Homemade wine

dm1465

Hi, I used to make my own wine both from kits and from fruit etc. The kits tended to come out more like the wine you would get from the supermarket and worked quickly. I have got a book called Easymade Wines and Country Drinks which gives loads of recipes, it is quite an old paperback book, but had some great recipes in, including cold tea wine which you made from the dregs of the the tea pot - very OS! I don't know if you have access to any fruits etc but if you would like me to post any recipes or PM them to you I would be happy to. I don't make wine at the mo because I have the smallest kitchen in the world and no garage or shed, but would certainly start again when I do have the space.
Best of luck. Debx:beer:

Austin_Allegro

I've made my own wine - it's very easy to make 'prison wine'. I've used a mixture of orange juice and apple juice to make reasonably drinkable stuff which works out at about 20p a bottle. It's nothing like 'proper' wine but perfectly ok mixed with soda water and ice.

jamanda

I used to make loads - with the seasons. Started with dandelion, may blossom, elderflower, elderberry,blackberry etc. Tansy (herb) was growing in the garden and you can make a gallon for the price of a bag of sugar.

Had to give it up. Had 80 gallons taking too much room up and all friends had wonky livers.

Pick up books from charity shops, car boots etc. (Hydrometers, yeast etc. and bits and bobs from Wilkinsons)

Good luck

J

Gingham_Ribbon

Yes, I've made elderflower, dandilion and used kits. Not made it for years but from what I remember - don't take short cuts in the sterilising or it will be foul and sour. Make sure it's finished fermenting before bottling it or you'll be lying in bed one night and hear lots of popping noises as the corks come out and there's wine all over the carpet...

LOL Enjoy!

sylphraven

Not a big fan of wine but have made all sorts of different liquers & spirits myself (all pretty much the same recipe then add the flavouring) & it is sooooooooo much cheaper! & everyone who has tried my peach schnapps says its better than Archers both in taste, smoothness & strength.

You can frequently get Demi Johns on freecycle, once you have all the initial equipment it more than makes its money back. My peach schnapps kit cost £7, & filled 5 archers bottles.

Also found that if you make Kefir D'or, (Kefir in grape juice) after 1 & 1/2 weeks it tastes like Lambrusco Rose & is more alcoholic.

Hapless_2

I currently have banana wine and also some tea and rasin on the go. Both seem pretty lethal!

dollindebt

We have made fantastic wine out of gorse flowers down here in Cornwall. It's a real effort to pick the flowers with all the thorns on the plants, however, but the result is fantastic. When fermented for a few months, it has a coconut smell and taste and is lovely with a bit of soda and ice. Very moreish and VERY strong Not quite pea-pod burgundy, but very nice indeed.

We usually have several sorts bubbling away in demijohns under the stairs.

We also look for really cheap fruit from the local greengrocers and markets, usually for pennies on the pound as it is "going off"--perfect for wine making! We had a load of damsons and greengages given to us last year--now we have lots of lovely wines and preserves (and expanding waistlines).

Actually, am off to have a tipple now. Cheers all!

apple_mint

We haven't bought a bottle of wine in over 18 months - we are now fully self sufficient in wine making.

My books, demi-johns etc have been bought off car boot sales. OH is the wine maker, I'm just the fruit picker and wine tester

OK we have the odd 'stange' tasting wine, but the majority are very nice. We do a quick (3 months) tinned peach wine ( I think I've posted this on here before) and have a range of 'free fruit and blossom wines' - which I call the long term wines.

It takes space.
It takes time.
But it is well worth the effort when your wine is less than 50p a bottle.

Sloe gin, ruhbarb snaps, plum vodka etc are so easy to make as well ;)

Just don't expect it to taste just like the shop bought (it is often better!)

Angelraesunshine

sorry cant help but that did bring back fond childhood memories of my dad making it for a few years lol.

tallulah_beaulah

I recently read a magazine article about a guy cycling around europe making his own wine using berries picked from hedgerows, bread yeast, a plastic bottle and a clean sock! He said it fermented in a relatively short time (a couple of weeks I think).

I don't have the article to hand but can look it out if anyone is interested!