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The Oregon State U. Extension Office says blue and black elderberries are nontoxic. Red elderberries must be cooked.

During the early part of my winemaking of a few years back, I made several white wines that were terrible including a carrot wine. A few weeks ago, in a clutter clearing move, I taste tested those wines again before dumping and they were still terrible--except the carrot wine. It was very...

Interesting. Do you have an idea what the pH of your acid blend-water is without any additives or juice? Acid blends obviously are different, but a tablespoon of acid blend of any combination when mixed with a moderately low pH must of 2 gallons shouldn't yield a pH of 4.6.

My recipe follows the Bernardsmith's post very closely. With the Pom Wonderful, I do just use the straight juice, but I do add a can of frozen white grape concentrate per gallon. At finishing, I also add the condensed portion of two frozen Pom jugs and give additional time for the second clearing.

The Pom Wonderful, 60 fluid ounce jugs are $5.99 at Costco.

I started out with the Keller recipe for blueberry/blackberry and my recent attempts with higher berry poundage per gallon have also worked well. I am just curious as to the 1.06 initial specific gravity. I take it that the flavor might be enhanced, but how long does the bottled wine keep at...

1.02 x 1.5 x 8.3. The 8.3 depends on water temperature, but it is close enough for this type of approximation.

The 1.5 gallons is about right for 12.5 to 13 pounds of berries at a 1.02 sg.

At least for 3 of my favorite country wines. I have gone to the high fruit content simply because the wine has the much fruitier taste that I enjoy. A related problem, however, is that the fruitier pomegranate, blueberry, or blackberry wines have the associated higher vitamin K content that...

I have noticed the Jack Keller recipe for Oregon grape (Mahoning aquifolium), but I usually don't find sufficient quantities of wild berries to harvest. I guess it makes a great wine that is similar to black currant. I am going scouting for huckleberries today, and will pay attention to areas...

I should also note that wild Vaccinium harvest is one of my favorite activities. The available species differs significantly in different parts of the U.S., but I will pick up to 5 different species on any given day in Oregon. It is great exercise, One gets a great, natural berry, I get to...

As noted, the most important aspect in wild Vaccinium use is the immediate processing. I rinse immediately after my harvest, pat dry, and store in an iced cooler. When I get back to camp, I rinse again, pat dry, and spread the berries on paper towels (cookie sheets as a base). I then package...

When I first started, I had some luck starting the syphon by sticking a sanitized turkey baster in the hose end with the bulb compressed.

Since I am a newbie, I know squat. Still, I mess around with the cranberry sauces a lot because they can be inexpensive experiments with good results. First, use lavlin EC 1118. A yeast starter is a good idea in this one. Use yeast energizer. To start, I use a cranberry juice to mix with...

After waiting for 2 years for my first peach wine to develop into something remotely drinkable, I dumped it. Absolutely undrinkable. I did dump it into a 5 gallon bucket and just lazily left the bucket on the porch. Zero degree weather for a couple of days. Went to dump the bucket, but...

Very good indeed. I love posts from which I actually do laugh out loud.

The very best wine that I have ever consumed was a homemade wine by my Great Aunt in Lake Andes, South Dakota. That was 35 years ago, and I have been trying to come close to making a wine that is even remotely close to that outstanding. I am only 2 years into my attempts, but that South Dakota...

Costco sale at fifty cents a pound--at least locally. Berries are just a little past prime but still usable for us newbies.

The POM Wonderful juice is on sale at our Costco for around $6.00 for 60 fl. ounces. Good price and a good base for a small batch of wine.

They bought one of the local microbreweries, Ten Barrel, about a year ago. I have known the Ten Barrel owners for a long time, and it was a great financial move for the original Ten Barrel owners(good people). At the same time, I refuse to drink another Ten Barrel product as they now have a...