Cherry Plum Wine

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 colour and flavour depending on the tree. Historically underused, cherry plums have become increasingly popular for country winemaking due to their high acidity and strong aromatic profile, which lends itself well to structured, refreshing fruit wines.

Crabapple Wine

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 their high acidity and natural tannin content. Historically, crabapple wine was valued as a “winter wine,” often laid down after autumn harvest and consumed the following year or later once the harsh edges had softened.

Cranberry Wine

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 an excellent base for a crisp fruit wine. Because of their naturally high acid content, cranberry wines require careful balancing but reward patience with a clear refreshing drink that pairs well with food.

Elderberry Wine

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 for syrups, cordials, and medicinal preparations. Elderberry wine is known for its intensity and structure, often resembling a rustic red wine when fully matured. While challenging when young, it rewards patience with a complex, deeply flavoured drink that develops significantly over time.

Damson Wine

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, often compared to a light red grape wine when properly aged. Young damson wine can taste sharp, tannic, and quite rustic, but with time it transforms into a smooth, complete wine with deep plum and almond-like notes and a long finish

Grape Wine

Grape wine is unique among fruit wines because grapes naturally contain everything needed for balanced fermentation sugar, acid, tannin (in skins and seeds), and nutrients for yeast health. This is why grape wine has been the dominant global wine style for thousands of years. When made at home in the UK using table grapes, it won’t always match commercial vineyard wines, but it can still produce a clean structured, and enjoyable wine with good ageing potential.

Gooseberry Wine

Gooseberries have long been a staple of British gardens and allotments, valued for their sharp flavour and versatility in cooking and preserves. Their high acidity makes them particularly well suited to winemaking, where they produce a crisp, structured wine reminiscent of a dry white grape wine. Historically, gooseberry wine was popular in rural households where summer harvests provided abundant fruit. It is one of the best examples of a “white-style” country wine made from garden fruit rather than grapes.

Hawthorn Berry Wine

Hawthorn has long been associated with British hedgerows and traditional countryside landscapes. While better known for its medicinal and folklore uses, the berries also make a subtle but distinctive wine when harvested in the right conditions. Historically, hawthorn wine was made in small rural batches due to the difficulty of harvesting large quantities. Its light structure and gentle fruit character make it one of the more refined hedgerow wines when properly aged

Mirabelle Plum Wine

Mirabelle plums are traditionally associated with continental Europe, particularly France and Germany, where they are highly prized for preserves, liqueurs, and desserts. They are less common in the UK but can be grown in suitable climates or sourced from specialist suppliers. Their naturally sweet, floral profile makes them ideal for winemaking, producing a soft, aromatic wine that is far less aggressive than most hedgerow fruits.

Orange Wine

While not traditional in British hedgerow winemaking, orange wine has become a popular experimental fruit wine due to the availability of citrus fruit year-round in the UK. Historically, citrus wines were more common in warmer climates or as imported luxury-style homebrews. When made carefully, orange wine produces a refreshing, aromatic drink that sits somewhere between a light white wine and a citrus cordial.