How to make Mr Crumps Elderflower wine.
This recipe is taken from ‘The Best of James Herriot‘ book which describes James Herriots impromptu wine tasting session with a farmer called Mr Crump. This is one of the wines they sampled leaving them both very merry and he writes; “As we sat there [drinking] time slowed down till it was finally meaningless“. I love that description.
I followed the recipe listed in the book. The elderflowers were picked on a sunny day in early June and the first bottle was opened on Christmas day. I was pleasantly surprised! Mind you, I didn’t have a visit to the Bamfords to worry about afterwards….
Mr Crumps Elderflower wine
Course: DrinksDifficulty: DifficultGallons
1
GallonPrep time
2
hoursFermenting Time
42
DaysIngredients
1 Pint Jug of Elderflower heads
2 Lemons
1.3Kg (3lb) Granulated Sugar
15g Wine yeast (or baking yeast)
Directions
- Fill a 1 pint jug with Elderflower heads (stalks taken off) and press down tightly.
- Put into a large bowl or fermenting bucket together with the pared rind of two lemons.
- Pour on 1 gallon of boiling water, cover with a lid and leave for 3 days (stir occasionally)
- Strain liquid into a large pan, add sugar and bring to the boil then simmer for 10 minutes.
- Strain into a 1 gallon fermentation jar, add juice of the lemons and the Wine yeast. Fit airlock and leave at room temperature for weeks until fermentation has stopped.
- Siphon off the clear wine into a fresh container a couple of times and let it settle, discarding the sediment.
- When clear, bottle and store in a cool dark place until Christmas time!
Recipe Video
Notes
- Makes four x 75cl bottles of wines so get bottles and corks ready when you prepare your equipment.
- There may be a small amount of sediment at the bottom of the bottle but don’t worry about that.