Dorset Crab Apple and Blackberry Wine Tasting - Live Blog

It started one autumn afternoon walking up on The Downs in Sussex. I saw shit loads of elderberrys and something went off in my little brain. 'Can't you make booze from them?'

So I did a bit of internet research at work and spent a small fortune on buckets, bubblers, yeast, activators and all sorts of other stuff. The book I was also persuaded to buy has been a saviour, and I thoroughly recomend it to anyone who wants to start making wine at home. First Steps in Wine Making by C.J.J. Berry ISBN 978-1-85486-139-9A few months in and 40 bottles of Elderberry wine on the shelf, I thought I needed to try some other fruits. and a little less quantity. So I have now brewed with more less success the following in gallon demijohns..


Grape (from a friend's allotment)
Rhubarb
Rhubarb and Apricot
Plum
Bullace


And the one 5olly is going to get balls deep into tonight :-  Dorset Crab Apple and Blackberry.

This is it for its first racking. The port is on the chair

I've tried using my hydrometer for ABv but it's really fiddly so I couldn't be arsed most of the time. 18 months later the first tasting was at our house on Halloween. We did the Rhubarb wine, it was ok but bit tart. Then the Rhubarb and Apricot, my personal favourite, slightly sweeter and much more drinkable. In fact I only have 1 bottle left. Then the Elderberry, disappointingly too fruity and not winey enough. Shame cos I've got about 30 bottles left. Lastly we tried the Apple and Blackberry, mutterings of 'Mmm', and 'That's not bad, it tastes like port!' Fuck me it tastes like port! Awesome I made port without even trying!

If the gooseberrys weren't so tasty I'd make wine out of them too.

Beetroot wine was on the telly last week, so I am definitely having a go at that this year.

9.30 - First problem.

We don't seem to own a bottle opener.  :-(

9.31 - Someone is a bit scared. I'm not sure if they're scared for the wine, or me...

9.40 - Help is at hand!

YAY! A bottle opener at the pub next door!

BOO!

At this point I should add that the lovely barman described this wine as 'Oh God! That's fucking gorgeous' he then drank some more. He obviously has no taste buds!

10.00 - I must say this wine is very fruity... I'm saying that as my teeth now feel quite furry. A bit like the skin on a peach. (It doesn't taste like peach)

10.10 - There's discussion with @iammudrock as to whether we actually have a corkscrew or not. He maintains that I actually have one, and that I wanted to photograph the sexy barman next door.. 

10.25 - About to hit the second glass. I'm still breathing and can understand the English language! Only lost two teeth.

- SHIT - That should say 10.15. Is it already going horribly wrong? What happened to the last 10 minutes???

It's still only 10.20 and i'm scared what might happen in the next five minutes.. So much so i've tied up the cats and locked myself in the bathroom... *DEEP BREATHS*

10.18 - Second glass. (When i say that i mean I threw the other glass at the wall when I finished the wine) Luckily I have 47 more.

10.30 - I think i need some cheese. Do we have cheese? Where is the robot cheese butler?

10.35 - Just found myself doing this dance, to this tune.

http://youtu.be/b0skZvqLTiw

10.50 - i just went out for a ciggie. there might be strippers

end of glass two.

23.10 - That last picture took about 5 hours to get in focus.

23.20 - Shit. Hard Rain is on telly. It's on my list. It's only 2 hours long...

23.30 - We're discussing roller derby nicknames. So far - DEVASTATOR - TANK DEVASTATOR - BEHEMOTH - WINEOTOUR

23.40 - I THINK I NEED TO GO TO BED NOW.