Tuesday 16 May 2017

Champagne season.



Yesterday was my Elderflower Champagne making day. The sun was shining, it was warm, and the flowers were in perfect condition.

I picked 6 sun-kissed heads of Elderflower, added 600 gms of sugar, 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar, the rind of a lemon, the juice of a lemon, and 6 litres of water. It's as simple as that.


This afternoon I shall bottle it, and put it away until July/August.

Best to place the bottles away from danger (in a shed maybe), as they can become lively and explode. You need bottles that have wired-on tops, as below.


If you intend making some; good luck!




31 comments:

  1. No worries here about this post. I love an occasional bottle of cheap bubbly! Life is for living it's not a rehearsal.

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    Replies
    1. Do you make this? It's a wonderful Summer drink, and is child's play to make.

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    2. No I don't make it. I live in London and I don't know where to get elderflowers. Having said that I might source some and give it a go

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    3. Hyde Park? Green Park? I'm sure you'd find some.

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  2. We have to wait a while longer for the elderflowers to come out over here in England.

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    Replies
    1. They are suddenly everywhere here, the hedgerows are covered.

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  3. When I look at Elderflower it always reminds me of your champagne-making.
    I love your blog and your meanderings, Cro.
    Greetings Maria x

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    Replies
    1. You should have a go at making some Maria; you'd love it. The perfect non-alcoholic Summer drink.

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    2. I have your recipe now, thanks. X

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  4. I've looked for elderflower here last year when you wrote about it but could not find it here.

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  5. My dad used to make wine. Every now and then a bottle would pop its cork making us all jump sky high.
    I've never had luck growing elder. I've tried a few times.

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    Replies
    1. We have so much around us in the hedgerows that I don't bother growing my own.

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  6. Delicately scented and flavours of the summer !

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  7. My Retired Man once made wine at home. After a few months, most of the bottles exploded. What a mess! Now he makes wine with a group of men at a winery. It is safer and no clean-up for me.

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    Replies
    1. I've just this second finished bottling mine. The ones in the bottles as illustrated (above) tend not to explode, but I also use old 'Fischer' beer bottles, with the same tops, and they are made from much thinner glass, and can go bang. My fingers are crossed.

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  8. Every year I say I'm going to make Elderflower champagne and every year passes me by. I have to go and check out the two sources where I know they grow. Thanks for the reminder.

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    Replies
    1. I'm the same with other things, but I always make my EC.

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  9. Every time I hear about Elderflowers I think about you making a batch of Champagne. I told my Julia about it and she was curios about the whole process, so I might have her read this post.

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    Replies
    1. Younger people love making this because it's like magic. You start with so few simple things, and it ends up as something wonderful. I think that's probably why I make it.

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  10. Astonishing that such simple ingredients can quite quickly become such an exquisite drink.

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    Replies
    1. That's it Weave; simple chemistry producing something marvelous.

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  11. Never made - but I am sure I would enjoy!
    Anna :o]

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  12. I make Elderflower Cordial,the Champagne version sounds simpler although I haven't any suitable bottles,Elerflowers just peeping out here,may give it a try:)

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    Replies
    1. I keep saying I should make some Cordial, but I never do.The EC is so easy, I could do it with my eyes closed.

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    2. You should try making some Cordial,a little more long winded but it keeps a while and is also suitable for freezing,especially delicious if you are a Gin fan:)

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  13. I used to make it too. One bottle exploded embedding glass in the plaster of our kitchen pantry. Removing the other bottles was a scary process.

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