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Hawthorn Blossom Wine

Getting confident

In season May · makes 4.5 L · target OG 1.088

Fills the May hedgerow alongside elderflower; the delicate-infusion lesson again.

Before you start. The blossom has a heavy scent some find unpleasant; use freshly opened, not browning, heads. Hawthorn is cardioactive: if you take heart or blood-pressure medication (cardiac glycosides such as digoxin, beta-blockers or other antihypertensives), avoid this wine or check with your doctor first.

You will need

  • Hawthorn ('may') blossom, freshly open1.3 L loosely packed
  • Sugar1.3 kg
  • Raisins, chopped250 g
  • Lemons, juice of2
  • Wine yeast + nutrient1 sachet
  • Waterto 4.5 L

Picking it at the right moment

  • Hawthorn blossom

    Use blossom just fully open and creamy white; browning heads are going over.

Method

  1. 1

    Sanitise. Pick creamy-white may blossom just fully open, on a dry day; browning heads are going over.

  2. 2

    As with any flower wine, protect the scent: pour water that has been boiled and cooled to just-warm over the blossom and steep only 24 hours.

  3. 3

    Strain onto the sugar, chopped raisins and lemon juice; top to 4.5 L (reading ~1.088).

  4. 4

    Pitch the yeast and nutrient when cool; ferment cool to hold the aroma.

  5. 5

    Ferment out, rack, clear and bottle.

  6. 6

    A pale, hedgerow-scented spring white.

What this one teaches you

  • · Delicate infusion

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An original MakeWine recipe.