Blackberries are typically in season during late-summer to early-autumn months, and can be found in hedgerows all across the US and Europe. They are used to make desserts, jams and teas . This article will teach you how to make delicious blackberry wine perfect for summer barbecues and garden parties .
Ingredients
To make 1 gallon (3.8 L) / 6 bottles of wine:
- 4 1/2 - 6 lbs of fresh blackberries
- 2 1/2 lbs of sugar
- 7 pints water
- 1 package yeast (red wine yeast is recommended)
Steps
-
Crush berries by hand in a sterile plastic bucket. Pour in 2 US pints (950 ml) of cooled distilled water and mix well. Leave mixture for two hours.
-
Boil one third of the sugar with 3 US pints (1,000 ml) water for one minute. [1] X Research source Allow syrup to cool.Advertisement
-
Add yeast to 4 oz of warm (not boiling) water and stand for 10 minutes.
-
Pour the cooled syrup into the berries. Add the yeast. Make sure the mixture has properly cooled, as a hot temperature will kill the yeast. [2] X Research source
-
Cover the bucket with a clean cloth and leave in a warm place for seven days.
-
Strain pulp through fine muslin or another fine straining device, wringing the material dry. Use the pulp as compost .
-
Pour the strained liquid into a gallon jug.
-
Boil a second 1/3 of the sugar in 1 US-pint (470 ml) water. Allow it to cool before adding it to the jug.
-
Plug the top of jug with cotton wool and stretch a pin-pricked balloon to the neck. This allows CO2 to escape and to protects the wine from oxidization and outside contamination.
-
Let the wine sit for ten days. [3] X Research source
-
Sterilize the wine bottles and add a funnel. [5] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
-
Pour the wine into the bottles, filling each bottle to the neck.
Community Q&A
-
QuestionDoes the first mixture with the berries need to be stirred daily for the first seven days?Community AnswerI stir the must at least once per day to ensure the yeast mixes around. This technique also helps release the CO2 that gets trapped under the floating berry must.
-
QuestionHow much yeast do I use for a gallon of water?Community AnswerGenerally, use one teaspoon of regular wine yeast to a gallon of water. Always check the packet to be sure.
-
QuestionCan I use frozen blackberries to make wine?Community AnswerYes, I've frozen damsons, plums, gooseberries, apples and blackberries all with no adverse effects. In fact, I sometimes think it makes a better must.
Video
Tips
- When picking blackberries, only pick berries that are fully black and plump. Unripe blackberries will not ripen once picked. [7] X Research sourceThanks
- Absolutely make sure your equipment is cleaned and sterilized or your wine turns funky. [8] X Research sourceThanks
- Berry wine is best drunk within the year but can be aged for up to two years.Thanks
Warnings
- Ensure all mixture that comes into contact with the yeast has been allowed to properly cool. Yeast is a live organism which will die if exposed to high temperatures.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Plastic bucket (sterilized)
- Glass gallon jug or bottle
- Pot to siphon wine into
- Pot to boil syrup
- Cotton wool
- Balloons
- Wine bottles (sterilized)
- Corks and hand corker
- Fine muslin or other straining material
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqbo2Eo1stA
- ↑ https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/8363-the-impact-of-too-hot-water-on-yeast
- ↑ https://practicalselfreliance.com/homemade-blackberry-wine/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArZZLEg6b_g
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/faq/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMfjtcOBFYE
- ↑ http://pickyourown.org/blackberries.htm
- ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/washing-and-sanitizing-kitchen-items
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/aug/31/how-make-blackberry-wine-whisky
About This Article
Making homemade blackberry wine takes a couple of weeks, but at the end of it, you’ll have your own liquor that you can share with friends or save all for yourself. You’ll need a few pounds of fresh blackberries, 2 ½ pounds of sugar, 1 package of yeast, and water. Additionally, you’ll need a plastic bucket, a jug, cotton wool, balloons, wine bottles, corks, and fine muslin to strain the wine. To start the fermentation process, you’ll need to crush your blackberries and mix them with water. Then, boil 1/3 of the sugar with water and mix it with the berries and yeast. After 7 days, you’ll need to strain the pulp, add more boiled sugar and water to the wine, and leave it to sit for another 3 days. On the 10th day, siphon the wine out, boil more sugar and water, and leave the wine to ferment some more. For more tips, including how to store your blackberry wine, read on!
Reader Success Stories
- "Last year I followed this Wiki and made delicious wine, but only had enough fruit for half. This year, I made sure to have ample blackberries for wine and I am halfway through the process. I hope this year's wine turns out as delicious as last year's. " ..." more