Currant Wines, Sherries, and/or Meads
- 3 lbs red currants
- 1-3/4 lbs granulated sugar
- 6-1/2 pts water
- 1/2 tsp pectic enzyme
- 1 tsp yeast nutrient
- wine yeast
Put water on to boil. Meanwhile, strip currants of stems and leafy matter. Wash thoroughly and crush well in primary fermentation vessel. Cover with boiling water, cover primary and seep overnight. Strain through a nylon straining bag and press pulp well to extract all juice. Discard pulp. Add sugar and stir well to dissolve. Add pectic enzyme and nutrient and set aside for 12 hours. Add activated wine yeast, recover and set aside until active fermentation is evident. Pour into secondary fermentation vessel and fit airlock. When all fermentation has ceased and liquor cleared, rack, top up, and refit airlock. Check water in airlock every month or so. Rack after 6 months and again after three more months. Bottle wine and store in dark place for two years for optimal smoothness and quality. [Author’s own recipe]
- 2 lbs fresh cranberries
- 1 lb fresh currants
- 2 lbs invert sugar
- 6-2/3 pts water
- 1/2 tsp pectic enzyme
- 1 tsp yeast nutrient
- 1/8 tsp tannin
- Montrachet wine yeast
Prepare invert sugar (see button below) . Put water on to boil while washing and culling through your cranberries and currants. Chop the cranberries roughly (with chopping knife or electric food chopper) and add with currants in nylon straining bag. Tie bad, put in primary, and crush currants with hands or piece of hardwood. When water boild vigorously, pour over nylon bag. Add invert sugar, tannin, pectic enzyme, and yeast nutrient. Cover primary and set aside for 12 hours. Add activated yeast. Punch down the bag twice daily (do not squeeze). After 7 days, drip drain the bag (do not squeeze) and discard pulp. Recover and let specific gravity drop to 1.015. Rack into secondary, fit airlock and put in a dark place. Rack every 2 months for six months. Stabilize, refit airlock and return to dark place for 4 months. Rack, sweeten if desired and bottle. Age additional 6 months in dark place. Serve chilled and enjoy the color, bouquet and exquisite taste. [Author’s own recipe, inspired by Terry Garey]