How to Make Raspberry Wine at Home
Raspberry wine is great for relaxing and having a good time with friends during the winter. One of the best drinks to serve during Christmas or a New Years party, raspberry wine can be made at home. Using some simple instructions and little patience, you will be able to make some delicious raspberry wine.
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 6 months
Yield: 1 gallon
Utensils: large kettle, sieve, plastic wrap, wine presser or large colander cone shaped with nylon bag, bottles and rack
Ingredients:
Raspberries, red or black: 3 to 4 lbs red or 4 to 5 lbs black
White granulated sugar: 1 and ½ lb
Water: for making 1 gallon
Wine yeast, Lalvin 71b1122 or Red Star Montrachet
Yeast nutrient: 1 teaspoon
Acid blend powder: ¾ teaspoon
Pectic enzyme powder: ½ teaspoon
Campden tablet, crushed: one
Instructions
-
1
Prepare your fruit
First you need to clean your fruit. It should be in good condition without any blemishes. It is recommended to freeze the fruit so that when the flesh is broken a decent amount of juice is released. You should place them in freezer bags until they are ready to use. However, you are required to defrost your fruit in a sanitised container when you are about to use it for making wine. After thawing, you can place the fruit in a mesh fermentation bag. -
2
Prepare the equipment
You need to sterilise all the equipment you require for making raspberry wine. Sterilise the primary fermenter, spoon, test jar, hydrometer, measuring cups, spoons etc. -
3
Prepare ingredients
Now you need to strain the juice out from the fermentation bag into the primary fermenter. Then place the fruit in a container. Add sugar and water to the juice to make one gallon in the primary fermenter. Also, add a crushed Campden tablet, acid blend powder, nutrient and pectic enzyme. -
4
Add yeast
Wait for 24 hours before adding the yeast. You need to sprinkle the whole packet on the mixture you prepared. It is advisable to keep the temperature between 65 to 75 degrees F. The fermentation process will begin in one to two days. -
5
Primary and secondary fermentation
The primary fermentation takes place between five to seven days. You are required to stir the mixture everyday during primary fermentation. After this, you need to attach the fermentation lock and continue the process at around 65 to 75 degrees F. -
6
Rack
You need to rack after the first week. After this, you need to do it after every two to three weeks and then after a month. -
7
Clearing
It is important that you rack every two to three months or until the wine is clear. -
8
Sweetening, bottling and aging
Add simple sugar syrup to taste in your wine and stabilise with ¾ teaspoon of potassium sorbate.
After the wine is cleared and stable, you can pour it in a bottle. Age the wine for at least three to six months.
