I would like to try to make some wine. Any tips please?

Question

I think I have most of the basic equipment - demijohns / bottles etc. Pls can anyone tell me what the other essentials are? I was hoping to make blackberry or elderberry wine. DOes anyone have a basic recipe? Or any other suggestions or recipe ideas? I am totally clueless so would welcome any info people are willing to offer. Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Get a book on Country Wines or go on-line. Potatoes, carrots, parsnips & beetroots all make excellent wine and root crops such as these use the same basic recipe of 4lb of vegetable. The other two vital ingredients are cleanliness and patience. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Get one of CJJ Berry's books. He has several, all pitched at beginners.

Answer 3

good for you, its fun to expiriment with stuff like this.  I am making cider myself (basically apple wine).  I would suggest to expirment with small batches to begin with, so you don't have to toss out gallons of grape juice, but its pretty easy to make OK wine... I started because of cost.  Hard apple cider near my there are 2 brands (woodchuck & hornsby's) and at $8 for a 6-pack, they aren't cheap, so if i can make some reasonable stuff myself, i will (total investment sofar in a 5-gallon batch: $20)

Tons of resources online, you need some basic chemicals and yeast, and you are ready to go if you have the hardware:

Answer 4

My cousin made his own wine years ago, and honestly, it wasn't worth all the trouble! I'd rather take a trip to the liquor store and buy a nice bottle. But, your efforts are worthy...