Does anyone have a nice nettle wine recipe please?

[The Goatreich]

I've just found a large patch of nettles near my parents house which is secluded enough not to be covered in dog pee. Does anybody have a nice recipe for 1 gallon of nettle wine, or nettle beer that I can have a go at please?

 

[oldbloke]

I thought it was too late this year - plants already flowered and now old - but maybe there's a second crop (like our late cropping rassies)

Pick at least half a gallon of nettle tops (top 2 or 3 pairs of leaves - just the tender ones)
Wash, simmer 45min with a bit of lemon zest and some ginger.
Strain, pour onto 2lb12oz sugar, juice of lemon plus a tsp+ more of juice, crushed campden tablet, nutrient.
Make up to gallon with boiled water, leave to cool. Pitch yeast.
Rack after about a month or earlier if there's loads of crud on the bottom
Should clear naturally at around 8 weeks, bottle with sorbate&sulphite
Acceptable immediately but much nicer if left at least a month, and improves further thereafter

 

[The Goatreich]

Nice one, thanks. Maybe it is too late. How would I know?

 

[oldbloke]

If the top few pairs of leaves are a definitly lighter green - I think maybe they don't have quite so many sting hairs, too. They just look sweeter, somehow.
But the wine probably works anyway, maybe just not quite as good a flavour.

 

[The Goatreich]

OK, I'll check them out a bit closer. Thanks.