Cranberry Pomegranate Wine

Oh Baby! Your fine as cherry wine.
Well that is what he said- to me....years ago.
I guess it was his pick up line.
He worked for the carnival.....and looked like he worked for the carnival.
His pick up line didn't work.

This....however...works! We have just finished bottling our first wine.
Recipe at end of post

Crushing berries, fermenting in 5 gallon pail, covered with heavy plastic and tied down.

Waiting for fermenting (the other carboy is rhubarb that has not yet been bottled) Note airlock set up.

Our vintage corker- good thing my husband has some strength! Not the easiest to use.

cleaning bottles

soaking corks and prepping for bottling

when racking and bottling use a rubber tube with filter attachment at end

The assembly line. We ended up using 2 magnum bottles, 1 half and 21 standard.

Using a heat gun to seal bottles after corking.

Cranberry Pomegranate Wine
1 lb fresh cranberries crushed (frozen may be used- thaw at room temp before continuing)
1 Qt pomegranate juice
10 lb sugar
2 tsp acid -(note- the recipe calls for 2 tsp Vinacid R, this is a brand no longer used. I had on hand only citric acid and used 2 tsp and it turned out fine, however when talking with local wine making experts they recommended a blend of citric and tartaric)
6 Qt hot water
2 tsp yeast nutrient
2 tsp Pectic enzyme
1 tsp liquid tannin
8 Campden tablets crushed
8 Qt cold water
1 pkt Champagne yeast
Secondary Ingredients
Gelatin finings
1/4 tsp Sulphite crystals
10 oz wine conditioner

In 5 gallon pail mix crushed berries, pomegranate juice, hot water, sugar, and acids, stir until sugar is dissolved. (this is referred to as the must)
Add yeast nutrient, pectic enzyme, tannin, campden, and cold water.
Stir well, check specific gravity (SG), it should be 1.100*
Temperature should be 75 degrees.
Add yeast packet to 1 c warm water, let stand for 10 minutes and stir into must.
Cover with plastic sheet and tie down. Keep as close to 75 degrees as possible, check after 24 hours for fermentation. Foam and bubbles should appear.
Stir twice daily.
Stuck fermentation- yep it happens! first- give it a little more time, second- make sure temp is warm enough, third- if necessary use another yeast packet dissolved in 1/2 gallon of the must, feed with 2 tsp yeast energizer, when this begins to bubble- add to must.

When SG reaches 1.020 strain cranberries into mesh bag- squeezing out juice into pail. Discard pulp.
Rack into a clean 5 gallon carboy and top with cold water.* tap water is fine, oxygen is bad for wine so be sure to keep minimal exposure in your carboy and air lock!
Attach a fermentation lock, move to a cooler area (65 degrees- approx)
After 10 days or SG of 1.000, rack into clean carboy, top with cold water.
After 3 weeks or SG of .990-.995 rack again into a clean carboy.
Add finings and top off with cold water if necessary.
10 days later Rack and filter into clean carboy and add sulphite crystals that have been dissolved in small amount of cool water.
Bulk age 1 month.
Add wine conditioner and bottle.
Bottle age 7 months.


Tips and info
you will need a 5 gallon bucket
2 -5 gallon carboys
an air lock and probably a #10 rubber cork if using standard water carboys
tubing and filter tip end that fits tubing
large stainless steel or wooden spoon
mesh bag or cheesecloth
no rinse cleaner- sold in wine supplies
corks
seal bands
labels
ingredients listed above

When corking soak corks at least one hour in warm water, you can use a little glycerin to help them slide in- this can also be bought in cake making supplies at stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels.
I am not going to lie, unless you have a great corker...this is hard and not the most fun part.




This recipe adapted from Winemaking by Anderson and Anderson, Harcourtbooks.com

* ok I have a hydrometer used to measure alcohol levels, I will tell you this- I am no expert at using this....I kind of went through the motions and really have no idea if I did it right. I used time a little more than actual measurements as  my basis for moving on in the steps. I read that the more you pay for a hydrometer the more accurate it is. Please research the use of a hydrometer or check the instructions that accompany your device. Our wine looks good and tastes good- that is all I know to tell you. If you have tips on using this device please leave them in the comments.

image belongs to  Allposters.com and can be purchased as a wall poster through them.  

Maple River Winery

 Maple River Winery in Casselton ND, a locally owned and run winery that specializes in producing wines made from fruits grown within a 75 mile radius.
Small town feel with a welcoming atmosphere, tours and tasting Mon- Sat 10-5.

 My husband and I stopped by for our first visit and were greeted and treated like special guests. We weren't, that is just the treatment you get from the folks that work there. We sampled a couple wines, browsed through the Pride of Dakota  Gift Shop and even got a little behind the scenes tour.

 Our lovely guide showed us where everything is made, stored and shipped.  Located in historic downtown Casselton makes for a unique building, appearing very small from the front entry one finds the literal depth of the building when you step inside. Farther back are halls and rooms that hold the wine making and bottling materials. NO nook or cranny is wasted!

too much wine???? no just my camera and lighting and a photographer that has no idea what she is doing!

 Seasonal is key...here in the Dakotas not a lot grows in the winter....uhm nothing grows in the winter. But the variety offered is simply amazing.

apple press

 2010 Wine List From Dry to Sweet
Wild Plum
Elderberry
Apricot
Apple Jalepeno
Country Crabapple
Mango Melon
Sand Cherry
Chokecherry
Raspberry
Strawberry Rhubarb
Prairie Strawberry
Apple Strawberry
Pumpkin
Rhubarb
Honey Apple
Honey comb Plum
Apple Mint
Pear
Bumble Bee Red
Lilac
Dandelion (over 100 heads per bottle!)
  Some wines have sold out and some are limited.
Other spirits available

Maple River Winery
628 Front Street
Casselton ND 58012
701-347-5900
www.northdakotawinery.com