How to Make Strawberry Wine in a Short Period of Time

Fresh strawberries

Strawberry wine has a light fresh taste that is much different from traditional grape wines. A few pounds of strawberries and you can have a drinkable wine in approximately 30 days. Of course, the longer you let the wine age, the better it will taste. You can use common household items to brew the wine in your own kitchen, or you can purchase a complete wine making kit at your local brew shop.

Things You'll Need

• 4 pounds of strawberries, cleaned and sliced
• 2 pounds of sugar
• 8-quart saucepan
• Wooden spoon
• Colander
• Cheesecloth
• Large bowl
• Clean, empty milk jug with cap
• Wine yeast
• Straight pin
• 2 balloons

Instructions

1. Combine 4 pounds of cleaned and sliced strawberries and 2 pounds of sugar in an 8-quart saucepan or stockpot.

2. Heat the strawberry mixture over medium low heat for 1 hour, stirring often to dissolve the sugar and break down the fruit.

3. Line a colander with several layers of cheesecloth and place the colander in a large bowl.

4. Strain the strawberries through the colander, collecting the juice in the bowl. Save the sweet, mashed strawberries for topping cake or ice cream.

5. Pour the strawberry juice into a clean, empty one-gallon milk jug.

6. Add water, if needed, to fill the jug to 2 inches from the top opening.

7. Add one package of wine yeast to the jug.

8. Use a straight pin to poke three holes in the top of one of the balloons. Save the second balloon in case the first one expands too much and pops.

9. Stretch the open end of the balloon over the opening of the milk jug. Use your finger to stuff the rest of the balloon into the jug.

10. Place the jug in a warm place to ferment. The balloon should begin expanding out of the jug in approximately one day.

11. Remove the balloon from the jug when it is completely deflated and lying alongside the jug. This will take approximately 30 days. The wine is drinkable at this point, but will benefit from 30 to 90 days of aging. Pour the wine into other bottles, if desired, or replace the original cap and store the wine in the refrigerator until ready to drink.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean, empty soda bottles are good for storing wine as the screw on caps can be shut tightly to keep the wine from developing on off taste.

• When serving the strawberry wine, pour it from the jug slowly without disturbing the sediment at the bottom of the jug. This sediment will cloud the wine.

References

• "The Foxfire Book of Wine Making"; Lori Gillespie, Kelly Shropshire and Allison Adams; 1987
• "Making Wild Wines & Meads: 125 Unusual Recipes Using Herbs, Fruits, Flowers & More"; Pattie Vargas and Rich Gulling; 1999

Resources

• Other Strawberry Wine Recipes