If you have an abundance of berries, set some aside for elderberry syrup– a powerful cold and flu fighting elixir– or jam. However, it is possible to freeze them for later use. Wine is best made using fresh-picked berries. If so, it’s likely that the fruit is beginning to ripen now (that is, given the birds haven’t gotten to them first!). Perhaps you’re fortunate to have elderberries growing in your own backyard. That alone is a great excuse to start making elderberry wine! The fruit has some of the highest antioxidant levels of any fruit. The added benefit of making and drinking elderberry wine is its medicinal properties. As a result of having a natural balance of not-too-acidic, sweet, or tannic, these plump, little berries make a delicious wine that is every bit as good as that from grapes. One such plant that grows easily and in abundance in our region is the American elder (Sambucus canadensis), which bears purplish-black berries that come into season from July to late September, depending on where you live. Here in the Southeast, where the terrain isn’t so ideal for growing grapes, we can instead turn to what is already growing right around us. Looking forward to the results.While grapes are, by far, the most commonly associated fruit with making wine, they certainly aren’t the only option. Just what I needed, easy to understand and to follow. The chemical you mention as being used with grain and potato recipes is amylase, which breaks down starch into fermentable sugars and thus reduces/prevents "starch haze".īest and easiest recipe for dried elderberry wine! Simple instructions,easy to follow makes an excellent wine. Pectolase is used to breakdown the cell walls of many fruits to prevent "pectin haze". The pectic enzyme (pectolase) is added as per the guidelines on the pot, usually around 1 teaspoon per gallon, but this may vary depending on the manufacturer/supplier, which is why it isn't included as a quantity in the recipe. There is no quantity given for pectic enzyme? i never seen recipe for sloe or elderberry using pectic enzyme! Is this ingredient used in fermenting grains of potatoes? As for finding "grape concentrate", we have it on our website in the "ingredients" section, listed as Wine Enhancer "Supermarket grape juice" could be used, provided that you ensure that it doesn't contain preservatives, as these could potentially inhibit the yeast. This is cheap and freely available in the supermarket but have had no luck in locating concentrate Just wondering if I could use ordinary red grape juice. Generally, you would follow the instructions on the pack/tub, but most recipes tend to suggest around 1tsp of each additive per gallon. Standard "All Purpose Yeast" or any of the youngs or Gervin Red Wine Yeasts will be suitable. It really depends upon which yeast you can get or prefer as long as it isn't "Baker's Yeast". Looks good going to give this a go what yeast would you say and how much thanks? I don't specify a particular yeast as the preference is yours, but as stated, the Yeast and Yeast Nutrient are added once the mixture has cooled. Have used this method for years, never a failure. The same method can also be used to produce dried sloe wine.Įasiest and simplest recipe, excellent results. This will produce a dry table wine which will be ready to drink much sooner than wine made with fresh elderberries. At the end of a week, it is strained into a fermenter and left to ferment out. It should be kept in a warm place and stirred daily for a week and the fruit should be pushed down regularly. Once it has cooled, citric acid and pectic enzyme is added, followed by Yeast and Yeast Nutrient. The water is brought to the boil and then the grape concentrate, dried elderberries and sugar is stirred in to dissolve the sugar. Pectic Enzyme/Pectolase (as per manufacturer's dosage instructions) The common method used in CJJ Berry's book to make 1 gallon is to take: At this time of the year, there is a distinct possibility that you will have some dried elderberries left over from the harvest of last Autumn (or you may have bought a bag from your local homebrew store), now is an ideal time to use them to make dried elderberry wine.