Wine Making - sterilizing equipment

[VirginVegGrower]

OK new to this, so please bear with me. Can you sterilize with boiling water or is it necessary to buy something? Do the chemicals taint your wine? Looking for a quick and dirty solution please. Don't want lots of rinsing/faff!

Thanks in advance

[Ananke]

Afraid I don't have the answer you want VVG. Sterilising everything properly is really important when making wine. I use sterilizing tablets from Savers, think they are used for baby bottles etc. The chemicals won't taint your wine if you rinse well.

What wine are you making? My livingroom smells like a brewery with blackberry wine.

[Ananke]

I forgot to add that pouring boiling water into demijohns cculd shatter them, you could put them in the dishwasher though.

[VirginVegGrower]

Are the tablets a baby type thing like Milton? I have made elderberry and now I want to get my damsons made into wine, let alone the sloes I have. Zazen is teaching me the booze ropes

[Ananke]

Yeah, they are on the shelf right next to Milton, £1 for 64 tablets, much cheaper than the homebrew shop prices. It also says on the back that they are suitable for wine making.

Elderberry is my next batch, went to collect them last week and they were still green, couldn't believe it, hopefully nice and ripe now

I checked out what I think are sloes here but there doesn't look like enough for a gallon of wine, i'll pick them and see though.

[VirginVegGrower]

Elderberries are black and dripping from the branches here. Sloes are plentiful in another grape's hedgerows. Shame you are not nearer. thanks for advice. Time to hit the shops

[chris]

Man, seriously next time I'm back up VVG I'm going to give you a bell so you can show me where abouts you go!

[VirginVegGrower]

Man, seriously next time I'm back up VVG I'm going to give you a bell so you can show me where abouts you go!

You threaten that every month but you are always a no show
Zazen and myself would out hedgerow you - you would never cope with us both

[zazen999]

You threaten that every month but you are always a no show
Zazen and myself would out hedgerow you - you would never cope with us both

Rofl........

[VirginVegGrower]

Rofl........

He's a lightweight isn't he - we challenge you, CM, to a hedgerow visit. Get that passout from Mrs CM and put your sloes where your elderberries are...

[Two_Sheds]

Can you sterilize with boiling water ...?

I use boiling water for items like funnel, stirring spoon.

But for DJs, Boots own baby tabs (1 and a quarter per DJ). Rinse well, of course. I make use of the used sterilising solution by pouring it in a bucket afterwards & dropping in anything I want "bleached", like toothbrushes, combs, cloths

[VirginVegGrower]

I use boiling water for items like funnel, stirring spoon.

But for DJs, Boots own baby tabs (1 and a quarter per DJ). Rinse well, of course. I make use of the used sterilising solution by pouring it in a bucket afterwards & dropping in anything I want "bleached", like toothbrushes, combs, cloths

Thanks TS - funnily enough I went out earlier and bought Boots sterilising tablets. Good tip on reuse. I tend touse ordinary bleach for dishclothes but never thought of the other stuff. Cheers

[zazen999]

Anyway back to the subject; I make up a solution of milton, put it in my bucket and put all the equipment I'm going to use in it for 10 mins. Then, give the demigod a good brushing out, and make sure it gets a milton as well. Then rinse everything in cold water and 'do it'. Bottles, get a rinse in hot hot water and then 15 mins at 120 degrees c. Unless they are brand new [or freecycled] bottles, in which case they also get a good brush and milton treatment.

[VirginVegGrower]

Sounds good. I am going to be using ex Lorina swing top (Grolsch style) bottles, so will sterilise those as they have had the original "pop" in them and since then "elderflower pop" so should be in need of a good swill out. Think am going to need a fifth demigod - does that mean I am branching out/getting reckless?

[Ananke]

LMAO @ Demigod. Love it!