Blackcap Wines, Sherries, and/or Meads

• 4 lbs black raspberries
• 1 tsp pectic enzyme
• 1 3/4 lbs sugar
• 7 pts water
• 1 crushed Campden tablet
• 1 tsp yeast nutrient
• 1 pkg Lalvin RC212 (Bourgovin) yeast

Pick only dark, ripe berries. Combine water and sugar and put on to boil, stirring occasionally. Wash and destem berries. Put in nylon straining bag, tie closed and crush in the primary. Pour boiling sugar-water over berries to set the color and extract the flavorful juice. Add acid blend and yeast nutrient. Allow to cool to room temperature and stir in crushed Campden tablet. Cover primary. After 12 hours, add pectic enzyme and recover. After additional 12 hours, add wine yeast, recover and stir daily for 7=8 days. Remove nylon bag and allow to drip drain (do not squeeze) about an hour. Return drippings to primary and continue fermentation until specific gravity falls below 1.015, stirring daily. Rack to secondary, top up with water and fit airlock. Use dark secondary or wrap to block light and preserve color. Ferment additional 2 months, then rack into clean secondary. Refit airlock and rack again after additional 2 months. Wait a final 2 months, rack again and stabilze wine. Sweeten to taste and refit airlock. After 10-14 days, bottle in dark glass or store in dark place. Drink after one year. This is an excellent sweet wine, but you must ferment the full 6 months and age one full year. [Author’s own recipe]