Hi All,
I have had a couple of goes at making Port but not with very much success.
As anyone on the forum got any Port recipes that they could pass on to me please,
Many thanks,
Rikki
More than happy to share my recipes but i should add - im no expert!!!
The basic recipe ive followed is this:
2lb Elderberries
2lb Blackberries
1lb Sloes
1lb Blackcurrants
3lb Sugar
Port Yeast and nutrient
2 tea spoons Pectolase
1/4 pint of red grape concentrate.
Now here is where I go off a bit. I seem to never have one or some of the ingredients so this year instead of blackcurrants I added the same weight in damsons - trouble is I have no idea if its worked because i wont drink it for at least 2 years but a good friend who makes it often plays around with the amounts depending what he has picked or has left in the freezer and ive never had a bad glass of his port yet!
To make it I just cover the sugar with some water and bring to the boil, pour it over the crushed fruit (i always freeze my fruit first as it helps to break it down) in fermenting bucket. When it cools add the pectolase.
The next day add the yeast and the rest of the water (to one gallon)
Leave to ferment on the pulp (a word of warning here - the pulp will rise and will need enough space in the bucket or you will have an explosion of dark red liquid over your house as the air lock blocks! Ive seen it happen haha).
After about 5 days strain onto a demijohn.
Ferment and rack as normal and bottle when ready.
opened a 2 year old bottle a few nights ago and its really good - although its very slightly fizzy which i think means its started to ferment in the bottle, however i had another glass last night and most if not all of the fizz had gone and its lovely with a slab of Stilton and some homemade chutney!