Tuesday 4 June 2013

Elderberry Wine

5lbs elderberries - washed and stripped from stalks (use a fork to 'comb' them free)
1 gallon boiling water
3lbs granulated sugar
1 wine yeast packet
i cup chopped raisins
Half cup lemon juice
Half cuip orange juice
1 teaspoon yeast nutrient


Place elderberries, raisins,lemon and orange juices and yeast nutrient in a large fermentation bucket.  Pour in the boiling water and stir then leave to cool.  Squeeze ingredients to release juices and leave for 24 hours.  Add 2lbs of sugar and the yeast.  Stir and cover then leave for 5 days. Strain into glass demi-john and add remaining sugar. stir and leave for 7 days.  Strain into another glass demi-john and leave for six weeks.  Pour into glass bottles and seal.  Leave for 6 months then have a party!

Monday 3 June 2013

Dandelion Wine


Collect 2 quarts of Dandelion flowers (you want mainly petals - remove as much of the green as possible).  Boil 1 gallon of water and pour it over the flowers.  Steep for 2 days (no longer!).  Boil the mixture again and add the peel of five oranges.  Boil for ten minutes.  Strain and add 3lbs of sugar.  Allow to cool then add the juice from the oranges, 1 tsp of yeast and 1 tsp of yeast nutrient.  Pour into a demi-john and allow to ferment for 60 days.  Bottle and store for at least 6 months.  We left it a year and the result was worth the wait.