Comments on: Recipe for Elderflower Champagne http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/ Wholefood Recipes, Real Food Recipes, Vegetable Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes and Great Recipes Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:40 +0000 hourly 1 By: debs http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-13005 debs Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:22:21 +0000 http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-13005 I made some elderflower champagne 2 years ago so... summer 09 I guess. I left a bottle in the shed and just found it this morning! :) I don't know how it didn't smash in the freezing winters but hey I see this as a sign that it's ok to drink! It's fate! Anyway, there were some yellowy yeast sediments in the bottom so I have re-strained it and put it in a clean bottle I had a little taste and its not that fizzy but still slightly sparkling, smells lovely and tastes good. Although a little acidic, so I put a few teaspoons of sugar in to adjust the sweetness, I think this will probably make it fizzier as well? So I'm thinking that after all this time (re-fermenting every year- if that is true I don't know, but I've heard it said) will it have a measurable alcohol content? I'm hoping yes, as then I feel like there wont be any nasties in there. Any thoughts? I made some elderflower champagne 2 years ago so… summer 09 I guess. I left a bottle in the shed and just found it this morning! :) I don't know how it didn't smash in the freezing winters but hey I see this as a sign that it's ok to drink! It's fate!
Anyway, there were some yellowy yeast sediments in the bottom so I have re-strained it and put it in a clean bottle I had a little taste and its not that fizzy but still slightly sparkling, smells lovely and tastes good. Although a little acidic, so I put a few teaspoons of sugar in to adjust the sweetness, I think this will probably make it fizzier as well? So I'm thinking that after all this time (re-fermenting every year- if that is true I don't know, but I've heard it said) will it have a measurable alcohol content? I'm hoping yes, as then I feel like there wont be any nasties in there.
Any thoughts?

]]> By: John Phillips http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4249 John Phillips Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:33:42 +0000 http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4249 Hi- I've been brewing for many years... elderflower and elderberry wine as well as lots of other 'country' recipes. Having recently retired I thought I'd revert to making some elderflower champagne I made years ago. Lots of good advice on your website but so confusing! The point about country brews- and beer etc- is to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Enjoy what you're doing. Basically you want to take some florets and allow them to mildly ferment. If making elderflower champagne you're not aiming for high alcoholic content... what's the point? You only need: Clean equipment Tepid water Any type of sugar- white, brown, brewing... whatever Lemons Possibly some dried yeast- any sort of wine yeast will do... what's all this about champagne yeast... only add a bit if natural fermentation doesn't start. Tips: Put flowers/florets in a muslin bag and squeeze out daily whilst in liquid... saves lots of straining Taste a spoonful, daily, as you stir/squeeze..... obviously it'll still be a bit sugary but you'll know whether you want to let it stand for 24/36/72 hours or whatever. Avoid glass bottles... they're good for wines when you want to show off- yes, I do that as well- but you're making a simple, 'country, brew for home consumption. If it's fizzy you can let out a bit of gas, or not, as the case may be. If a plastic bottle leaks/explodes/becomes deformed not harm's done. Go with the flow. Finally, you've made it. It won't poison you. Enjoy it whether it's cloudy/clear or has some 'gunk' in the bottom. p.s. one of you contributers suggested some rose petals added. GREAT!! if you want a real treat try making rose petal wine... lots of recipes on the web. Hi- I've been brewing for many years… elderflower and elderberry wine as well as lots of other 'country' recipes. Having recently retired I thought I'd revert to making some elderflower champagne I made years ago. Lots of good advice on your website but so confusing! The point about country brews- and beer etc- is to KEEP IT SIMPLE. Enjoy what you're doing. Basically you want to take some florets and allow them to mildly ferment. If making elderflower champagne you're not aiming for high alcoholic content… what's the point? You only need:
Clean equipment
Tepid water
Any type of sugar- white, brown, brewing… whatever
Lemons
Possibly some dried yeast- any sort of wine yeast will do… what's all this about champagne yeast… only add a bit if natural fermentation doesn't start.
Tips:
Put flowers/florets in a muslin bag and squeeze out daily whilst in liquid… saves lots of straining
Taste a spoonful, daily, as you stir/squeeze….. obviously it'll still be a bit sugary but you'll know whether you want to let it stand for 24/36/72 hours or whatever.
Avoid glass bottles… they're good for wines when you want to show off- yes, I do that as well- but you're making a simple, 'country, brew for home consumption.
If it's fizzy you can let out a bit of gas, or not, as the case may be. If a plastic bottle leaks/explodes/becomes deformed not harm's done. Go with the flow.
Finally, you've made it. It won't poison you. Enjoy it whether it's cloudy/clear or has some 'gunk' in the bottom.
p.s. one of you contributers suggested some rose petals added. GREAT!! if you want a real treat try making rose petal wine… lots of recipes on the web.

]]> By: sophie Pratt http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4246 sophie Pratt Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:14:50 +0000 http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4246 I made 1/2 quantity of this recipe and it is absolutely lovely! I have put half in plastic bottles and the other half in a demi john with air trap as suggested by someone here- seems to be working ok. Not sure about alcohol content but it is really fresh, bubbly and delicious! I will definitely use this method again. I made 1/2 quantity of this recipe and it is absolutely lovely! I have put half in plastic bottles and the other half in a demi john with air trap as suggested by someone here- seems to be working ok. Not sure about alcohol content but it is really fresh, bubbly and delicious! I will definitely use this method again.

]]> By: Barb http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4205 Barb Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:08:34 +0000 http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4205 I want to pick some elderflowers today after they dry out and the sun shines on them a bit. They are huge and beautiful on the first of my planted bushes, in the most sunny part of my garden. There are more coming later but still I do not wish to harm the future berries. Can I just shake them on a sheet or somthing and not pick the stems off the bush? Has anyone done this and thus saved the bounty for fruit? Or does it not work for whatever reason? Thank in advance. I want to pick some elderflowers today after they dry out and the sun shines on them a bit. They are huge and beautiful on the first of my planted bushes, in the most sunny part of my garden. There are more coming later but still I do not wish to harm the future berries. Can I just shake them on a sheet or somthing and not pick the stems off the bush? Has anyone done this and thus saved the bounty for fruit? Or does it not work for whatever reason?
Thank in advance.

]]> By: catherine http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4204 catherine Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:06:28 +0000 http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4204 @<a href="#comment-1693" rel="nofollow">GARY</a>: hi , I made my elderflower champagne using the River Cottage Recipe but 3 days later there is still no fizz and it is thick (like syrup). What can I do now or should I just give up? @GARY: hi , I made my elderflower champagne using the River Cottage Recipe but 3 days later there is still no fizz and it is thick (like syrup). What can I do now or should I just give up?

]]> By: pat http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4195 pat Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:03:25 +0000 http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4195 the clear wire cap bottles available work well because they are not as strong as Grolsch bottles so when pressure builds it can 'leak' out yet when you open them after 6 months or so there is just the right ammount of fizz. the clear wire cap bottles available work well because they are not as strong as Grolsch bottles so when pressure builds it can 'leak' out yet when you open them after 6 months or so there is just the right ammount of fizz.

]]> By: pat http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4194 pat Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:31:08 +0000 http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4194 @<a href="#comment-2708" rel="nofollow">michael</a>: Yes, those .75 litre wire top bottles are good for the job,I have found the wire caps are not as strong as Grolsch caps so when the pressure builds it leaks out @michael: Yes, those .75 litre wire top bottles are good for the job,I have found the wire caps are not as strong as Grolsch caps so when the pressure builds it leaks out

]]> By: Kenny http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4182 Kenny Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:40:27 +0000 http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4182 @<a href="#comment-2749" rel="nofollow">Diana Osborne</a>: Hi Diana, think I'll take your advice and add the citric acid. Can't see how this recipe can be non-alcoholic. Surely there must be some alcohol produced here. @Diana Osborne:

Hi Diana,

think I'll take your advice and add the citric acid. Can't see how this recipe can be non-alcoholic. Surely there must be some alcohol produced here.

]]> By: Carol http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4180 Carol Sun, 19 Jun 2011 11:11:53 +0000 http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4180 I have been making Elderflower Cordial for a few years now. I have had quite a few bottle produce yellow sediment, I have always thought it was down to the amount of pollen on the flowers. I always invert the bottle before drinking to help with Hay fever. I am still here and haven't had bad hay fever for a while now. If I have any mould grow, I just refilter the bottle. Will go out picking flowers today to make some Champagne. Mark is making good sense right now so will follow his instructions for making Champagne. I have been making Elderflower Cordial for a few years now. I have had quite a few bottle produce yellow sediment, I have always thought it was down to the amount of pollen on the flowers. I always invert the bottle before drinking to help with Hay fever. I am still here and haven't had bad hay fever for a while now. If I have any mould grow, I just refilter the bottle. Will go out picking flowers today to make some Champagne. Mark is making good sense right now so will follow his instructions for making Champagne.

]]> By: Carol http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4178 Carol Sat, 18 Jun 2011 21:28:39 +0000 http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/27/recipe-for-elderflower-champagne/#comment-4178 I have made my first batch of elderflower champers, I bottled it after 24 hrs and it has been left for 2 weeks, when I tried it the taste was lovely but it is very thick 'gloopy' can anyone tell me what I have done wrong? or how to remedy it? I thought of spliting the bottles down and topping them up to see if that worked?? Many thanks I have made my first batch of elderflower champers, I bottled it after 24 hrs and it has been left for 2 weeks, when I tried it the taste was lovely but it is very thick 'gloopy' can anyone tell me what I have done wrong? or how to remedy it? I thought of spliting the bottles down and topping them up to see if that worked??
Many thanks

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