How to Make Elderberry Wine

How to Make Elderberry Wine

Photo Credit: Elderberries by Alaskapine

The elderberry plant is a shrub that resembles a blueberry in appearance. In recent years, there has been interest in the elderberry making wine. That is, how to make elderberry wine and people curious for elderberry fresh recipe wine.

The elderberry is one of the few fruits that when turned into wine resembles a wine made from a grape.

Here is an elderberry fresh recipe wine.

Step 1

• Wash 3 lbs. of ripe elderberries and remove any debris, including their stems
• Get rid of elderberries that have gone bad

Step 2

• Boil 3.5 quarts of water
• Add 2 lbs of sugar, stirring it in as you add it

Step 3

• Put the berries in a nylon straining bag, fasten it
• Mash the elderberries (you’ll want to wear gloves when you do this)
• While the elderberries are still in the nylon bag and mashed, put them in a container

Step 4

• Pour the boiling water sugar mixture over the mashed elderberries
• Let cool to a lukewarm temperature
• Add 2 tsp of Acid Blend, 1 crushed Campden tablet and 1 tsp yeast nutrient

Step 5

• Cover container for 12 hours
• After 12 hours, stir in 1/2 tsp pectic enzyme
• Cover again for another 12 hours

Step 6

• Add Yeast after 2nd round of 12 hours
• Stir blend daily for two weeks (14 days)

Step 7

• Squeeze the elderberry bag gently before stirring daily
• Stir blend daily for two weeks (14 days)

Step 8

• Rack the wine and airlock it
• Store in a dark place and allow fermentation for two months

Step 9

• Rack the wine upright and airlock it
• Store in a dark place and allow fermentation for two months

Step 10

• Repeat Step 8
• Repeat Step 9

Step 11

• Stabilize the wine and wait 10 days
• Once stabilized sweeten accordingly and distribute into bottles.

Elderberry Wine Elton John

Elderberry Wine from Elton John’s – “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player” album. Video from Frank Capra’s 1944 classic “Arsenic And Old Lace” staring Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane, Josephine Hull, Jean Adair, Peter Lorre, Raymond Massey, James Gleason, & John Alexander.

Elderberry Wine Lyrics

For more tips, you might check out How to Make Grape Wine