to go back and find it since I see I didn't save it to my faves, and may be cut and paste the recipe.

But I do know that I can contact Neil in Canada and he probably still has it.

Carolyn

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...to+wine+recipe - the recipe is in Neil's reply - post 14

[Gardeneer]

Today I made an online order for the essentials.
Total cost : ~ $35. I have also to get few thing locally. Better make it worthwhile. This is just for small items and ingredients not major equipment.
At $2.50 per bottle of wine, gotta make at least 20 bottles . OK, make it 15. hehe
But aside from the costs, it is an adventure for me.
I am trying to pick tomatoes with good flavor and high brix. So far I have about enough for 2 gallon juice. That should make 10 bottles right there.

OK. Anybody else wants to try ?

[Worth1]

Campaito.
I am saving my gallon glass wine jugs.

Worth

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Campaito.
I am saving my gallon glass wine jugs.

Worth

Good idea. I am also been doing the same plus regular wine bottles. I have ordered cork. Today I am going to town (Whiteville , NC) to get food grade buckets for fermenting. My yeast will be here in 5 days to get it going.

Time for mighty fine mater wine.

[Salsacharley]

Here's my tomato wine as of today (07/23/17). This will be bottled within the next couple of week...hopefully.

[imp]

Originally Posted by Salsacharley

Here's my tomato wine as of today (07/23/17). This will be bottled within the next couple of week...hopefully.

What a great picture and the wine color is just gorgeous! Will you be aging it any more or is it good to go now?