ELDERBERRY WINE
INGREDIENTS for each gallon to be made:
6 oz. Dried Elderberries or 3 lbs. fresh elderberries
1 gallon Warm Water
2 lbs. Sugar
1/2 - 1 lb. Chopped Raisins
1 1/2 tsp. acid blend
1/2 tsp. Super Ferment Yeast Nutrient
1 Campden Tablet (crushed) or 1/8 tsp. Sodium Metabisulfite
Wine Yeast
PROCEDURE:
1. Mix all the ingredients EXCEPT the wine yeast in primary fermenter.
Stir well to dissolve.
2. Allow to stand for 24 hours. Stir several times during this period.
3. Add wine yeast to a cup of lukewarm water. Cover and allow to stand
10 - 15 minutes. Now add to fermenter and cover with lid or plastic sheet
and tie down.
4. Ferment for 4-6 days (until S.G. 1.030). Stir daily to break up pulp
cap. Strain out the pulp and knead to extract the juice. Syphon into sterilized
secondary fermenter and attach fermentation lock.
Note: A second run may be made from the discarded pulp.
Add another gallon warm (not hot! ) water, more sugar, more acid blend
(increase amount to 2 tsp.) and more yeast nutrient. Ferment 10 days on
the pulp. Continue the original procedure. A lighter wine will result.
5. Rack into another sterilized jug at three weeks and attach
fermentation lock. Always fill the jug as full as possible. Rack again
in about 1 month.
6. When wine is clear and stable, it may be bottled. The addition of 1/2
tsp. potassium sorbate stabilizer is recommended. If a sweeter wine is
desired, add simple syrup to taste (2 parts fructose or sugar to 1 part
boiling water).
7. Bottle and cork and stand upright for 3 - 4 days then lay on its side
and allow to age for 4-6 months in a dark, vibration free place.
NOTE: All equipment must be well washed and sterilized with
a solution of sodium metabisulfite.
Elderberry Wine