An easy cheap wine for this Christmas.

4 comments

Hi all, Sue and i have recently got back into homemade wine making in a small way (Diabetes dictates)we used to do this 20 odd years ago and i found an old book that i wrote all those years ago on Wine recipes we had made and tried.This one we found most of the family would drink with the festive meals (and after).

Christleton Wine Recipe.
60p ish per bottle.

This wine matures quickly and should be ready to drink by the festive season
4 oz dried elderberries, (1lb fresh)
1 pint cider (dry or medium)
2 pounds sugar
1 tsp pectolase (Pour boiling water over fruit instead)
1 tsp yeast energiser (yeast nutrient)
1 tsp red wine yeast (General Purpose will do)
1 tsp citric acid (two good squirts Jiffy Lemon instead)
Water to make up to one gallon
Method
Put Elderberries into a clean bucket with a lid or (Teacloth) to stop anything getting in.Pour over 6 pints of Boiling Water with the 2lbs of Sugar melted in it until it goes clear. Add Cider after 15 minutes,Leave until cool (65f to 75f) then add Yeast and Yeast nutrient + Lemon(all these ingredients are available at wine shops or good health food shops) stir twice daily for three to four days then strain (through a Colander then an old pair of Tights)into a Demi John (Glass gallon jar)i find the Plastic Tesco gallon Water Bottles just as good (about a £1 with Water) Plug with a big piece of Cotton Wool and leave for 4 to 8 weeks at room Temperature 65f-75f (it slows down if too Hot or Cold)After this time it should have stopped bubbling and gone clear, use a clear piece of Plastic Pipe to Syphon into bottles.Drink and enjoy.

• 26 Sep, 2011
• 4 likes

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