What's your best wine ever?

[deliaisace]

I am new to wine making and have made three djs of rhubarb, one of elderflower and two of tea (earl grey) wine courtesy of CJJ Berry's excellent book. I haven't tasted it yet so don't know how successful I've been!

I was just wondering what to try next. I wanted to know what recipes people would recommend and what their best ever homemade wines were?

[Mamgiowl]

Welcome to the forum Deliaisace and I look forward to hearing how your wines turn out.

Rhubarb is one of my favourites, as is Ribena. Mead is another one I seem to have success with, but I suggest you try Wine No.1 next. I haven't made it myself yet, but everyone who has has had great results.

Here's the link

http://www.winesathome.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1562&highlight=wine

[Sniper]

Bilberry & Blackcurrant Wine

2 Jars of Bilberries (PEK or Krakus barnd)
1 Jar of Blackcurrants (PEK or Krakus brand)
1/2pt Red Grape juice concentrate
1 3/4lb Sugar
1 tsp Tannin
1 tsp Tartaric Acid
Gervin Yeast & nutrient
Pectolase

Put fruit with juice into sterilised bin, crush fruit and add 2 pts cold water.
In 2 pts of boiling water dissolve the sugar and pour into bin.
Add red grape juice concentrate, acid, tannin, pectolase, and 1 crushed campden tablet.
Cover and leave for 24 hrs.
Add Yeast and nutrient.
Cover and ferment on pulp for 3 days, stirring gently twice daily.
Strain into demijohn.
Ferment out.
Rack, fine and filter as normal.
Sweeten to 1005 - 1010.
Enjoy

[alan66]

I am new to wine making and have made three djs of rhubarb, one of elderflower and two of tea (earl grey) wine courtesy of CJJ Berry's excellent book. I haven't tasted it yet so don't know how successful I've been!

I was just wondering what to try next. I wanted to know what recipes people would recommend and what their best ever homemade wines were?

If you like the rhubarb then next time you do a batch stick in a pound of bananas, more body and a great finish,
My best must be elderberry very nice once aged 12 months+
I have just put 5 gallon of the number 1 wine to ferment, heard great things of it

[Sniper]

Apple & Elderberry

2 Ltr Apple Juice (Supermarket cartons)
125 g Dried Elderberries
1/2 pt Red grape juice concentrate
1/2 tsp Tannin
1 tsp tartaric acid
1 1/2 lb Sugar
Gervin No. 2 yeast & nutrient
pectolase

Wash elderberries and remove damaged fruit.
Add to sterilised bin,
Pour on 2 pt cold water.
Dissolve sugar in 1 pt boiling water and pour into bin.
Cover and allow to cool.
Add Apple juice, red grape juice concentrate, acid, tannin, pectolase, and 1 crushed campden tablet.
Cover and leave for 24 hrs.
Add yeast & nutrient.
Cover and ferment on pulp for 3 days, gently stirring twice daily.
Strain into demijohn.
Ferment out.
Rack, fine and filter as normal.
Sweeten to 1012
Enjoy

[Mamgiowl]

Nice recipes Sniper, but could you please post recipes in the relevant section of the Recipe thread. It makes them easier for others to find in the future.

In the meantime I have copied and pasted these two for you

[Sniper]

Sorry,
I thought I was replying to a thread started by deliasace

[deliaisace]

Thanks for the recipes and the suggestions. Will try wine No 1 and will go out hunting for elderberries soon. Must try the stuff I've already made too!

[Mamgiowl]

Sorry,
I thought I was replying to a thread started by deliasace

No probs Sniper, it's just so if anyone wants to make this in a few months time it will lost in the miriad of posts and hard to trace. Simplest way is add a link to your reply as so:

Apple and Elderberry

http://www.winesathome.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=40570#post40570

[fatbloke]

Sorry,
I thought I was replying to a thread started by deliasace

Either way, they're excellent sounding recipes - "right up my street".

Now I'm just gonna have to question one of our "night trunk" drivers, as he and his wife are Poles and they're bound to know the best place locally to get a good range of PEK (other than the ubiquitous chopped pork) is

Now Jan's put 'em in the recipes I can find 'em straight away.

Also, the apple and elderberry. It is better with fresh elderberry or have you always made it with dried ?

The apples I can get free locally at the moment - I got about 30lb off the Shoreham by pass yesterday evening - and there's lot's more there.

regards

JtFB

[Richard S]

Rich's tinned lychee recipe takes some beating.

http://www.winesathome.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2315

[Sniper]

Contrary to popular myths, us Scots are willing to buy dried elderberries rather than spend ages stripping berries from stalks