Blackberry Wine

[shadow47]

I've just bought a load of frozen Blackberries 500g for 59p.

How much of them should I add per gallon, I've read here that 2.7kg per gallon for a heavy bodied wine (I like full bodied red wine so this is probably best).

Does anyone have any experience making Blackberry wine?

What's the best method of making it? Juicing them first? Fermenting on the pulp? Shall I add any grape juice, or grape concentrate?

Any help appreciated, I plan to do a brewday for it with pics

Debating whether to go nuts, go back to the shop and buy the whole stock of blackberries, and make it in my new 5gal glass carboy. I've already got 8 packs in my freezer... hmmmmmm :drunk: :wha: :hmm: :whistle:

 

[Tony]

Can't help with the amounts shadow .. but where did you find blackberries at that price (if you don't mind me asking)?

I'm enjoying a Fuller's Jack Frost (Sainsbury's are stocking it) at the moment and wouldn't mind giving something like it a go!

 

[shadow47]

Oh, of course!

Heron Frozen Foods are selling them, unfortunately unless you live near Liverpool you won't find one, they are like a down market version of Iceland (if that's even possible lol), there are about 10 of them in Liverpool/Wigan/Birkenhead.

 

[suzie]

Hey we have Heron frozen foods in Yorkshire. Think they are all over the place. :thumb:

Sorry cant help with the blackberry recipe tho

 

[shadow47]

Oh right, weird I did a Google map search and it only showed them in the Liverpool area, good news for Blackberry Wine brewers though! :

Also I'll have to try some of that Jack Frost. Sounds nice, Blackberry beer mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[Tony]

:thumb: Many thanks!

Oh - I looked up im my grandfathers recipes... he had a blackberry wine planned (I say planned as there are no gravity readings or tasting notes - looks like he never made it unfortunately) - 4 and 1/2 lbs for a 1 gal wine. So yes - go with your plan and use about 5 to 6lbs - or 2.5kg

Hope its a winner!
:

EDIT: Sorry - his notes say to crush and ferment in the FV for 1 week.

 

[shadow47]

Thanks, I'll use 5 packs (2.5Kg) per gallon and ferment on the pulp after crushing, I just need to buy a bucket with lid to ferment it all .

 

[user 1290]

I use 3lbs/gall (+1Kg sugar + 3L water) per gallon, but as I make 6 galls batches that doesn't allow for any dilution from topping up after racking whatsoever if making in 1 gall DJs or 5 L PETs (as I rack off the sediment into 5 x 1 gall DJs).

Squish in batches after defrosting and pulp ferment in a bucket. Add campden just & pectolase 24 hrs before adding nutrient & pitching yeast. Strain onto sugar after about 4 days after ferment out in DJ, then rack off sediment.

I make about 50 galls p.a. Ready from about 6 months onwards.


P.S. I only paid my daughter 50p per 3lbs (I have tubs marked at the 3lb level) from the local hedges last year, but those frozen ones seem like a real bargain.

 

[potty]

Why on earth are you paying for BLACKBERRIES when they are in abundance in the wild.. :wha: I pick lots of fruit for wine making and wouldn't dream of buying these, I also pick sloe's for making sloe gin,vodke, shlerry,((yes shlerry)) sloe's in sherry after they come out of the gin is fabulous.. :clap: If you don't need them right away then freeze them yourself and they are there ready for you.. I still have a large bag of sloe's in the freezer so I always have sloe gin on the go... :whistle:

 

[shadow47]

I live in the city centre, miles away from any countryside and I don't own a car, so if you factor in costs of public transport, the fact that I don't really know where to look for Blackberries and also the time it takes to pick them.

The fact that they're picked, frozen and packaged in 500g batches all for 59p is pretty cool.

In ASDA they sell them 150g for £2.47! Now that's crazy!

 

[user 1290]

The fact that they're picked, frozen and packaged in 500g batches all for 59p is pretty cool.

I can pick blackberries about 5 mins walk from home and it takes about 20 mins to get 3lbs at the very peak of the season using both hands to pick with a bucket hanging in front of me, and then around another 15 mins to pick over them, rinse, drain, weigh, bag and put them in the freezer and clear up, so 45 mins for 3lb, 15 mins/lb. So with PYO from the hedges 3.6 x 500g packs would take an hour, or could be bought ready for use for only £2.12.

So they're a bargain!

 

[rozza2010]

Just so you know here's a Heron foods in Manchester too on cheetham hill road

 

[potty]

The fact that they're picked, frozen and packaged in 500g batches all for 59p is pretty cool.

I can pick blackberries about 5 mins walk from home and it takes about 20 mins to get 3lbs at the very peak of the season using both hands to pick with a bucket hanging in front of me, and then around another 15 mins to pick over them, rinse, drain, weigh, bag and put them in the freezer and clear up, so 45 mins for 3lb, 15 mins/lb. So with PYO from the hedges 3.6 x 500g packs would take an hour, or could be bought ready for use for only £2.12.

So they're a bargain!

I would still rather pick my own, out in the fresh air getting free food. I guess its the hunter gatherer in me.. much rather do that then get in the car and drive to a shop and pick out a frozen bag that has probably been in the freezer for many months.. No comparison in my eyes. :rofl: