apple and blackberry wine recipe please

[janeyo]

I have managed to aqcuire about 100lbs of aples over the weekend, mixed varieties.
We already have 6 demijohns of cider and some apple wine (plus plum and eldeeberry)on the go. I am now planning to make some apple and blackberry. I have one recipe but want to make sure it's not too sweet a wnie when finished.
Anyone got a recipe for this?
Mine uses 3lb apples and 3lb blackberries and 3lb sugar but doesn't state what type of apple. Most of mine are very sweet dessert apples.
Thanks

[Hilary B]

I'd reduce the sugar to 2lb initially. You can always add a bit more if it ferments too slowly, but you can't take it out! If the apples are very sweet, I'd add a bit of lemon juice (half-a-lemon's worth?) or a teaspoon of acid (malic is most 'appley', but citric might be easier to find) as well.

[janeyo]

Thanks, I've started it off and only used 2lb of sugar

[bobleponge]

Janeyo, no yeast in your recipe?
Also how small do you cut your apples?
I dont want for apples chez moi, and blackberries invade my garden every year in their droves, so may as well get some proper use out of them.
Could you possibly post the recipe and how you did it (remember I cant even make cider) as I fancy a go at this. I WILL use 3lb of sugar though, proper sweet tooth me!!

[janeyo]

3lb blackberries.
3lb apples, chopped fairly small.
Put in clean bucket with 1 gallon boiling water on. When cool add peptic enzyme stuff and yeast and nutrient. Add juice of 2 lemons
Cover and leave for 5 days stirring daily.
Strain through fine cloth into demijohn, add airlock and away you go!

When fermentation complete rack again and then leave for a few months somewhere cool before bottling.
not sure how loong to wait before it reaches desirable drinkableness.

[janeyo]

Janeyo, no yeast in your recipe?
Also how small do you cut your apples?
I dont want for apples chez moi, and blackberries invade my garden every year in their droves, so may as well get some proper use out of them.
Could you possibly post the recipe and how you did it (remember I cant even make cider) as I fancy a go at this. I WILL use 3lb of sugar though, proper sweet tooth me!!

That's why you not got any left!

X

[bobleponge]

Cheers for that Mrs. I've still got a big fat face from where the last 2 were yanked out. You'd think I'd learn wouldnt you??

[Hilary B]

Janeyo, no yeast in your recipe?
Also how small do you cut your apples?
I dont want for apples chez moi, and blackberries invade my garden every year in their droves, so may as well get some proper use out of them.
Could you possibly post the recipe and how you did it (remember I cant even make cider) as I fancy a go at this. I WILL use 3lb of sugar though, proper sweet tooth me!!

All that fruit AND 3lb sugar may be too sugary to ferment.
Safest to start with less, and add syrup once it has fermented a bit. If you keep adding syrup every time you rack it, you will eventually find it can't ferment any more and is still sweet (and pretty strong). Much more reliable that adding a lot of sugar at the start.