Traditional fruit, flower, vegetable and herb wines — tested, practical recipes for the home winemaker.
73 recipes
Sloe gin is a traditional country favourite and a wonderfully simple way to make use of autumn sloes. The fruit is infused in ready-made gin with sugar for four weeks, producing a rich, fruity drink with a beautiful c…
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Carrot wine has been a favourite of British home winemakers since at least the nineteenth century. During periods when grapes were expensive or unavailable, carrots provided an inexpensive and reliable source of ferme…
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Butternut squash has become increasingly popular with British home winemakers because of its naturally sweet, dense flesh and reliable year-to-year quality. Although not as old a tradition as carrot or parsnip wine, i…
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Crabapples have long been used in traditional British country winemaking due to their abundance in hedgerows and ornamental planting schemes. While too sour and astringent to eat raw, they make excellent wine due to t…
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Cherry plums are one of the earliest flowering and fruiting members of the plum family in the UK, often found in gardens, hedgerows, and ornamental plantings. The fruit is small but abundant, and varies widely in colo…
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Camomile has been cultivated for centuries as both a medicinal and culinary herb, prized for its calming properties and delicate apple-like fragrance. Traditional home winemakers soon recognised that these same aromat…
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Although cucumber is usually associated with salads rather than winemaking, it produces a remarkably refreshing country wine. The vegetable contributes very little sweetness but imparts delicate fresh aromas that, whe…
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Damson wine is a traditional British country wine made from small, deep purple wild plums known for their high tannin and strong, slightly astringent flavour. It produces a rich, dark wine with excellent structure, of…
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Elderberries have long been used in traditional British hedgerow winemaking due to their abundance and deep colour. The elder tree has a strong presence in rural folklore, and its berries have historically been used f…
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Cranberries are traditionally associated with colder climates and have long been valued for their sharp, refreshing acidity and distinctive flavour. While more commonly used in sauces and juices in the UK, they make a…
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Few country wines are as deeply rooted in British and European tradition as dandelion wine. For generations, the arrival of bright yellow dandelions signalled the beginning of the home winemaking season, and families …
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Celery wine is a crisp, refreshing vegetable wine with delicate herbal notes, subtle celery freshness and a clean, dry finish. Although unusual, it produces a surprisingly elegant wine that is often compared to a lig…
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