Tuesday 3 July 2012

Champagne campagne

Location: A field in wildest Wales (rain, wind, rain, little bit of sunshine - momentarily, humidity, rain, mud)

MoodmusicSuch a grey and reflective day ............ can't somebody budge that jet stream?

Today's memories and soundbites
"Graham X"
"'Complexity, wickedness and public forests"

Drink
Under construction - elderflower wine.  Having no reason to make the customary elderflower champagne this year I have decided to opt for elderflower wine instead.  Picked a bag full of flowers today in between the showers and have now settled down into cutting the flowers from the stalks. Very therapuetic.  Hope this ends up being as good as my country champagne.

Recipe from C.J Berry

3oz or 3/4 pint Elderflowers
3.5 lb Sugar
1/2 lb raisins
3 lemons
tannin - I use a teabag in the must
1 gallon water

Gather flowers on sunny day (!!!) when they are fully open.  Add boiling water to flowers cut from stems with added sugar, raisons and lemon juice and teabags.  When blood hot add yeast and nutrient (and tannin if you are using that). Cover and leave to steep and ferment for 4-5 days. Strain into jar and fit airlock in usual way.

Elderflower view


about this much flowers more or less ......

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