Blackberry Wine

Step 1

Thaw 3 pounds of blackberries. Then, put them in a large pot.If your blackberries weren't frozen, we recommend freezing them first and then thawing them. The ice crystals help break down the cell walls in your fruit — and this will make your wine much more flavorful.

Step 2

Add 3 cups of water to the pot.

Step 3

Choose how sweet you'd like your final blackberry wine to be.If you'd like it extra sweet, add 3.5 cups of sugar.For sweet, add 3.25 cups of sugar.For semi-dry, add 3 cups of sugar.And for dry, add 2.75 cups of sugar.

Step 4

Let the mixture simmer for 15 minutes on the stove, until the blackberries and sugar turn into liquid.

Step 5

Let the mixture cool until it reaches slightly above room temperature.

Step 6

Strain the blackberry mash with a cheesecloth or other filter. Try to remove most of the pulp and skin.

Step 7

Add the mixture to your gallon jug. Be sure there is at least 3 inches of space for headroom at the top of the container. (Make space for all the foaming and bubbling!)

Step 8

Add one full Brewsy bag.Then shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds to help wake up the yeast.

Step 9

Put on the airlock. First, squeeze the rubber stopper into your gallon’s bottleneck, and then attach the plastic airlock. Fill the airlock with water, and then snap the hole-punched plastic part back on.

Step 10

Put your wine in a warm, dark place. An attic, closet, or near your water heater are all good places. The ideal temperature is 75°F to 85°F. (The fermentation will take longer in cooler temperatures).Now, fermentation is beginning. Fermentation will take approximately 5 days.Tip: Once or twice a day, swirl your container to make sure the yeast make surface contact with all of the juice.

Step 11

Wait 5 days, then taste-test. After 5 days, take a very small sip of your wine. Right now, the yeast haven’t been separated from your wine, so it won’t taste amazing just yet.When you taste, taste primarily for sweetness. If it tastes dry enough for you, move on to the next step. If it still tastes too sweet, let it ferment for 3 more days, then repeat the taste-test.

Step 12

Put your wine in the fridge. Take off the airlock and put the hole-punched cap on your gallon jug — or, simply use a loosened cap.Tip — make sure you never fasten the cap of your gallon jug to prevent potentially explosive carbon dioxide buildup!

Step 13

Wait two days while your wine is in the fridge.You can remove the airlock and set the original cap on top of your drink. Be sure not to tighten the cap!

Step 14

Rack your wine. Slowly, pour your wine off of the sediment at the bottom into a new container.Your goal is to remove as much of the sediment as possible, so try not to tip your jug back up until you’ve finished pouring. Keep your jug still, so the sediment doesn't mix in with the rest of your wine.

Step 15

Take a sip! Now, you can taste your wine! Cheers!You may love it right away, but you may find it tastes harsh or a bit off. Don’t worry! That's very normal with young alcohol. It will get better and better with time.If it tastes bitter, you can quickly fix that by making a simple syrup.

Step 16

Age your wine. The character of your wine will change significantly as it ages.Harsh tastes or off-flavors will dissipate, and your wine will taste smoother and more flavorful. Blackberries take longer to mellow out than other fruits, due to their naturally tannic properties.Age your wine for at least 3 weeks, racking it about once every 5-7 days (or whenever a lot of sediment has built up at the bottom of your jug).

Step 17

Enjoy! Share your wine with our Brewsy communities, the First Pour Club and Club Brewsy.And be sure to reach out to us with any questions. You can text us at the number we texted you from about your order, message us on Facebook, or send us an email at hello@getbrewsy.com.