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Date Wine

First time

In season January to December · makes 4.5 L · target OG 1.090

A pantry wine any month; body and depth from dried fruit, like the raisin and wheat wines.

You will need

  • Dried dates, stoned and chopped500 g
  • Sugar1.0 kg
  • Lemons, juice of2
  • Wine yeast + nutrient1 sachet
  • Waterto 4.5 L

Method

  1. 1

    Sanitise. Dates are a cupboard staple and, like raisins, they bring body and a deep, treacly richness.

  2. 2

    Chop the stoned dates, put them in the bucket with the lemon juice, and pour on 3 L cooled boiled water; add the sugar dissolved warm and top to 4.5 L (reading ~1.090).

  3. 3

    Pitch the yeast and nutrient; ferment on the dates a week, stirring daily, then strain.

  4. 4

    Rack as it clears; it throws sediment for a while.

  5. 5

    A dark, warming, dessert-leaning wine that improves for a year or more.

  6. 6

    Do not judge it young — the richness needs time to settle.

What this one teaches you

  • · Grain wine and time

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An original MakeWine recipe.