Redcurrant wine

[dave45]

On the same theme as the Blackcurrant wine thread, I have loads of redcurrants too, so I steam-extracted a whole load of them to produce just under 4 pints of juice. This was only OG 1025 though. Again added 1kg sugar and water to make up to a gallon and started it fermenting.

I've never even tried redcurrant wine before as I've never had enough berries... Anyone else done redcurrant wine? I'm expecting a light easy-drinking red. dream on eh?

Will report back.

[dave45]

Lovely colour, but very slow to clear. Tastes nice enough, but not thrilling.

[dave45]

Final result: a lovely dry rose wine. Sample approved by a friend at work as up there with commercial rose wines.

I think I am going to have to replace some blackcurrant bushes with redcurrants... ISTR that they aren't as easy as blackcurrnats to propagate though - any hints?

[Green Aura]

I think you can take cuttings. I don't think they're too hard to get going.

The RHS recommend that you take cuttings from younger plants as older ones can carry disease - one of which is botrytis. Isn't that the stuff that is needed to make Sauternes - Noble Rot?

I don't know how dangerous botrytis is (to plants or humans) and of course there may be the risk of other pathogens, so it's probably better to stick to the guidance.

[ina]

I have one huge redcurrant bush that I bought very cheaply at Lidl's... And I remember once sticking a bit of a redcurrant cutting into the ground and it grew very well! Wasn't even intended to do so - I think I'd used it to hold up some other plant... So I'd say they can't be that difficult to propagate, if even I can do it without meaning to. ;) (It was probably the wrong time of year, too.)