Got Fruit?  Make Wine!

Country Wine* - wine made from something other than grapes, such as fruit, vegetables, flowers or herbs

Apple
Blueberry
Blackberry
Saskatoon
Chokecherry
Pumpkin

Rhubarb
Peach
Pear
Apricot
Plum
Cherry

Raspberry
Strawberry
Crab Apple
Rosehip
Cranberry
Nectarine

And many more....

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How to process your fruit before your appointment:

• Fruit must be rinsed clean.  Remove all rotten fruit, bugs, leaves, twigs and stems.
• Cut larger fruit into golf ball sized pieces.  Rhubarb can be cut into 2" lengths.
• If possible, remove all seeds, cores and pits from fruit.  Woody pieces can impart a bitterness into the wine and pits in certain fruits contain certain types of dangerous toxins!
• Peel all fuzzy fruits such as peaches, apricots, kiwis, etc.
• Fruit should be previously frozen.  Freezing breaks down the cellular structure and allows the yeast to penetrate easier and protects your fruit against mold and bacteria.
• Fruit needs to be thawed completely before your appointment.  Yeast cannot be added if it is cold.  It will not work.  Thawing too early before your appointment can cause bacteria to grow.  Please practice safe thawing methods!
• During thawing, juice will be released.  Use a large, clean container to hold your thawing fruit and save the juice for the wine.  It will also help keep your vehicle safe from spills during transportation to our shop.
• Amount of fruit in recipes can vary.  Our current recipes call for a minimum of 4 gallons, or 4 large freezer bags full, or 15 to 30lbs.  Add more fruit for more flavor, color and body.
• Bring in your own sugar to save money.  We use 4-5kg of sugar per batch.  White sugar is preferred but other sugars can be used.  Please call ahead if you are interested in using some other form of sugar. 
• If adding spices, please bring these in whole form.  Ground spices cannot ensure clear wine.
• Fruit wines take up to 8 weeks to process for bottling
• Half batches (11.5L) are available!  For 15 bottles, cut the amount of fruit and sugar needed in half.  
  

Attention:  Due to the possibility of cross contamination, dirty batches of fruit will not be accepted. 

Call 250-787-2739 to book your wine making appointment today