Blackberry Wine...Hedgerow Harvest

[Vossy1]

Well it's that time of year again and the hedgerows of good ol blighty are starting to beckon once again

For you deliberation...Blackberry Wine which will be medium sweet.
This is a recipe taken from C.J.J.Berry's first step in winemaking

The recipe calls for

1.75kg of Blackberries
1.5kg of Sugar
4.5ltrs of water
Yeast nutrient
Pectic enzyme

And is sufficient for making 1 demijon or 1 U.K gallon of Blackberry Wine

First collect your Blackberries, preferably on a hot day when the fruits are dry...well they're plentiful in sunny Manchester



We collected 2 demijon's worth in one short trip



Next crush your berries with a potato masher or similar



This is what 2 ltrs of crushed Blackberries looks like



Next pour 4.5ltrs of boiling water onto the Blackberry puree



Allow the Blackberry and water mix to cool to 21 deg c then add pectic enzyme.... according to the pe's instructions.

A day later add the yeast and nutrient.
Leave for 4 or 5 days stirring daily.
Strain through some nylon or a sieve on to 1.5kg of sugar.
Stir well, pour into a dark fermenting jar upto the shoulders only, in our case a clear demijon and a bin bag , fit air lock
Keep the spare liquor to top up the demijon after initial vigorous fermentation has taken place...much like TC

Leave until it clears and rack for 1st time

More pics will follow, including



Elderberry wine ....seperate topic

Ps...sorting unripened Elderberries from ripened is a pita...glad I was just watching with a pint, glass of Wolf Blass Cabernet, and the camera


To come adding the yeast, sugar and more pictures

[Vossy1]

Love the pics/how too, really usefull

Swimbo did'nt know I had the camera

Ps, About to edit a photo in here if you can identify them it would be great

Here they are...



They taste like a really on form Granny Smith

Some type of Crab Apple ? Size 1.5" tall by roughly 1/2" across.

[prodigal2]

Yup crab apples, and they make great jelly, very high in pectin and are a great source to set other jellies

[Vossy1]

Cheers fellas

Now to see if you can make wine with them

Apparently you can

4 lb. Crab Apples
1 gallon water
½ level tsp. Yeast nutrient
½ level tsp. Acid blend
1 Campden tablet
1 packet wine yeast
½ tsp pectic enzyme powder
2 lb Sugar
1 lb. Raisins (chopped)

[oblivious]

Vossy1

Have you ever tried replacing the water and sugar with apple juice in the Blackberry Wine?

Just wondering what it would be like?

[Vossy1]

Have you ever tried replacing the water and sugar with apple juice in the Blackberry Wine?

Not yet, but I might give it a go

Todays hedgerow foray will include, pears, crab apples, blackberries and more elderberries. According to some quick googling, crab apple wine is potent as is pear... Might be some nice jams getting made also

[J_P]

Have you ever tried replacing the water and sugar with apple juice in the Blackberry Wine?

Not yet, but I might give it a go

Todays hedgerow foray will include, pears, crab apples, blackberries and more elderberries. According to some quick googling, crab apple wine is potent as is pear... Might be some nice jams getting made also

I found a crab apple tree round the river whilst walking the mutt. I duly filled my pockets with them and acquired a jam bag (also good for dry hopping). The resultant jelly was superb it went down a storm on warm currant scones with butter and a cup of tea, fantastic!. I also made up a batch with rosehips and rowan berries which was equally good.

[Vossy1]

Todays hedgerow raid



3kg of Elderberries, 2kg of Blackberries, 1/2 a bucket of crab apples and a bag each of pears, conference and another whose origin I'm uncertain of...but it's definatley an eater, or in this case for vino

The resultant jelly was superb it went down a storm on warm currant scones with butter and a cup of tea, fantastic!. I also made up a batch with rosehips and rowan berries which was equally good.

Sounding good

[J_P]

That's a top days work there Vossy, I have a tree or two full of plums some of which are destined for the demijohns. I'm looking forward to having a go at wine making.

[Vossy1]

Plum wine sounds nice J_P

You may be able to answer me a question.

Whilst out collecting Blackberries we found row upon row of bushes. They were more like small tree's, about 15 ft high and they had loads of smallish, grape sized purple berries on them.
Some of the bushes had huge 3" thorns whereas the others had none.
I straight away though they were sloes, they were too small to be Damsons, but then a lady walked past ad said they were Loganberries....does this sound right

I did try one and it was very bitter

[J_P]

Plum wine sounds nice J_P

You may be able to answer me a question.

Whilst out collecting Blackberries we found row upon row of bushes. They were more like small tree's, about 15 ft high and they had loads of smallish, grape sized purple berries on them.
Some of the bushes had huge 3" thorns whereas the others had none.
I straight away though they were sloes, they were too small to be Damsons, but then a lady walked past ad said they were Loganberries....does this sound right

I did try one and it was very bitter

Logan berries look like brambles. I reckon they'd most likely be bullaces which are related to sloes, plums and damsons. They can be turned into tasty alcohol too

http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/?p=41

[Vossy1]

Cheers J_P...I'm still uncertain though. I just had a look at these pics and though the fruit shown even has the same orange type fungus appearance on its skin the fruits I saw toda were not grouped together.
There was one every 6 or so inches along the branches alomost directly on the branch as well

http://www.pmstudios.co.uk/environment/ ... 7830w.html

[Vossy1]

Think I've just nailed them identity wise.

The thorned bush looks like a blackthorn and hence sloe's
I think the other non thorned bush could be the Bullace

Cheers J_P for putting me on the right track

EDIT, Don't think the other one is a Bullace as they have green fruit, aka the green damson

[DRB]

Nice one glad it's not me sorting those elderberries out though.

[gorymorph]

just been down the canal bank to get some blackberry,s managed to get about 5lb so enough for a gallon of wine and some for the freezer for a pie. On the way back to the house my sons girlfriend spotted a King fisher sat on a garden fence, only the second time ever i've seen one of them. Aint nature wonderfull you get the bounties of the hedgerow and the bounties of wildlife. Bl**dy Wonderfull