Big red

[Aid]

So far, most of my wines have been white or rosé, but I fancy trying a big red. I'm guilty of ignoring red cos they seem to take longer to mature and I wanted wine to drink NOW. Also I cant see through red to see if it's clearing and that's put me off. Time to try though now I've got gallons of white under way. So, please can someone recommend a recipe I can follow with ingredients available now, that'll make a great, big, fat red.
Thanks.

[Richard S]

You need to be looking at getting a kit such as a Beaverdale Barolo or Merlot etc. As for checking clarity, this is best done by drawing a sample off and checking it in the glass. While you are drinking your kit reds you could then be making some blackberry/elderberry or even get some wine grapes.

[Aid]

I meant to say I dont want to use a kit...

I'll definitely be doing blackberrys/elderberries when they come, I just hoped there'd be something to try sooner.
I'm a little nervous of reds cos I haven't done any. I like the idea of using wine grapes, but apart from not knowing where to get them, I wouldn't want to mess it up.

[Her Lushness]

On the strength of this post (thanks Aid) I've raided my freezer and have started a 3lbs Blackberry, 3lbs Elderberry and 1/2lb Sloe wine today. (the sloes were just what I had hanging around so decided to use them up)

All the fruit has gone thro the steam juicer, and I've added a small tin of RGC, plus the usual bits, some oak chppings and will pitch the yeast in the morning.

[plonky]

On the strength of this post (thanks Aid) I've raided my freezer and have started a 3lbs Blackberry, 3lbs Elderberry and 1/2lb Sloe wine today. (the sloes were just what I had hanging around so decided to use them up)

All the fruit has gone thro the steam juicer, and I've added a small tin of RGC, plus the usual bits, some oak chppings and will pitch the yeast in the morning.

Are those quantities for a gallon only I have just been given 2lbs of frozen blackberries and am itching to use them.
Would 2lbs be enough.

[spritzer]

Are those quantities for a gallon only I have just been given 2lbs of frozen blackberries and am itching to use them.
Would 2lbs be enough.

For some reason, I have the number 4lbs per gallon in my head... so your 2lbs would not be enough for a gallon.

I think the wine Lushie was making will be for a gallon... it will be a big red with that amount of fruit in it.

You could try mixing your blackberries with some tinned fruit.

Or

In the recipe section there is a recipe from Sniper for Chateau Neuf...
Its on my list of things to try

[Her Lushness]

Are those quantities for a gallon only I have just been given 2lbs of frozen blackberries and am itching to use them.
Would 2lbs be enough.

Yes, the quantities I used are for a gallon, so no, 2lbs blackberries wouldn't be enough, but as Spritzer said, you could get some tinned blackcurrants, and maybe some dried elderberries and use a combination of all 3?

So how about 2lbs blackberries, 1 tin blackcurrants, 1/2lb dried elderberries as a plan?

[Aid]

Plonky mentioned Sainsbury's frozen fruit offer here, could this fruit be used with red grape concentrate for a big red?

[spritzer]

Plonky mentioned Sainsbury's frozen fruit offer here, could this fruit be used with red grape concentrate for a big red?

Indeedy

[Aid]

cmon Spritzer, land me with a recipe or link. I'm redy for this!

[spritzer]

cmon Spritzer, land me with a recipe or link. I'm redy for this!

Sorry.... I dont actually have a recipe Aid

But, I would use up the blackberries that you already have, and buy the frozen fruit to make it up to the 3-4 lbs that you need for one DJ of wine.

I had a look at the offer in the link...
They have blueberries, cherries and blackforest fruits.
I guess it depends on your taste as to what you can combine with your blackberries.
Personally, I would use the blueberries

And here's a LINKY for a blackberry recipe, from the recipe section

[lockwood1956]

For a BIG red .......


you need big ingredients, and I'm afraid that fruits of the forest just isn't enough


as a minimum it is 2 lbs elderberries and 2 lbs blackberries


you may substitue 2lbs of bilberries or blueberries for the blackberries, but if you want a big red, then you HAVE to have either grape concentrate or elderberries

[Aid]

will dried elderberries from the local HBS do the job?

[plonky]

For a BIG red .......


you need big ingredients, and I'm afraid that fruits of the forest just isn't enough


as a minimum it is 2 lbs elderberries and 2 lbs blackberries


you may substitue 2lbs of bilberries or blueberries , but if you want a big red, then you HAVE to have either grape concentrate or elderberries

Bilberries seem to be an endangered species cannot find them anywhere the Pek and Krakus ones seem to have vanished?

A simple "big (small) Red" is that possible with cherries,blackberries and elder
berries just I don't care for blackcurrants even so I cannot find them for for sale tinned or otherwise

Adoring cherries any good recipies for a good simple or fullish bodied red using them ?

[lockwood1956]

will dried elderberries from the local HBS do the job?

yes they will.