Elderberry Wine (Port) - Simple and delicious

In this video, we show how to make a rich, traditional elderberry wine. We haven't shown the clearing, filtering and bottling steps but can make a part 2 video to cover this if requested
Our fortified elderberry port recipe for those that want a true port
• Making Blackberry Port...
Identifying elder trees
• How to identify elderf...
Recipe & Ingredients list
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Opening Music credits: Artist = Earth Tree Healing
Composer = Claudine West
Website = claudinewestmusic.com/earth-t...

[@danjonesguitarist]

Thank you. I'd love to see the next stage! Mead is really interesting too.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Dan, this is part 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/an7ImpyCj8SWq8U We have a couple of mead brews going right now

[@jlawlor7560]

I was always told they were poisonous 😂 hello from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi - raw elderberries can be, but elderberry wine has been made for centuries

[@cw4608]

I admire creators who take the time to answer questions in the comments

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you. We really want to help others enjoy the life that we lead

[@ryloncross6207]

Just planted American elderberry. Looking forward to trying this. Thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Wow - that's commitment!

[@timtaylor5973]

Thanks, great video as usual.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Cheers Tim 👍

[@dalegriffiths335]

Great instructnal video !!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you!

[@terrykelly602]

Great vid, I take it the orange juice needs to be pure...no preservative rubbish etc or the yeast will not take. Right am off to get some elderberries.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Nothing with sulphites etc. Terry, you are quite right!

[@johnanderson7988]

My Dad justdied in Maine USA, He had harvested about 20 lbs and froze them for his wine making. Anyway, I was closing the house (on the ocean by the way), and I brought them back to Michigan USA with me. I already make wine using frozen berries such as black, red, blue, mulberry, etc that grow on my farm. So my normal basic method is frozen berries, boiled water and sugar like you, but I add yeast nutrient, pectin enzyme, and 5 crushed campden, wait 24 hours and toss the yeast. I do thing in a bucket that's covered with a vent. Wait a week, or so, and transfer to a large demi with airlock. Now, I woundering if I should try you method. Looks pretty easy.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi John, pur condolences for your loss. Our method works for us, but adding Campden tablets and yeast nutrients at the right time will not hurt anything. Hugh

[@johnanderson7988]

@@EnglishCountryLife Next time your way. I have 20 lbs berries so I'm going for a 5 gallon batch. Boiling the sugar water as I type...John

[@pakulaloola]

Raspberry wine would be a helpful recipe. Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

If I get a good harvest, I'll make a batch!

[@pakulaloola]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you! I just made your blackberry port and your Elderflower wine. Easy instructions - can't wait to try them

[@Beatlejuicey13]

Brilliant guide, nice and clear, thankyou

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm so glad - thank you!

[@supramby]

Thanks from Minnesota great video

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's really kind - thank you

[@tanyanikolaevagizdova6571]

Now I want to make some elderberry wine! This is also very useful information for a short story I'm writing, where the main character was taught how to make different sorts of wine by his father.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Love that it's useful for your story 😁

[@barrylucero5578]

Wonderful Content ! I will try this recipe this summer! Outstanding!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Barry - hope you enjoy it!

[@firewoodisland]

Lovely ❤

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you 👍

[@eprohoda]

amazinng ,💫

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you

[@23032malvernmick]

Yes please more country wines and fortified wines would be great thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'll do some over Winter!

[@jimknight5675]

Fantastic video’s and your so natural in front of the camera, the video’s are so full of good down to Earth info. Love them

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks so much Jim - really appreciate it

[@liamwill83]

Oooo, saved this for tomorrow. I’ve got a load of these growing down the allotment. Thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Well worth making Liam!

[@almayaniv]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise - they were really clear instructions

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jessi8927]

Immediate recipe seems like it would be very interesting. I will look forward to it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Immediate recipe?

[@carmelsings6620]

Another great video, thanks. I'd love to see a video on making mead

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I haven't made mead for a while so I'll try to do a batch soon!

[@patpreston5071]

Thank you. Just subscribed because you make it so simple to follow and very concise. You also look so enthusiastic. Cheers 🍻

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you & welcome 😁

[@debramccormick456]

Thank you for the fabulous video! I have the necessary ingredients here, so today’s the day! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! Can’t wait to see more!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's a firm favourite here - we hope you enjoy it!

[@LGGGlove]

Thx

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Any time

[@pnwfarmergal1067]

I made this it was absolutely delicious! My second batch is in the demijohn.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm so glad that you liked it 🍷. Slainte!

[@oursmallholdinglife5243]

I’m having a go at this! Got lots of ripe elderberries on the trees so perfectly timed video and very concise thank you!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm so glad - it's a favourite of ours so we hope you like it!

[@steffipavitti]

Fiona and Hugh, the content on your channel is superb. I’m in SW England so this channel, for me, has the ‘old fashioned’ skill set and charm of a lost world (and if there was ever a time to revive these skills…..). You should have a book. Many thanks x

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's so lovely of you Stephanie - thank you. I'm an old Devon lad so learned a lot of this stuff in your neck of the woods! Hugh

[@philipneedham9317]

As I was watching the video my daughter sent a picture message of loads of elderberries she spotted on her dog walk.... must be fate!! Love the channel and love the wine videos 👍 thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Excellent news Philip - you will have to get her a bucket 😁

[@kathyskinner6742]

18:29 thankyoi very informative will be making this wine in a couple of days.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's a lovely traditional wine - enjoy!

[@pattypan2]

Thanks Hugh, brilliant as usual. Must say have not come across the use of Orange with Elderberry. Might have to give that a try. Hope you are both keeping well x Tricia

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I think it really works Tricia - all okay here, just super busy - hope everything is well with you?

[@heikethamm6577]

Thank you ❤ for guiding us so very well into making Elderberry wine. I'll have to wait until August for the berries but am already extremely excited .....

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are very welcome. We are always here if you have questions when making it 🍷

[@ericnaquin2105]

We will definitely be doing this for our next elderberry season in Southeast Louisiana. Can’t wait!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's a great taste - & better for a year in the bottle

[@ericnaquin2105]

@@EnglishCountryLife I’ll have to make two then. One to drink and one to age. Thanks!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@ericnaquin2105 Always a good idea 👍

[@chrisfox3161]

Let the foraging begin! Good instructions, Hugh. Oh, I do agree with the unscented bleach. Simple, cheap and effective. Been using the method for years. ( late 70s)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Glad its not just me with bleach Chris!

[@creativemakes8219]

Great stuff! 👌🥰 I planted 5 sambucus nigra whips in my garden this year so looking forward to the coming years. Out foraging for these on the allotment on Sunday though so I’ll be certainly trying this recipe. Thanks for all your great content 👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@premierfuncasino]

Invaluable .. you are a touchstone for all us lovers of nature. Go raibh mile a mhait agat

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm so glad that you enjoyed it Tom

[@micheleeastmond9552]

Thank you! Perfect timing as I have plans to start an elderberry wine soon...dried elderberries though...Love all of your videos but the winemaking/homebrewing are my FAVE!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Michele - I really should make a few more!

[@micheleeastmond9552]

@@EnglishCountryLife I would love that 👍🏾 maybe apple or pear if you have those trees in your orchard. Whatever you have in abudance use, we your viewers enjoy them all 😊

[@EnglishCountryLife]

How about medlar wine? I have a LOT of medlars 🙂

[@GoodNewsGospel777]

Great stuff... Suffice to say, I'll be getting my elderberry wine on the go in a few days. God bless.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you, enjoy 🍷

[@GoodNewsGospel777]

@@EnglishCountryLife Will do, and I will even upload a vid to boot... 👍👍👍👍

[@joannecrofts3794]

Hi Hugh. Thank you for another interesting and informative video. I am sorry to go off topic and I know I have asked this before and to some it might seem very basic but one video that would really help me is one on your composting system. I am very new to gardening and veg growing and your composting system seems to work so well with your many tubs. I would love to know more.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Joanne, you are right, we really must do a video on it!

[@SarahSmith-bg6hl]

Can’t wait to give this a try, loved making the blackberry port last year , If you could do more wine and maybe a gin video please. Thank you 😊

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Will do Sarah - have you seen our Sloe gin recipe? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ2QlWOZlpZqnJI

[@SarahSmith-bg6hl]

@@EnglishCountryLife not yet but will be tonight, thank you 😊

[@Thankful_.]

I was not aware that bleach was bad for septic systems. I’m glad that you mentioned this. It would be nice if the label for Toilet bowl cleaner with bleach would suggest not to use to clean toilets used w septic systems

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It would be a great idea!

[@cotteeskid]

I've got an Elderberry in the backyard and the equipment from making my mead (since I have two hives). I think I have no choice but to make some of this wine, this coming summer - here in Oz. Thanks again. Love the content. Still using my Dubbin from your recipe. Would like to see some fortified wine stuff - since you asked.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Sounds like you pretty much have to do it 😁

[@hodowlauprawa-fajnazabawa4688]

Great video , greetings👋

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thank you 🙂

[@thesilentmothtrapper4373]

I love elderberry wine for me it's what I think of when I think of country wine as it was the country wine I was first introduced too many years ago when my dad made it. Such amazing flavor just gotten into wine and cider making recently and I have a gallon of it on the go ! Thanks for the great video. All the best.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I hope you enjoy your gallon 🙂

[@thesilentmothtrapper4373]

@@EnglishCountryLife thank you

[@jacquiehahn4910]

MEAD!!!!! The first batch I made, nearl 20 years ago, was fabulous. The next bloody awful, and I have no idea why. As that quantity of good honey isn't cheap, haven't tried since, but I love the stuff.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Me too. I'll chat up a beekeeper 😉

[@GaryHearn]

Just Preping myself for the season to come (2023) Your recipe reminded me of a batch I made many years ago and forgot about after bottling. They got lost amongst other bottles and equipment. It was three years before they surfaced again. When opened was completely sublime probably the best wine I have ever made. This year I will make extra batches as there are trees on my allotment site that only seem to be used by birds. Not a wine for drinking young more for laying down for wine futures. Keep up the good work your videos are informative and to the point with no waffle. My kindest regards to you and Fiona.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Gary! You are right about Elderberry wine - it really benefits from aging

[@emsgardenjourney]

I'm going to give this recipe a try for sure!! I've failed before with elderberries so am keen to see how it turns out (plus they're pretty invasive around here). I've made parsnip and strawberry wines from your videos this year and they're fantastic....the blackberry is still fermenting! Thank You so much for sharing your knowledge x

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I've never had a bad batch from this recipe so fingers crossed for you!

[@noworries864]

I think it's important to take the pith too! 😅 Really enjoying and learning a lot from your videos, thanks so much. God bless!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

🤣. Thank you 😉

[@pauladexter6164]

I loved your video, thank you!!! I have an allotment with lots of gooseberries and other berries. I would love to make wines or cordials with what i grow. I am wasting fruit and thats not good!. Would love to see what more you can teach me.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Paula! We have a playlist for country wines that might be interesting kzbin.info/aero/PLDluIIoNPsldQZSpsDMKrT2ORoGMURQ-F

[@markayre8049]

Great video . I have 10 acres and have a lot of elderberries. when there is a glut I freeze them and use them when I can get around to making the wine. Thank you .

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Episode 2 (clearing & bottling) will be out on Friday 🙂

[@bernardsmith152]

I made a lot of wine back in the 70s & 80s . A recipe I used a lot was a " 3 carton wine " using 1 litre cartons of juice from a supermarket , one of them had to be white grape juice ,and my favourite was the other 2 to be apple. Unfortunately it now seems impossible to find the white grape juice anywhere at a reasonable price. Unusually the recipe involved adding Bentonite at the start to aid clearing. It was a quick recipe - drinkable in about 6 weeks and made a delicious white table wine.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It's surprising what makes a pleasant wine -I recall an outstanding Earl Grey Tea wine mafe by an elderly lady. It was delicious!

[@Helliconia54]

I know it's been 12 months, however. I had a kilo of frozen elderberries and needed a use for them. Then, I discovered your excellent channel. Thank you. I followed your recipe but used a bakers yeast( all i had. Tandaco,Australia) Various brew sites have cited around 12%. My Starting Hydro reading was 1.130 after 2 weeks, fermentation "stopped" I racked the brew and took a reading.1.20, sizable drop and i could smell the alcohol. Secondary ferment now in a glass carboy. NO action noted yet . NB tasted the wine before racking. YUM fair bit of sugar but luscious, fruity wine. Will leave until clears

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That sounds great 👍

[@alantomlinson314]

Hi guys; I am making this recipe on Sunday next and only have frozen elderberries so my question is, is it okay using frozen and is the schedule the same as it is for the fresh elderberries with putting it all in a pan with the oranges and boiling. Cheers in advance guys 🍷👍

[@Helliconia54]

Frozen is far better than fresh. The freezing , breaks down the berryfibres. I also put my berries into a cotton bag. When cool enough, it made it easier to Squeeze out ALL the juices. IT WORKED. @@alantomlinson314

[@steffipavitti]

Would you possibly consider making a video on sprouting and drying barley to make malted milk powder for the ultimate in bedtime comfort drinks 🤗

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Now that's an idea we have never thought of - a sort of home made Ovaltine? What a cracking idea!

[@BoB4jjjjs]

👍 This is the first video I have watched of yours, very timely, as I just collected a lot of Elderberries to make wine. I have never made Elderberry wine from the berries before, usually a kit. Yeah, maybe the kit has no Elderberries near it, but it tasted nice. Country wines for me, or anything you can ferment from juices. I have found a lot of my wine making equipment suffering from a long time unused, so anything that was plastic has suffered! Blackberry or Bramble wine has got to be my favourite 😎so far anyway, Elderberry a very close second. I just found Damsons close to me, don't know about making wine out of them, though. The trees are small yet, but give them a couple of years! Rasp is far too strong for me! Rowan was very nice until the wine lost the rich colour it had and the flavour along with it. It just tasted like cheap wine after that. Don't know if you have any ideas on that? It took a couple of years to lose colour and flavour! 😖

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's interesting with the Rowan berries - I must admit I don't find them very flavourful. Damson is fantastic though

[@chloegriffiths7996]

hey loved this video thank you! i thought it was a lot more complicated but im definitely going to give this a go now :) did you use orange juice as a starter must because you used oranges in the recipe ? could i use a different juice for the starter must? would the yeast activate in a cold herbal tea for example ? 🙏🏻

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Chloe, so glad that you enjoyed it. Yeast likes a liquid that is sugary & a little acidic, so I use orange juice. Apple would work fine as would sugary water 🙂

[@susanlane6367]

I am trying this recipe out this year, as my elderbery wine as failed in years past, but alright with lemonade thank you. Do you do a dandelion video please

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I haven't yet, would you like me to?

[@susanlane6367]

@@EnglishCountryLife yes please

[@susanlane6367]

@@EnglishCountryLife yes please

[@susanlane6367]

Can you please tell me why my elderberry wine has turned in to a fizzy wine. Do you know why I did everything you mentioned in your video. Do you think it is because I use screwtop bottles Susan

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@susanlane6367 Hi Susan, fizzing indicates that fermentation hadn't finished when the wine was bottled. Leave it longer in the demijohn next time 😉

[@sevenowls7776]

Another one I'm about to try. I'll be buying elderberry juice as there're not enough elderberry trees locally (enough for elderflower wine tho' - sitting clarifying). PS: Made your blackberry port, which is sojourning with oak pieces before bottling.Made it from purée, which has its pros and cons, but it worked. Parsnip wine also, with my own parsnips. I'm leaving that another 6 months; it has an interesting licorice tone, so we'll see. Cheers!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I didn't know that you could buy elderberry juice!

[@sevenowls7776]

Indeed: it's £20 +postage for 2l: organic pressed juice. Thanks for your inspiration!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@sevenowls7776 I've learned something!

[@terryalban6523]

I've been putting my fruit into a mixture of vodka and sugar (100 proof vodka), letting it sit in a dark cupboard for three months, then straining out the fruit and enjoying the libations. It really mellows the longer its allowed to rest after removing the fruit, so yummy!!! Really good on homemade ice cream!!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Dome people do claim health benefits of elderberry tincture

[@philipjones2860]

Great video! How long does the wine take to ferment? Do you have to filter it as you bottle it?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! Fermentation varies - mainly affected by temperature. Two to Three weeks is average. You don't have to filter but you may want to be very careful in racking & clearing the wine to ensure that all sediment has settled out

[@paulkelly5974]

I've made a few batches of Elderberry Wine this September, not the port version. I was wondering if you'd have any tips on how to get your muslin or straining bag clean of Elderberry juice afterwards. That juice does stain 😂.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hand wash then throw in a bucket. Chuck in an eggcup full of plain, unscented, household bleach. Fill bucket with cold water & leave overnight. Clean and sterile 😉

[@philipjones2860]

Hi I've just followed your recipe for making Elderberry wine. So simple and easy to follow. I've got a freezer full of Blackberries and Damsons. Can I follow the same recipe to make Damson wine and Blackberry wine. I don't ewant to make Blackberry Port this year. If so do I use the same quantities of fruit and sugar as in the Elderberry recipe? Thanks Phil

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Phil, it should certainly work. I might increase the sugar by 20% or so for the blackberry though

[@pmccr43rd]

Hi. Really enjoyed your videos. Cannot wait to try. I have abundance of Elderberry and Blackberries in my garden at the moment. Is there anything to say you cannot make an Elderberry and Blackberry wine or is it better to make them separate. Many Thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi! I've never tried that mix but it should work. Blackberry & raspberry is awesome

[@pmccr43rd]

Thank you.

[@buckaroobonzai2909]

OH wow... I Didn't know you guys had those over there. Bro, I am in America and I am trying to get a hedgerow of plum, elderberry, mulberry, currants and haskap. I am planting it along an already naturally fertile area along the edge of a forest. just cutting away the worse berries and planting the better berries. To me, this seems liek a winning and Biblical strategy. Good luck, bro.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

We don't have haskap but all the rest grow easily here.

[@mebbez]

Thank you for your guidance. I have made roughly 200 ales, but never made wine until today. I have followed your recipe (almost :p) and have exactly the same yeast as you are using for this. What kind of abv can I expect? I'll be measuring with hydrometer. Thanks again, genuinely excited to experience the product.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You should get between 12 and 14% abv

[@mebbez]

​​@@EnglishCountryLifehello my friend, me again. Could you possibly tell me what kind of specific gravity I should expect when fermentation has gone as far as it can? I'm down to 1.03, dosed yeast 2 more times to get it this far, hoping to clean up some of this sweetness and get the sg down to 1.00x, but maybe what's left over is not fermentable? Thank you!

[@KenJohnsonUSA]

Interesting! I love to see how things are done "across the pond." We don't have elderberry trees here in NW Florida like you do in England. Instead, our native plants produce bushes. Ironically, the majority of the people don't know they're edible (let alone a powerful herbal medicine) and they instead treat the plants as a weed. My grandfathers would drink a shot glass of elderberry wine everyday. They called it a "tonic." Elderberry wine was also the base for many home remedies for colds and flus. I really like the idea of adding orange to the mix. Elderberries grow fantastically well here, but our native plants have a rather muted flavor. The subtle orange flavor would probably enhance that flavor quite nicely to create a more robust flavor! So, I too make wines and meads. Being American, we have no real "native" or "heritage" beverages. If I had to say we did...it'd be elderberry wine. With that said, what is the one brew you'd quintessentially say was "British?" Along the same vein, I'd love to see a series of meads and/or wines made to honor all of the members of the UK...like a sloe mead for Ireland, a heather mead for Scotland, a traditional metheglin from Wales, etc. If that worked, and the viewers liked it, maybe you could do another series for all of the countries that broke off from the UK. Now, that'd be diverse!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I think the drinks certainly vary by region, from Devon, where I come from, "Scrumpy" (a very hard cider at about 8 to 10% abv) was the working man's drink - because of course it was a self sufficient thing. Farm cider presses were huge - 8 foot tall and just as wide!

[@KenJohnsonUSA]

@@EnglishCountryLife that'd be brilliant to see! America used to have ciders. However, when the Christians brought the Prohibition Act, it caused nearly 200 species of apples to go extinct. If you hated someone, or wanted to eliminate competition, all you had to do was report them to the feds. Entire orchards, and fields of grain, were burned down and dug up by federal authorities because they believed alcohol was being produceds. So, what was a vibrant and wonderful culture is now lost.

[@miriamfisher4481]

I’m in NW Central Florida and starting some elderberry bushes. Glad to hear they grow well. I would also like to have more videos like this. My husband is from the UK and would love sampling! Thank you.

[@KenJohnsonUSA]

@@miriamfisher4481 jist make sure you don't use a cultivated variety and instead use a wild, native variety. The cultivated variety produces less and is less hardy.

[@strongandco]

Bleach is a great sanitiser, anything unscented containing sodium hypochlorite will kill any bacteria, including anthrax spores if used at the right PH. The advantage of the basic homebrew cleaner/sterilisers (which also contain sodium hypochlorite) is that they also contain a powerful cleaner which is great on the byproducts of fermentation so they are a 1 step clean and sterilise process rather than a 2 step, clean THEN sterilise process. It's a long and boring subject and at the end of the day people have been using detergent and bleach mostly successfully for many many, decades. I love the subject of country wines, I've been brewing beer for years but have a lot to learn about traditional homemade, hedgerow wines so next time you are brewing I'd love to hear about it.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That seems a good summary!

[@JJR-373]

Great video, clear concise and easy to follow. A part two would be great please as I've never made wine before. Also, I am intolerant to oranges, could I swap the juice and flesh for apples instead?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi JR, I'll do a part two to cover clearing and bottling. I would add some pure apple juice rather than apples (about 300ml without preservatives)

[@JJR-373]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you.

[@bronwynthomas4503]

Hi brilliant video I may have just missed this detail But how long do you generally leave this going for? I see a lot of different time scales. Also I have loads of plums and was wanting to set of a plum wine, I have a recipe but I love this one it’s much more my style would this work the same if I switched out the elderberries? Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

A good rule of thumb is until no more bubbles pass through the airlock. Time varies by temperature, type of yeast and more. We cover the rest of the process in part 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/an7ImpyCj8SWq8U

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I haven't used this particular recipe with plums - but I can't see why it wouldn't work. Definitely de-stone & chop them

[@bronwynthomas4503]

Thank you kindly! That’s my weekend sorted have a good one your self! 😄

[@karinakiss1093]

After 3 days on a window seal what do you do ? And what am i lookimg for ? Love your videos ❤

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, there's a part two of the video that shows the rest of the process kzbin.info/www/bejne/an7ImpyCj8SWq8U

[@karinakiss1093]

You star ! 🌟

[@giulianagiustina2734]

Hi, should I make any modifications if I make this with frozen elderberries? Less water perhaps? Should I thaw them beforehand?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Definitely thaw beforehand but other than that, it should be fine

[@petewhitehead6981]

Fantastic video, is there any chance you could do a rhubarb wine? That would be great. I understand the theory but for some reason I can't get my head round the different wines, and a demonstration would be very helpful. Thanks in advance, Pete.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'll add it to the list!

[@petewhitehead6981]

Thanks very much will look forward to it once again thanks....

[@neilcaney910]

Freeze the berries, really good for getting them off the stalks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'll have to try that!

[@emmagriffiths1874]

This sounds lovely! What do you do with the fruit once you’ve strained it from the liquid?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Generally it gets composted - I don't find basic elderberries good to eat.

[@thesilentmothtrapper4373]

@@EnglishCountryLife I once made jam from the elderberries after making wine turned out good enough a bit of flavour missing but was still good. Love your videos by the way.

[@cowontheroad3051]

Hello there! I have seen a lot of Elderberries growing and they look right for picking at the moment. I'm going to hqve a go at this recipe and make my first wine . It looks great! Just curious.... Is this recipe is for one Demijohn? Do i just double all the ingredients for 2 demijohns and so on? Thanks a lot!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi, if you look in the description, you can download a pdf of the recipe. It is for one demijohn & you can just double everything for muliples

[@cowontheroad3051]

@@EnglishCountryLife That's great! Thanks a lot for the quick reply. Going picking this weekend! :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@cowontheroad3051 Enjoy 🍷

[@cowontheroad3051]

@@EnglishCountryLife Cheers! 🥂

[@ericrees4183]

Really enjoyed that. Might have to get my brother interested, as he has more space for the setup - could this be done in a corner of a small kitchen?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Absolutely Eric - ours is a tiny kitchen

[@getmovingtoday]

Question: i just made this batch and somehow i have extra juice? I took the elerberry juice and mixed with the sugar completely. I thrn added to the line you mentioned in the demijohn and then added the OJ with yeast. But, Im left with 1/3 juice yet? What do i do with the extra?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Keep any excess in a bottle in the fridge until the first fermentation slows down then use it to top up the demijohn if necessary

[@SpinsterSister]

Love your wine videos! Question, Why didn't you smash the berries and oranges to exact more juice into the must? Would you add herbs at the capping to add additional flavor and finally I love your cast iron pot!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You have to be careful over the pectin causing a haze, but if you do mash them, a little pectolase would doon sort that out! Hope you're well?

[@SpinsterSister]

@@EnglishCountryLife Doing well in this latest heat wave and I see your chickens are fab as usual! Is there an English version of Rumtopf? Something one would glaze aging fruitcakes with? Do you and Fiona make speciality holiday food gifts that you would like to share?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@SpinsterSister We do make a Rumtopf - there's a video somewhere. We have made entirely home grown fruit cakes and Christmas pudding before

[@RockinBarBRanch]

Making mead would be appreciated!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I really must make a batch, so I'll film it!

[@johnoxley3397]

I make country wines and cider so anything regarding those would be helpful for me. At the moment I’m drinking 10 month old parsnip wine which I decided to make after watching your video. I’ve got to say it’s a bit like a poor man’s brandy. It’s got lots of taste and body and ended up at 12.5%

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Poor man's brandy is a great name 👍

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you for well shot easy to follow video.. One question, is it OK to freeze the berries for later use? Thanks again friend. Take care.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Absolutely, I regularly do this with blackberries

[@smalloptics753]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you, that's good to know as I have about 5 KG of blackberries/brambles ready for turning into wine, just waiting for my last few bit's of kit to arrive in the post so I can get started. It's my first ever attempt at wine making so wish me luck :D... Thanks again for your answer and great content I'm learning a lot.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@smalloptics753 Good luck - we are always here for questions!

[@terryalban6523]

Thank you so much for all the teaching...I have questions about how to eliminate the dried flowers that choose to cling to the fruit...can it be put into the mix with no ill effect????

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Not sure I've ever seen dried flowers on the fruit Terry? Do you have a picture?

[@aaronweyl2272]

I made Elderberry wine before as well same thing for my berry-nettle beer/cider, it turned out really nice Port-like taste with bitter, grassy notes. Nice video! Why oranges though and what does it do flavour or just taste?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

The oranges slightly increases the acidity which really helps the yeast to work. They contribute a little to the general fruitiness as well

[@aaronweyl2272]

@@EnglishCountryLife Hm, seems useful which make sense. I guess Lemons no need then?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@aaronweyl2272 No harm in adding both bot not entirely necessary

[@aaronweyl2272]

@@EnglishCountryLife Would make pleasing citric flavour.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@aaronweyl2272 I think so

[@spencehh]

Fab video. What do you do at the end? How long do you leave it? All this is very new to us so apologies for the daft questions. Would love to see you make Mead. Also, we are struggling to cook using our Rayburn. Any cooking tip videos would be very handy 😊

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Spence, I will do a Part 2 video to show clearing, filtering and bottling! I can do cooking tips - is it a solid fuel Rayburn?

[@spencehh]

@@EnglishCountryLife ah brilliant - thank you. It’s a solid fuel that’s been converted to oil. We are on a huge learning curve at the moment and are glued to your channel for all the advise we can glean 😀.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@spencehh I'm not wildly knowledge on oil I'm afraid but I'm sure the principles are similar

[@spencehh]

@@EnglishCountryLife we have sussed the latest lighting etc. I guess it’s more the general usage. Not sure if others would find it useful but tbh anything you post we are enjoying 😊

[@maried3717]

I would like to see an elderberry mead, if there is such a thing.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I've never seen one, but if you substitute elderberries for blackberries you could follow our blackberry mead recipe

[@arlenefiddes2565]

First time trying to make wine. Fingers crossed, it will turn out OK. How long does it need to sit for before you can drink it? Thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Have a glass when you bottle it 😉. It'll be nice.Open a bottle at Christmas. It'll be better. The Christmas after, it will be great. This week I opened a bottle of 2012. It's incredible.

[@upperbay1]

Good video. We have an elderberry wine still aging from last year. We are going to try your recipe this year. How long do you wait to drink your wine? Thank you. Have a great weekend.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Eric! I find it really wants a year in the bottle and benefits from longer. I still have dome 2013 that is wonderful. Some years are better than others too - this year the berries are small

[@upperbay1]

@@EnglishCountryLife thank you. We will be bottling our elderberry wine this afternoon that has been in the carboy since last year. Also, we put our berries right in the freezer after harvest, then shake off the berries from the stems when we are ready to start the wine making process...

[@JohnC2009Edin]

Hello , I’d be interested in mead videos, I’ve tried a couple of times, some good results some bad ! Could you use honey and water in this recipe for the sugar syrup? Great videos!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi John, I'll do a mead recipe this Winter. I wouldn't do a direct honey gor sugar swap as they ferment differently. You would get something ...it might be great...or...

[@beccarepurposed3416]

🥰❣

[@EnglishCountryLife]

🍷

[@jacquiehahn4910]

I have a big bag in the freezer. Typically, they've hit peak ripe two days before we go on holibobs for a fortnight. There'd be nothing usable left when we get back. Not doing wine. Syrup, excellent for coughs, colds & sore throats as is, and a lovely warming drink if mixed with hot water. X

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Have you tried a tincture in vodka? Very nice for colds

[@adamsandefur1442]

How long does it sit to ferment?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It varies according to the temperature, yeast etc. Between 2 and 4 weeks is average

[@adamsandefur1442]

@@EnglishCountryLife thank you for the quick response. I just harvested a lot of elderberry from my property yesterday (northern Indiana united states) and have done alot of research on making wine out of it and your method seems the easiest. One last question, how long do you recommend aging after bottling and drinking?

[@matdavidson4379]

I'm currently make this right now and am wondering how long to ferment and clear? will you be posting a part 2 soon? thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Mat, ferment until no bubbles pass through the airlock in 5 minutes. I'll film clearing & bottling ours as soon as fermentation finishes!

[@matdavidson4379]

@@EnglishCountryLife looking forward to the video, 🙏

[@1965gracebug]

Thank you! I've never made wine. We usually drink a dry wine. Would it work without sugar?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Suzanne, this is a dry red. The sugar is completely consumed by the yeast to create alcohol, this removes any sweetness.

[@1965gracebug]

@@EnglishCountryLife wonderful!! I’ve wanted to make homemade for years and this seems like a reasonably simple recipe. Thank you for sharing!

[@maried3717]

Can I use dried elderberries. I have so many because I didn't have time to process them all. So, to save them, I dried them and stored them in vacuumed canning jars.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You xan but obviously adjust the quantities as they are smaller when dried

[@susanbell2771]

Fermenting and brewing YES Please

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Will do!

[@gavinwilliams7792]

Hi there. I’m making wine for the first time following your recipe. Your video is really clear and easy to follow. How long roughly does fermentation take? I’m on day 11 and just curious when I’d be looking at bottling it

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Gavin! There's lots of variables - type of yeast and temperature make a huge difference but ballpark 2 to 4 weeks. If you aren't sure, leave it, it will take no harm being left in the demijohn longer. Hugh

[@gavinwilliams7792]

Thanks for the reply Hugh. What signs am I looking for to know it’s done?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@gavinwilliams7792 Hi Gavin, the obvious sign is that no more bubbles are passing through the airlock, but also taste the wine, fermentation turns sugar into alcohol, so a sweet liquid hasn't fermented out. There is a second part to this video that should then help kzbin.info/www/bejne/an7ImpyCj8SWq8U

[@RidgeRunner5-]

Where do you get your demijohns? Thank you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I have bought a large number from car boot sales (they are usually very cheap). If you need some from a store, Wilkinson's sell them

[@buckaroobonzai2909]

Can you pick green bunches and let them ripen on the shelf? You know, like tomatoes?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Sadly not, but a single small tree carries hundreds of bunches so there's no shortage

[@ingevansand9180]

Could this be done with normal yeast?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

When you say normal yeast do you mean general purpose wine yeast or bread yeast?

[@ingevansand9180]

@@EnglishCountryLife I mean bread yeast 😊

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@ingevansand9180 Hi , then it will work, but not well. Bread yeast doesn't taste great and doesn't produce much alcohol. It's better than nothing but not ideal

[@gwenmancini1879]

Can you use strawberries instead of elderberry? With the same process. Thank you

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Gwen! We have a strawberry wine recipe (link below) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpXUg6Wans2lacU

[@tombarnes3004]

Hugh - doesn't primary fermentation need oxygen? Don't you need to leave the air to mix with the fruit for the first few days? Then put an airlock on after say, 5 days?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

There's enough oxygen in the demijohn Tom. If you prefer to do it that way, please do, but it's never been a problem in over 40 years 🙂

[@user-gq2zt9sg7e]

Sorry, did i miss how long you ferment it for once its all mixed together please ?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It varies a lot according to temperature but until no further bubbles pass through the airlock is the simple test. We cover it in the second half of this series kzbin.info/www/bejne/an7ImpyCj8SWq8U

[@user-gq2zt9sg7e]

Thank you so much. This will be my first ever attempt at making wine 😊. I'll be sure to watch the other video now.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@user-gq2zt9sg7e We are always here if you have any questions 🙂🍷

[@user-gq2zt9sg7e]

That's so kind of you, Thank you 😊