Easy Strawberry Wine Recipe - Perfect for Beginners (2024)

FAQs

How to make wine at home for beginners? ›

Thoroughly mash fruit, add four crushed Campden tablets, cover with cheesecloth and allow container to stand four hours at room temperature. Add 10 cups sugar syrup, lemon juice, tea and yeast and allow seven days to ferment at a temperature between 60-70º F, stirring thoroughly twice daily.

I make mostly sweet fruit wines such as strawberry, watermelon, peach, etc. and was wondering what the best yeast might be for these types of wine. You want to know what my standard, go-to, never-fail, keeps-most-wines-happy yeast is? It's called Prise de Mousse, EC1118, Davis 796 or Premier Cuvee.

About 30 pounds of strawberries are required for every 5-gallon batch of wine. Berries do not have to be capped prior to fermentation. Strawberries are very fruity and acidic, so water and sugar are added to the berry pulp prior to fermentation to reduce the acidity to about 0.8% and increase the sweetness.

In many ways, grapes are the easiest fruit from which to make wine, but we also have a lot of expectations for wine made from grapes, a lot of ideas of how it should taste. Plus, wine made from grapes is widely available, so unless you've planted vines specifically to make wine, it's worth exploring other options.

The most common yeast associated with winemaking is Saccharomyces cerevisiae which has been favored due to its predictable and vigorous fermentation capabilities, tolerance of relatively high levels of alcohol and sulfur dioxide as well as its ability to thrive in normal wine pH between 2.8 and 4.

Most commonly, granulated sugar is used when wines need added sugar since it doesn't need to be broken down first like complex sugars. Virtually any type of sugar can be used by winemakers who want to experiment with different textures and sweetness levels. This includes brown sugar, molasses, honey, syrups, and more!

Adding Sugar For Higher Alcohol in Wine

Many wine recipes for producing high alcohol and stronger wines will call for 2 or 3 pounds of sugar per each gallon. And, this is in addition to the sugars that are already being naturally provided by the fruit involved.

White wine fermentation lasts several days to several weeks, and it depends a lot on temperature. The cooler the room, the longer it takes. Red wine that reaches a good, warm temperature during fermentation should be done in a week or two.

It has many detectable flavors that come out cleanly, and all are quite pleasant. You don't need to mask the rough edges with sugars or conditioners, and it tastes fruity even when puckering dry. Strawberry wine makes an impression that's anything but flat or one-dimensional.

How many packs of yeast do I need for 5 gallons of wine? ›

Each 5 gram packet is enough to start 5 gallons of wine by direct addition. Packets may be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Some strains are also available in 500 gram packets which are enough for 500 gallons of wine.

Most fruit wines should contain anywhere from 3 to 6 pounds of fruit per gallon of wine. A smaller amount of fruit will produce a lighter, more delicate wine, while a larger amount will make a heavier, more intense wine. It's nice to have both types of wine in your cellar.

Known for their distinct sweetness and tropical notes, bananas can be used to make an entire batch of wine or can simply be added to another batch. Costing approximately $1.00 per pound, you'll need 3 lbs of bananas for one batch of wine. Banana wine is one of the cheaper options when it comes to homemade wine.

For home winemakers, raisins (dried grapes) can add body and flavor to a thin or unbalanced wine. They can contribute complexity and a bit of alcohol to an otherwise simple or bland wine. Raisins can improve balance and contribute a more wine-like character to some fruit wines.

Fermentation takes roughly two to three weeks to complete fully, but the initial ferment will finish within seven to ten days. However, wine requires a two-step fermentation process. After the primary fermentation is complete, a secondary fermentation is required.

Wine making doesn't require expensive equipment, chemicals, or cleaning agents. With yeast, sugar, and a simple and inexpensive airlock, you can start small batch vinting wine of your own. With these and a little bit of time, you'll soon be able to enjoy a cheap alternative to store bought vino.