Is My Elderberry Wine Dangerous?

[Mitchamitri]

Made some wine in September – hedgerow picked blackberries and elderberries (roughly 50/50), mushed them up, heated some sugar though. Thing is I don’t remember if I actually boiled it and since then I have heard that elderberries uncooked can give you a bad belly?

Any idea?

[DREADSKIN]

IT SHOULD BE OK, I WAS TOLD to just pour boiling water over it, but a little heat destroys wahtever it is that is evil.

how does your taste? i made something similar 70% elder and 30% blackberry. it tastes like a really strong old french wine. LOADS of tannin and body etc. think its going to be a while before its mellow. tho infairness, i wasn't after a boring 'merlot' style wine anyway.

[Mitchamitri]

anything with elderberries should apparently be left until its at least a year old - I havent even bottled mine as theres been no waste off the last racking so its in the garage under an airlock at present. When I get round to it I shall bottle it off. Yes it is very harsh but thats to be expected I am reliably told!

[DREADSKIN]

does that mean after a year it will be smooth? has anyone got a bottle of year old elder wine? would they be willing to try it for 'scientific' purposes only?

[Mitchamitri]

I ahve a 2007 bottle of blackberry port made by an old, old friend and she says dont drink it bfore 2012!

[Carpking]

I made an elderberry port in september 2008 and it is still in the dj. Will rack it soon and leave for another three to six months and bottle in summer. Should be ready for a first sample xmas 2010.... please be good!
I think theres arsenic in the 'chandeliers' but not in the berries, or very little. Not enough to do you any harm. Birds seem to survive!