The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Home brewing => Topic started by: Olly398 on October 04, 2012, 10:28:37 am

Title: Started a few gallons of Elderberry and Blackberry wine
Post by: Olly398 on October 04, 2012, 10:28:37 am

You'll have to excuse a link to the blog (http://www.brixtonsbounty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/elderberry-and-blackberry-wine.html) though because I can't be bothered to write it all out again  :innocent:
 
 :wave:

Title: Re: Started a few gallons of Elderberry and Blackberry wine
Post by: Scotsdumpy on October 04, 2012, 07:15:19 pm

Hi Olly - nice blog!

I would be inclined to stir the 'raft' of fruit into the mixture once a day as it contains a lot of the yeast and juices. I do this with all my wines and have no problems to date....

I've just tested (quality control you understand...!) this years elderflower and Its rather nice.. I should have done more!

Title: Re: Started a few gallons of Elderberry and Blackberry wine
Post by: Mammyshaz on October 04, 2012, 07:21:03 pm

Hmm looks very nice  :trophy: ( large wine glass )   :yum:

We have some rhubarb still fermenting. It may be ready for Christmas. We'll wait and see

Title: Re: Started a few gallons of Elderberry and Blackberry wine
Post by: Olly398 on October 05, 2012, 09:34:40 am

Thanks for the tips  :thumbsup:
 
Gone into DJs under airlock now (pics (http://www.brixtonsbounty.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/elderberry-and-blackberry-wine-part-ii.html)).
 
Now for the long wait! Good job I've got some beer conditioning, that's much quicker.  :yum:

Title: Re: Started a few gallons of Elderberry and Blackberry wine
Post by: Olly398 on March 21, 2013, 02:52:27 pm

I bottled this at the start of March. Had a bit of a taste - definitely improving, and recognisable as red wine! Hurrah!  :thumbsup:
 
I've written up my bottling procedure here (http://www.brixtonsbounty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/how-to-bottle-homemade-wine.html) if anyone's inrerested.
21 bottles done, will try them again in the Autumn. I reckon first and foremost we taste with our eyes, so I took a bit of care over the presentation of the bottles.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3cjTRZdLmw/UUY65UZOi9I/AAAAAAAAAt4/stiOTs2v-MI/s640/P1050423.JPG)

Title: Re: Started a few gallons of Elderberry and Blackberry wine
Post by: Clarebelle on March 21, 2013, 04:15:13 pm

They look fab, well done :)

Title: Re: Started a few gallons of Elderberry and Blackberry wine
Post by: FiB on March 21, 2013, 05:03:51 pm

by the way Olly - I LOVE your letterpress labels - would you take orders?????

Title: Re: Started a few gallons of Elderberry and Blackberry wine
Post by: Dan on March 21, 2013, 07:48:54 pm

Brilliant job, really looks the part and if it tastes like red wine even better.  :thumbsup:

When I see how good these look I consider trying wine making again, but then remember how awful our's tasted when we made it in the past. We need some lessons, or a generous wine-making friend. :)

Title: Re: Started a few gallons of Elderberry and Blackberry wine
Post by: Olly398 on March 21, 2013, 09:53:53 pm

Thanks all!
 
So far the brewing exploits all taste good. Hard to say whether this is luck or judgement, but I've started with a safe one I suppose, I mean I can see how blackerries and elderberries, when ripe, share some attributes with the grape (tannin, colour, aroma), and you top up the sugar levels. I've just started a parsnip wine which is more of a leap of faith  :o
 
I'm chuffed with the labels, thanks so much for the compliments  8) . Its hard to explain how much of a faff letterpressing is until you do it, so I'll have to decline taking orders for now. Maybe when I quit the 9-to-5...
 
 :wave: