NB: If you are new to winemaking, it is worth checking out our guide to success.
Ingredients
Method
Elderberries provide the essential red colour, but bilberries will do equally if you can get them. With elderberries you must make sure that the berries are really ripe and have suitable flavour. I use the 3-test approach to picking berries;
Ferment all the berries for just a couple of days and ferment at 15-17 Degrees Celsius using the No. 9 Yeast. If the temperature gets above 20 Degrees Celsius the wine will lack the necessary delicate touch and the fruity esters will be lacking. As usual ferment to dryness and let the wine drop clear. Add the extra sugar, shaking gently to dissolve it and then stabilise the wine with sulphite and sorbate.
PRICES INCLUDE VAT - FREE DELIVERY £100+ Dismiss