Homemade Southern Blueberry Wine (Home Made Wine Recipes)

Member Name: sweetpea01

Product:	Home Made Wine Recipes
Date:	20/05/09 (397 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tastes beautiful

Disadvantages: Have to wait for it to mature

I'm so glad I found the category for home wine making! My Great Aunt in America makes the most wonderful home wines which come in all different varieties of flavours. She has apparently been making it since she was a girl in the deep south of America. I have never attempted making home wine and the recipe I will be reviewing is my Great Aunt's as I'm just too fond of it!

When we were little my siblings, cousins and I would spend holidays in Tennessee (as well as in Italy) at my Great Aunts and I can always remember being given fruit wine from an early age - it never did any of us harm (well at least I think it hasn't!). The recipe has been changed over the years and my Great Aunt has adapted it to modern day use. I try and visit my Great Aunt at least once a year and every time I do I'm plied with fruit wine! It brings back wonderful memories and has such a sweet fragrant taste that I could quite easily get carried away!

How before I start I apologise for any mis-use of terminology, I'm not an expert, I'm just simply reviewing a recipe! Please note that the ingredients are listed in US weights.

The wine process is done over the course of 30 days and I will be reviewing it step by step.

Blueberry Wine

Ingredients:-

3 lbs blueberries (fresh or frozen)
4 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp yeast nutrient
1 tsp acid blend
1 tsp pectic enzymes
1 campden tablet
1 pkg. all-purpose wine yeast

Day 1

1. First things first. Clean and disinfect all your tools and your wine making area.
2. Clean and crush the blueberries
3. Fill up your primary fermentation vessel up with your blueberries and water (up to the one gallon mark)
4. Add sugar
5. Add yeast
6. Cover up with a towel and elastic band
7. Stir every 24 hours for a week

The ideal temperature for wine making is between 70-78 degrees. Please ensure everything is disinfected properly.

Day 8

1. Rack the wine from your primary fermentation vessel to your secondary fermentation vessel
2. Seal your secondary fermentation vessel with an airlock

"Racking" the wine is to rid of the dead yeast that has accumulated at the bottom of your primary fermentation vessel. If you miss this step, the dead yeast will ruin the taste of your wine.

Day 30

1. Add Potassium Sorbate to your wine
2. Allow wine to settle for at least 3 days
3. Bottle it

30 days is the minimum time you should allow for the process. If you wait longer, your wine will taste better. I know my Great Aunt has let wine wait for over a year, which gives great taste but I don't think I could wait that long! My Great Aunt has made other wonderful flavours such as Strawberry, Kiwi, Blackcurrant, to name just a few. I'm sure the above recipe could be used for other fruit. Hopefully over the next few weeks when I have a bit more time on my hands I will hopefully try to make home wine with my father who has successfully brewed beer and now wants to turn his hand to another type of alcohol!

Summary: A real southern bell!