Strawberry wine
Description
The recipe won't take much time. As a result of the steps described in this recipe, you will obtain strawberry wine with an alcohol content of 16-18 degrees. If you prefer a weaker wine, simply add twice as much water at the beginning of preparation. In this case, the wine will contain 10-12 degrees. This wine can be stored for 6-8 months, while fortified wine can last 1-1.5 years. A particular feature of making strawberry wine is that the strawberries must be washed thoroughly; otherwise, the wine will acquire an unpleasant earthy taste, which is unlikely to please anyone.
Instructions
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Step 1
1. Mash the washed strawberries by hand, removing the stems. Use only ripe berries for making wine. Dissolve sugar in warm water, then mix the resulting sugar syrup with the strawberry pulp. To enhance fermentation, add a little raisin; the wine yeast present in the raisins will promote fermentation.
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Step 2
2. Pour the resulting strawberry must into a suitable container (preferably made of stainless steel or glass). Fill it no more than ¾ full to prevent the must from overflowing during fermentation. Cover the container with gauze and place it in a dark location for fermentation for 5–7 days. The room temperature should be between 16–25 °C. Be sure to stir the must once daily with a stainless steel or wooden spoon.
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Step 3
3. After 5-7 days, signs of fermentation should appear (foam on the surface, fizzing, smell of mash). Now drain the juice, separating it from the sediment. Filter the remaining sediment through a fine sieve or cheesecloth.
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Step 4
4. Pour all the obtained juice into a glass bottle or jar and fit it with an airlock. Place it again in a dark place with a temperature maintained within 18-23 °C.
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Step 5
5. After 5-7 weeks, the primary fermentation will stop, the must will clarify, and a thick sediment will appear at the bottom. You will have obtained young strawberry wine; siphon it off the sediment using a tube.
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Step 6
6. Transfer the strawberry wine into a suitable storage container. Seal it tightly. Place it in a cellar (or refrigerator) at a temperature of 8-12 °C for further aging. Let it mature under these conditions for at least 65 days, during which the wine's flavor will greatly improve. The strawberry wine is now ready to drink!