First and foremost, you will need to gather the necessary ingredients and equipment. You will need fresh rhubarb stalks, white sugar, wine yeast, a large fermentation vessel such as a glass carboy or food-grade plastic container, an airlock, a siphoning tube, and wine bottles for bottling the finished product.
To start, thoroughly wash and chop your rhubarb stalks into small pieces. You will need approximately 4 pounds of rhubarb for a standard 1-gallon batch of wine. Place the chopped rhubarb in a large pot and add enough water to cover the fruit. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and simmer for about 30 minutes to extract the flavors and sugars from the rhubarb.
Once the rhubarb has been simmered, strain the mixture through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth, collecting the liquid in a clean container. This liquid will serve as the base for your rhubarb wine. Let the liquid cool to room temperature, and then add 2.5 pounds of white sugar per gallon of liquid. Stir well until the sugar has completely dissolved.
After the sugar has dissolved, transfer the liquid to your fermentation vessel. If using a glass carboy, make sure it is properly sterilized before adding the liquid. Sprinkle the wine yeast over the top of the liquid and cover the vessel with an airlock to allow for the release of carbon dioxide during fermentation while preventing oxygen and contaminants from entering.
Place the fermentation vessel in a cool and dark area, maintaining a temperature between 65-75°F. Allow the mixture to ferment for approximately 2-3 weeks, or until the bubbling has significantly slowed down. This indicates that the fermentation process is complete.
Once fermentation is complete, it’s time to transfer the wine into bottles. Using a sterilized siphoning tube, carefully siphon the wine from the fermentation vessel into clean wine bottles, leaving about an inch of headspace at the top. Seal the bottles with sterilized corks or screw caps, ensuring a tight seal. Store the wine bottles in a cool and dark place for at least 6 months to allow the flavors to mellow and develop.
It’s important to note that homemade wine requires patience and time to mature and develop its flavors. The longer you store your rhubarb wine, the better it will taste. After the recommended storage period, you can finally enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Rhubarb wine is a delightful and refreshing beverage that you can proudly serve to your friends and family. Its unique flavors and beautiful pink hue make it a perfect choice for any special occasion or a simple evening of relaxation. By following these simple , you can easily make your own batch of rhubarb wine using alcohol and impress everyone with your winemaking skills. So, gather your ingredients and equipment and embark on this exciting journey of creating your very own rhubarb wine. Cheers!