Elderflower champagne is my generic term for a sparkling elderflower wine. But it could be a “beer,” too. I walk you through how to make your elderflower drink at home, with lots of variations depending on your preferences. Regardless, this is a perfect summer spritzer.
Wine
How to Make Elderberry Wine
If you want to make your own fruit wines – wines worthy of the snootiest wine snob – this is how to do it. I’ve been making fruit wines for 20 years, and here is my method. It requires some special equipment, a lot of patience, and a little math. But the result is more than worth it.
How to Make Verjus
Verjus, or verjuice, is the juice of unripe grapes. It is a classic French alternative to vinegar, and it is pretty easy to make. Here’s how.
Raisin Wine and Validation
Making homemade wines from raisins or other fruits instead of winegrapes can be just as satisfying as making a fine table red or a crisp white. Aged well, they can be a validation of sorts.
Blending Wine and Bottling Day
This is the year I graduate to becoming a middling winemaker. Making your own wine isn’t terribly difficult; inmates do it with grape juice and a piece of stale bread. Making wine you’d want to put into a bottle and store in your house for several years is another level — a level I reached
A Bad Day, a Good Wine
I’ve been out of sorts lately. Not necessarily bad, but I feel a little thin, and not in a good way. Technology has been failing me lately, and juggling several creative jobs is leaving me wrung out and sodden more often of late. This is when I remember how mentally calming it was to work