How to make strawberry sweet fortified wine

If you’re a wine enthusiast looking to embark on a new adventure in , why not try your hand at creating a delicious and aromatic fortified wine? This delightful beverage combines the sweetness of with the richness of fortified wine, resulting in a wine that is simply irresistible. Follow these simple steps to create your very own strawberry sweet fortified wine at home.

Ingredients:
– 4 pounds of fresh strawberries
– 8 cups of water
– 2 cups of white granulated sugar
– 2 cups of vodka or brandy
– 1 packet of wine yeast
– 1 campden tablet

Step 1: Clean and Prepare
Start by cleaning the strawberries thoroughly under running water. Remove the stems and leaves, trimming any blemished areas. Dice the strawberries into smaller pieces to facilitate the extraction of flavors during the fermentation process.

Step 2: Extracting the Juice
Place the diced strawberries in a fermentation vessel and crush them using a sanitized potato masher or any other suitable tool. Pour in the water and dissolve the sugar, stirring until it completely dissolves. Cover the vessel with a clean cloth or plastic wrap and let the mixture sit for 24 hours to extract the juices from the strawberries.

Step 3: Fermentation
After 24 hours, add the wine yeast to the strawberry mixture. This will initiate the fermentation process. Stir well to ensure the yeast is evenly distributed. Cover the vessel again and let it ferment for about a week, stirring daily to keep the yeast in suspension. The fermentation process should create bubbles and signs of active fermentation.

Step 4: Fortification
Once the initial fermentation is complete, it’s time to fortify the wine. Dissolve the campden tablet in a small amount of warm water and add it to the fermentation vessel. This will inhibit further fermentation. After 24 hours, add the vodka or brandy to fortify the wine. The alcohol content will depend on your preference, but a ratio of two cups of alcohol per gallon of wine is a good starting point.

Step 5: Aging and Bottling
Transfer the mixture into a glass carboy or demijohn for aging. Fit an airlock to the vessel to allow any residual gases to escape. Store the vessel in a cool, dark place and let the wine age for at least three months, but ideally longer if possible. During the aging period, the wine will become smoother and develop more complex flavors.

Step 6: Final Steps
After aging, the wine is ready to be bottled. Use a siphon or a small tube to carefully transfer the wine from the carboy into sanitized wine bottles. Cork or cap the bottles tightly, ensuring a proper seal. Store the bottles upright in a cool cellar or refrigerator for an additional month to allow the wine to settle and further develop its flavors.

Congratulations! You have successfully made your own strawberry sweet fortified wine. This delectable beverage can be enjoyed on its own as a dessert wine or paired with your favorite sweet treats, such as chocolates or fruity desserts. Share your creation with friends and family, and bask in the satisfaction of having crafted a delightful wine from scratch.

Keep in mind that winemaking is both an art and a science, so feel free to experiment with different ratios of strawberries, sugar, and alcohol to suit your taste. With practice and patience, you may discover your own unique recipe for strawberry sweet fortified wine that will be cherished for years to come. Cheers!