Blackberry wine

[DelTrotter]

As the season of Blackberries and elderberries is about to begin heres a recipe which is tried and tested. Bloody lovely.

4lb of blackberries
3lb of sugar
1 gall of water
yeast and nutrient
pectic enzyme




wash the fruit well removing any small maggots sometimes found on the fruit
place in polythene bucket and crush with a potatoe masher
pour over the boiling water,stir well and allow to cool to 21 c
add pectic enzyme according to label
a day later add yeast and nutrient,cover closely and leave for 4 or 5 days stirring daily
strain through some nylon netting or nylon seive on to 3lb of sugar stir well to make sure it is all dissolved
pour into dark fermenting jar filling to the shoulder and fit airlock
keep any spare liquid in a smaller bottle with lid
when the ferment settles a bit and there is no risk of it bubbling into the airlock after say a week top up with spare liquid and refit airlock

leave until it clears and then rack for the first time

this recipe can be used for dewberry,loganberry and raspberry

. Obviously adjust weights and amount to the amount of fruit you use .

Already had a 2kg pick on friday and more to come

[Fireball JaX]

thanks for the recipe. will give it a try if i can find some. now is the season for the picking to start. if you mix the blackberry with some elderberry the wine isnt as sweet and also doesnt need back sweetening later

[Fireball JaX]

got a 2 gallons worth in a bucket on the go at the moment. just added my yeasties and nutrient. one small thing. is this your recipe or borrowed from somewhere

[DelTrotter]

its a borrowed recipe. but i make changes to suit my style of brewing.

ive seen people use 1kg of blackberries and a gallon of water . all depends on your style and you learn all the time and what you prefer.

Ive just pick a load of rose hip fruit. so ill be doing an experimental brew this weekend.
But blackberries are the future at the moment. My target this year is 100 litres of wine!

[Fireball JaX]

went picling the other day and got a few blackberries. they are easiest as they are most available near me. will try and find some elder berries but got to find the right places to look

[Deadly]

Picked a kilo of blackberries the other day and made 4 jars of jam - might have to go back for more now!

[DelTrotter]

Picked a kilo of blackberries the other day and made 4 jars of jam - might have to go back for more now!

Its beautiful blackberry jam. A nice pie or crumble with some homegrown rhubarb is one of the best Puddings iv ever had, give it a go if you havent already. happy picking.

The Elderberries are coming out now. just starting to turn colour so next week I may start my pick for them. the elders make a lovely wine but Id add some grape concentrate, Raisins or even blackberries for the body of the wine.
The only problem with elders is the forking stage! Taking them off the branch but its worth it in the end.

[Fireball JaX]

do you have to take each individual berry off the stems or can the lot go in the bucket as its strained off later

[DelTrotter]

do you have to take each individual berry off the stems or can the lot go in the bucket as its strained off later

You dont want the branches fermenting in there. they leave a taste you dont really want.
Takes time, Along time tbh but its worth it.

[russbeer]

you lot sound like proper country bumpkins.

Is anyone selling any near me?

[DelTrotter]

Ormskirk will be full of blackberries, its all country roads and streets. take a 10 litre bucket and spend 8 hours with a flask of tea and sandwiches lol!! that what i do.

Also Ill be saving some wine in my loft for my sons 18th or 21st and other special occasions. next is a homemade still

[russbeer]

it is mate, i ain't got the other gear, or patience for that matter.

I can buy blackberry wine form farm shops here, just fancied trying some of your stronger stuff

[prezzy]

it is mate, i ain't got the other gear, or patience for that matter.

I can buy blackberry wine form farm shops here, just fancied trying some of your stronger stuff

Find me a shit load of blackberries that are ready and will make you some - fuck all round here atm - either not ready / by the road (which I wont use) or I can't find them

[DelTrotter]

it is mate, i ain't got the other gear, or patience for that matter.

I can buy blackberry wine form farm shops here, just fancied trying some of your stronger stuff

not ready till christmas time but may send a little sample if your good. its around 15%

[DelTrotter]

Find me a shit load of blackberries that are ready and will make you some - fuck all round here atm - either not ready / by the road (which I wont use) or I can't find them

they've been ready for a couple or so a week. Public walkways are best especially near reservoirs and rivers. road berries are fine. give em a wash and they all make the same stuff. Its just looking a right twat picking em during rush hour.

[prezzy]

they've been ready for a couple or so a week. Public walkways are best especially near reservoirs and rivers. road berries are fine. give em a wash and they all make the same stuff. Its just looking a right twat picking em during rush hour.

Where abouts in UK are you? the ones I have managed to find round here aint been anywhere near ready to pick.

There are a load on the road near my house so will keep an eye on them but nowhere the amount I am after

Will get out this weekend for another search around

[DelTrotter]

north Manchester. shit loads around. you must have parks, woods, Rivers, Reservoirs and public highways near yourself. take your phone and geo tag em. ive been doin my patches and dates when each patch is ready for picking, as each location is going to be different .

[greaseweasel]

Might have a go at this, theres loads near me at the moment.

Do you know if its ok to use screw cap wine bottles - I've got about 5 knocking around that I was saving for homebrew.

I would have thought the screw cap would be ok as long as its put back on properly, but wondered if anyone had tried and had problems with them letting air in.

[Fireball JaX]

i was advised not to store in screw tap bottles but never actually given a reason. my mate puts his wine in these but it doesnt stay there for long. drunk within a week or two after bottling. i tend to leave wine bottled for x amount of months depending on what i make so i always cork the bottles. you shouldnt really try to cork a screw top bottle as the thread makes the glass weak and is inclined to break when forcing the cork in. i have a bank of corked bottles i collect from friends and family. they keep them for me to pick up.

i live off the east lancs in manchester area and picked some blackbarries last week. quite a few ready for picking round here

[greaseweasel]

i was advised not to store in screw tap bottles but never actually given a reason. my mate puts his wine in these but it doesnt stay there for long. drunk within a week or two after bottling. i tend to leave wine bottled for x amount of months depending on what i make so i always cork the bottles. you shouldnt really try to cork a screw top bottle as the thread makes the glass weak

Cheers, I've been reading round a few homebrew forums and theres mixed feeling. People say they have used them without issue and also as the bottle stands upright theres less surface area in contact with the head space of the bottle.

Others say if theres a slight secondary fermentation then they can be dangerous and also the cork issue with the weaker sides - I think a normal corkscrew rather than a 'waiters friend' would be ok though.

I might risk them with the screw cap - they are in the garage and i'll put them in a box so no big deal if they explode.