How long does it take to make plum wine?
Plum wine is a type of fruit wine made from, you guessed it, plums! And like any wine, the answer to how long it takes to make plum wine is: it depends. Making fruit wine is a bit more complicated than making wine from grapes because of the extra steps involved in working with the fruit, and plum wine is no exception. But in general, you can expect the process of making plum wine to take about 6-8 weeks from start to finish.
The first step in making plum wine is to, of course, procure your plums. This is best done in the late summer or early fall when plums are in season. You’ll need about 5-6 pounds of plums for every gallon of wine you want to make. Once you have your plums, give them a good wash and then remove the stems. You don’t need to remove the skins or pits just yet.
Next, it’s time to start the fermentation process. To do this, you’ll need to crush the plums (skins, pits and all) and then combine them with water in a fermentation vessel. The ratio of water to plums should be about 2:1. Once the plums are combined with water, add in some sugar. The amount of sugar you’ll need will depend on the sweetness of your plums, but in general you’ll need about 1/2 pound of sugar for every gallon of plum wine you want to make.
Now it’s time to wait. The fermentation process can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks, during which time the yeast will consume the sugar and turn it into alcohol. During this time, you’ll need to check on your fermentation vessel periodically to make sure everything is going according to plan. You’ll know fermentation is complete when the bubbling and frothing stops and the liquid becomes clear.
Once fermentation is complete, it’s time to move the plum wine into a secondary fermentation vessel. This is where the wine will finish fermenting and also start to clarify. You can expect secondary fermentation to take anywhere from 2-4 weeks.
After secondary fermentation is complete, it’s time to bottle the plum wine. Make sure to sterilize your bottles and corks beforehand. Once the plum wine is bottled, it will need to age for at least a few months before it’s ready to drink. And that’s it! Making plum wine is a bit of a process, but it’s a fun one that’s well worth the effort.
How to make plum wine from scratch?
You will need:
4 to 5 ripe plums
1¼ cups sugar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Wash the plums and remove their stems. Cut the plums in half and add them to a medium saucepan along with the sugar, water, and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
Use a fork or potato masher to mash the plums. Leave the skins in the mixture for now; they will add flavor and color to the wine.
After 15 minutes, remove the pan from heat and let it cool. Once it’s cooled, transfer the plum mixture to a glass jar or bottle. Cover the jar or bottle with a cheesecloth or coffee filter and secure it with a rubber band.
Let the plum wine ferment in a cool, dark place for 2 to 3 weeks. Check on it occasionally to make sure the cheesecloth or coffee filter hasn’t come loose.
After 2 to 3 weeks, strain the plum wine through a cheesecloth or coffee filter into a clean glass jar or bottle. The wine is now ready to drink, but it will taste better if you let it age for another month or two.
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