How to Make Wine With Thornless Blackberries
Unlike the wild blackberry plant, thornless blackberries are easier to pick without thorn scratches or other injury. Thornless blackberries can be turned into pies, cobblers, jellies, jams and for the more ambitious, a great tasting wine. Wine making is not difficult and all-in-one wine kits can be purchased at any brew shop or online from many retailers. The kit can be used repeatedly; all you will need to purchase is wine yeast as needed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wine making kit (should include a brewing vessel, lid, siphon hose and airlock)
- 6 lbs. thornless blackberries
- 8 qt. Stockpot
- Potato masher
- Cheesecloth
- Colander
- Large bowl or second stockpot
- Water
- 2 pounds sugar
- 1 package wine yeast (red or champagne)
- Food-grade plastic tubing (if not in your kit)
- Bottles with lids
Instructions
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1
Clean and sterilize your wine making kit according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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2
Wash the blackberries under cold, running water and remove any green leaf petals or other stem remains from the berries.
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3
Place the blackberries, one cup at a time, into an 8 quart stockpot. Use your hands or a potato masher to crush the berries.
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4
Heat the berries over medium heat, stirring occasionally, and allow them to cook for 10 minutes. This will help release more the juice from the berries.
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5
Line a colander with cheesecloth. Place the colander in a large bowl or over a second stockpot and strain the berries. Pull up the corners of the cheesecloth and squeeze the berry pulp to extract all of the juices.
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6
Measure the juice and add enough water to equal 1 gallon of liquid. Add in two pounds of sugar, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
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7
Pour the juice mixture into the fermenting vessel of your wine making kit.
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8
Sprinkle one package of wine yeast over the mixture. Add the airlock according to the kit's instructions. If your kit is missing this part, you can pick up an airlock at any brew store.
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9
Allow the mixture to ferment for 60 days in a warm area where it will remain undisturbed.
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10
Siphon the wine into bottles using the siphon hose that came with the kit. If a siphon hose isn't available, use 3- to 4-foot food-grade plastic tubing.
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11
Cap the bottles and store in a cool dry area. Blackberry wine is best if allowed to age for at least three months.
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Tips & Warnings
A good rule of thumb for making any fruit wine is 6 lbs of fruit and 2 lbs of sugar for every gallon of wine you want to make.
According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, an adult individual is allowed to make up to 100 gallons of wine yearly for their own use. A couple can make up to 200 gallons.
