Garden Wines

Martina PaetzelMedPretzel

Wine Recipe Moderator

or

You made wine out of what??!!

Overview

• Golden Rule of Garden Winemaking• Research• Edible vs. Medicinal Wines• Spices & Herbs in Home Winemaking• Using Good Judgment• Inspiration • Your Garden Wine Approach• General Recipe• Other Points• Question & Answer (??)

Golden Rule of Winemaking:When in doubt about any characteristic

of a plant, do not use it!There are more inedible plants

than edible ones!

Example: DayliliesHemerocallis fulvaNot: Hemerocallis hybrida Stella D’oro

x

Research, research, research!

• WinePress.us discussion forum (http://www.winepress.us/forums/index.php)

• Jack Keller’s Winemaking Website (http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/)

• The Joy of Home Winemaking by Terry Garey

• First Steps in Winemakingby C.J.J. Berry

• Library, extension agency

• Handout

“Killer” Wine

Edible vs. medicinal wines

• Do not use purely medicinal plants!– Digitalis purpurea (foxglove)– Convallaria majalis (lily of the valley)– Atropoa belladonna (deadly nightshade)

• Most plants have some medicinal qualities to them, but are still safe– Chamomile - calming– Garlic - circulatory– Dandelion - calming

X• Allergies

Not sure about a plant?Don’t use it!

Remember the Golden Rule of

Garden Winemaking!

Don’t be afraid to use spices & herbs!

• Each herb, spice, or petal gives its unique flavor to a wine.

• You can grow them anywhere

• Herbs can be an eye-pleasing addition to your flower garden!

• If you like the smell, taste or color of an herb, you might like the wine made out of it!

Use good judgment!

• If you are unsure about any property of a plant, herb, or spice, do not use it.

• And use your sense of smell!• Do not use too much!• If it doesn’t sound like a good idea, it probably isn’t.

Don’t be biased!

• Not just novelty wines or marinades!

• A few examples:– Chrysanthemum & Chicken

– Tomato-Basil & Pizza– Daylily or Chocolate Mint

– Sage or Rosemary-Nutmeg– Juniper

Keep Your Eyes Open for Inspiration!

• Cook books• Bouquet of flowers• Favorite foods• Salad dressings• Herbal teas

Your Garden Wine Approach

• Glass 2:– Add wine (ratio 1:1)– Add sugar, acid, tannin– Take good notes!

This will give you a general idea what your unusual wine will taste like!

1. Make 2 cups of herb tea2. Split into 2 glasses3. Let cool

• Glass 1:– Check for color, clarity,

aroma, & taste– Do not dump it!– Add sugar, acid, tannin – Take good notes!

Optional: Glass 3: Add both cups together

General Wine Recipe

• 2 quarts of fresh garden harvest, loosely packed • Water to 1 gallon• 1 crushed Campden tablet, or equivalent• 1 tsp acid blend• 1 tsp yeast nutrient • 1 tsp yeast energizer• 1/4 tsp pectic enzyme• Optional - tannin• 1 can of Welch’s White Grape Concentrate• 2 pounds of sugar (to an SG of 1.085)• 1 package of wine yeast

for 1 gallon of fantastic garden wine!

Yeast

• Lalvin 72B-1122• Red Star Montrachet• Champagne Yeast• Lalvin EC-1118• Côte des Blancs • Red Star Premier Cuvee

Some Words about Garden Wines

• Dried herbs/petals• Aging• Color• Have fun, be creative! • Remember the golden rule of

garden winemaking!• Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it!

Take-Home Message

If any property of a plant is questionable to you,

do not use it.

Thank you!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me!

MedPretzel

winepress@paetzel.info