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Country Wines
Country Wines & Meads
Country wines are made from fruits, flowers, vegetables, or other fermentable ingredients. Meads are made from honey. Both follow the same fermentation principles as grape wine.
Starting Gravity
A rule of thumb: 17g of sugar per litre raises OG by 0.004 SG points.
Typical OG Targets
| Style | Target OG | Est. ABV |
|---|---|---|
| Table wine | 1.080–1.095 | 10–12% |
| Full-bodied wine | 1.095–1.110 | 12–14% |
| Dessert wine | 1.110–1.130 | 14–17% |
| Show mead | 1.090–1.120 | 11–15% |
Yeast Selection
71B is the most popular choice for country wines — it metabolises malic acid and enhances fruity esters. EC-1118 is used for difficult ferments.
💡 Pectinase enzyme is essential for country wines made from whole fruit. It breaks down pectin, prevents a pectin haze, and improves juice extraction.
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