Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Bottling Elderberry Wine


After sitting on our counter for roughly six months, our Elderberry Wine was finally done fermenting and was ready to bottle.  This is the first time that we have made wine, so we really didn't know what to expect.  We did a lot of internet research so that we would know how to tell that fermentation was complete and then again when we were ready to bottle.
Taking the airlock valve off the carboy
Pouring the wine through it's final filter (double layers of sterilized cheesecloth)
Filling bottles


And so, on Sunday a lively group of us opened the air-lock valve on our much anticipated first attempt at wine making.  We filtered a little into some glasses, broke bread together and put the ruby-red wine to our lips.  Oh, it was wonderful!  I was so surprised.  Having used an old Scottish Highlands recipe requiring no modern chemicals or interventions, I wasn't really sure what to expect.  It was incredibly smooth and sweet (even a little too sweet, perhaps) and left no nasty aftertaste.  At this point we would definitely call it a desert wine, however, it will be interesting to see how it ages.  Most likely we will reduce the amount of sugar we use next time, but other than that, we are thrilled.

Dipping wine from the bucket
Passing the cork
Most assuredly a family affair
Corking the bottle
We waxed the top (although this is not necessary)
A finished bottle of wine
Packaged up and ready to give as gifts - or whatever!
Next on the list is Raspberry wine.  My friend, Lady Day has a freezer full of berries from her berry patch, so we are going to use the same recipe and give Raspberry wine a try.  It too should take about 6 months to ferment (although if the weather warms up that time will probably be reduced), so we should have a new wine to try in the fall.

As our wine ages, we will keep you posted on it's progress.  This should be fun!

14 comments:

  1. Wow!! That many bottles from just one carboy. I didn't realize a carboy was that big! When you posted on making it, I was thinking in terms of one or two finished bottles.

    I am interested in seeing how Raspberry wine does. It sounds like it would be very good. I have raspberries, strawberries and blueberries in my freezer also; now I'm thinking turning them into wine too. Never was interested in making beer (probably because I can't stand drinking it), but small amounts of wine occasionally I like, and it sounds like it would be fun to try making it, especially from home-grown fruit.

    Alinna

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  2. My husband and I have been making wine for nearly a year now and LOVE the process. I'd LOVE to know how to make it without the modern chemicals and such...if you'd be willing to share. We have made and bottled dandelion wine (my favorite so far), black berry, and pear/cherry. At this moment, I have some honey wine, hard cider, and a kit win that we purchased at the wine supply store that is a pomegranate/wild berry zinfandel wine. I LOVE the whole process, it fascinates me. It is so fun to give as gifts too! What does your wine taste like? I've never tasted elderberries before. Sounds interesting!

    Enjoy your wine!

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    1. Valerie;
      If you click on the blog that says Elderberry Wine (at the top) and is a different color from the rest of the text, it will take you back to my original post, which has the recipe. I don't know exactly how to explain what it tastes like - not being a wine aficionado! Thanks much.
      Enola

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    2. Thank you Enola! I should have thought of looking back in your blog. :)

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  3. Fantastic. How could you go wrong with a Scotish Highlands reciepe?

    ;)

    Terry
    Florida

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  4. I too would love the recipe. The homemade labels are fantastic!!!

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  5. Do you use the same recipe for raspberries? How about blueberries or blackberries?

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  6. Congrats on making your wine! You did a fabulous label for your bottles. I toast (send you a cheer) to you and your husband on this wine and your furture wines! Enjoy :-)

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  7. I don't believe that corked bottles should be stored on their bases, but rather on their side so the cork does not dry out.

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    1. When we bought cases of wine from the winery, they were stored with the bottles upside down, probably for that reason.
      The homemade wine process sounds like fun.
      Paintedmoose

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  8. I don't drink, but the making of it sounds like fun. In high school, a friend of mine's dad bought a beer making kit,and we were put in charge of it. The bottles were deposit pop bottles(they could take the pressure) we rode around and found, but the kit came with everything else-from the 5 gallon water cooler jug to the fermentation lock and everything in between. The most time consuming part was gathering and washing bottles. The process for wine sounds very similar to beer(beer has a bit of yeast added right at capping for the fizz). Apparently, we were successful-his dad and uncle seem to enjoy the product of our labor quite a bit! My one and only experience with brewing, circa 1977.

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  9. This was really interesting! We just ordered 4 elderberry bushes, and I had planned on making extract to help with colds and flu, but now I'm going to have to try the wine! Elderberry is such a great plant; we keep bees and they are supposed to love the pollen of elderberries.

    Were the bottles expensive? Love the label!

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  10. Forgot to say in my response above, awesome labels. Did you make those on your computer?
    Paintedmoose

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  11. Did I miss the recipe? I have a gallon of elderberry wine sitting on the kitchen counter for a couple of weeks now, and wondering about when it is done fermenting. :)

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