Elderflower Wine

[Jillyreeves]

Thinking ahead - have decide to give Elderflower Wine/Champagne a go this year.

I have got myself a couple of Demijohns off Freecycle.

Can anyone offer my some good advice or a recipe please

[Growem]

If you use the search in the top navigation bar, you'll find several other topics with recipes for elderflower wine and champagne.

[JimmerG]

Jilly,

Last year I made both - the Champagne was an outstanding success, and went in a flash! The Elderflower wine is slightly dodgy - although I haven't tried it for 6 months - it may have improved!

The Champagne was a River Cottage recipe - with a bit of extra yeast added just to make sure. I brewed it for 3 days in a bin, then bottled it - and started drinking it a few weeks later - HUGE success, apart from one bottle exploding! Wine takes a year to brew properly.

[JimmerG]

Just thought - Don't whatever you do try to brew Champagne in a demi-john, it'll explode at the slightest pressure!

[pdblake]

I followed HFWs recipe for champagne. Unfortunately I used screw cap bottle and had a slight er...explosion.

6 bottles out of 12 coated the inside of the shed with champagne and glass. One of the remaining bottles nearly took off my fingers when I opened it, but the champagne itslef was lovely.

This year I must remember to use corks

With wine I usually try a glass at 6 months, then again at a year old and dump it in the loft if it's still not right. One day I'll have a very good session This years green tomato was gorgeous at 6 months, it'll be fantastic after a year.

Got dandelion festering away in a bucket at the moment and am eyeing up the sage bushes for the weekend

[Llamas]

lol! pdblake, I love your descriptions. '..festering away...'.
I also like the sound of your green tomato wine. That would fit in perfectly with my nettle soup and homemade sourdough, followed by beetroot and dark chocolate and cherry brownies with tomato ice cream.

I'm hoping to try and make my first ever batch of elderflower champagne this year. I must erase the memories of the 'nettle beer' episode of two years past. I somehow managed to capture the taste of pizza with my brew, down to the mushrooms ( Yes, likely to have been something moldy) and cheesy pepperoni.

[Cloud]

The method for making it was on River Cottage Spring last night.

[mrdinkle]

Elderflower Champagne Recipe | Food | Channel4.com

Above is HFW recipe.

Now for my questions if it's ok!

When will the elder be in flower?
Also what bottles are safe for champagne?
Would it be safe to reuse cava bottles?
If so, is there a source of champa style corks with cages?

Thanks!

[Jillyreeves]

Now for my questions if it's ok!

When will the elder be in flower?
Also what bottles are safe for champagne?
Would it be safe to reuse cava bottles?
If so, is there a source of champa style corks with cages?

Thanks!

I can help you with a couple of answers

In flower end of May early June

Corks and cages can be purchased on line and Ebay

I have been saving my Cava bottles too, they are stronger than standard wine bottles and designed for sparkling stuff - my thinking is that they should be a good option, but then I could be wrong

[mrdinkle]

Thanks for answers! Appreciated.

I don't think I have enough CAVA bottles here, no real excuse to buy a load and drink it either

I am thinking maybe the brown swing top beer bottles will be as good?

I'd also be grateful if anyone can comment if CAVA bottles are safe for reuse. If they are I might hang around the bottle recycling skip

[Hilary B]

Thanks for answers! Appreciated.

I don't think I have enough CAVA bottles here, no real excuse to buy a load and drink it either

I am thinking maybe the brown swing top beer bottles will be as good?

I'd also be grateful if anyone can comment if CAVA bottles are safe for reuse. If they are I might hang around the bottle recycling skip

I made ginger beer with thosebeer bottles. They didn't explode, but the last one I tried to open, the stopper came off so violently that it 'pinged' out of the holding wires, and I ended up with about a wineglass left after the bottle stopped frothing. That was straight out of the fridge......

[Printemps]

Some years ago I managed to snaffle loads of champagne bottles - all empty I might add - from a friend's wedding with the intention of using them for elderflower champagne, trouble was I hadn't a clue how to get new corks into them??? Decided it was a no-go, but then a friend suggested using empty plastic lemonade or coke bottles, seeing as they are designed to withold pressure! An absolute doddle! No problems with corks and no explosions!

I actually now prefer to make elderflower cordial, keeping small 50cl bottles of it in the freezer. Have just used the last bottle making elderflower sorbet this weekend, as the hedgerows are just beginning to be awash with elderflowers!

[mrdinkle]

Aha - 1 litre flavoured fizzy water bottles. My OH drinks it, I am not a fan, but at least I can snaffle the bottles for that.

I normally snaffle them for watering (bottoms off upside down in grow bags) or with cap sprinklers on them.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[JimmerG]

Mrdinkle,

I can confirm that Grolsch style swing top bottles are ideal - they actually automatically release pressure it gets to high - clever indeed.

And Champagne bottles are also fine - you can buy plastic champagne corks and wire cages for very little money in homebrew shops or on t'interweb.

One word of warning with fizzy water bottles - keep an eye on them! I used one last year and the pressure got so great it swelled the bottle until it distorted... luckily I noticed before it blew, and just released the pressure every few days!

Jimmer

[mrdinkle]

Thanks JimmerG

I will watch them closely!

Does anyone know where to get reasonably priced champagne corks and cages? I would not mind to present some in proper bottles.

Thanks