People have been making honey wine for many centuries; it has been known and loved since the times of Ancient Rus'. The drink acquired particular significance in regions where, due to climatic conditions, grapes could not grow. Honey wine has gained its popularity due to its exceptional, rich, soft taste and thick aroma, and if you have all the necessary ingredients, it is not at all difficult to prepare in ordinary home conditions.
From the history of winemaking
People have been making wine since ancient times; this activity supposedly appeared during the same period as agriculture. At first, people could not understand why fruit juice became cloudy and foamed, and then it turned out to be an intoxicating, head-scratching drink. And magical properties were attributed to him. A little later, the first winemakers figured out what was going on. It was all due to the fermentation of yeast fungi, which are found in fruits and berries.
Under suitable conditions, such as sufficient food, oxygen and heat, fungi begin to actively multiply. And as a result of the fermentation process, sugar turns into alcohol, and the wort becomes wine.
The production of honey wine is widespread in those countries where, due to climatic and other characteristics, there is a shortage of the main raw material - grapes. And in Rus' they knew and loved to make just such an intoxicating drink using the method of natural fermentation. The raw materials for it were fruits, various berries and, of course, honey.
Nuances of preparation
This wine is made from fermented honey (it is used in the preparation instead of sugar) and fruit or berry juice. Two methods are used - with and without boiling.
Methods for making honey wine at home
A novice winemaker can easily prepare a delicious intoxicating drink at home; to do this, you need to follow the instructions of the selected recipe step by step.
Simple recipe
Using this recipe, it’s easy to make a tasty, aromatic, intoxicating honey wine, no worse than grape wine. To do this you need to take:
- honey – 600 grams;
- clean water – 3 liters;
- raisins – 0.5 kilograms;
- fruit syrup - 250 milliliters.
No hops
To do this, first prepare a starter from 7 liters of warm water and 50 grams of yeast, which is placed in a warm place for 4-5 hours. While she is playing, they begin to make honey wort - water is poured into the honey, and then boiled over low heat until it becomes a clear syrup. Then the sugar is fried in a frying pan, and then it and the fermented wort are mixed and placed in a bottle. Now the workpiece is removed for 2 weeks in a cool place.
You will need the following ingredients:
- sugar – 250 grams;
- honey (linden, acacia) – 3 kilograms;
- sourdough – 7 liters;
- water – 12 liters.
With apple juice
Thanks to the addition of various spices, the drink acquires an exceptional taste and piquant aroma. It is advisable to make juice from varieties with pronounced sourness. Add honey and water to it and cook until the syrup thickens. Afterwards, let the workpiece cool, add the starter and put it in a warm place for a week. Then the wine is poured into bottles, spices are added and placed in a cool room for a month.
For those who like stronger drinks, you can add alcohol to the preparation.
The following components will be required:
- alcohol – 500 milliliters;
- apple juice – 5 liters;
- honey – 1.5 kilograms;
- water – 5 liters;
- yeast starter – 500 milliliters;
- spices – cinnamon, mint (melissa), cinnamon.
With lemon
To do this, honey is added to water, stirred and boiled for an hour. 10 minutes before the end of cooking, add hops to the preparation. Then the wort is cooled to room temperature and lemons (cut into thin slices) are added to it. Then put it in a cool, dark place.
After 2 weeks, the wine is filtered and bottled for storage.
Required ingredients:
- clean water – 10 liters;
- hop cones – 20 grams;
- lemons – 10 pieces;
- honey (liquid) – 2 kilograms.
Honey-raspberry wine
Honey is placed in water, stirred and boiled for an hour. Then the liquid is poured into a bottle, the starter and raspberry juice are added, mixed and put away for a couple of weeks. Afterwards it is filtered and bottled. The result is an incredibly tasty and aromatic drink.
To prepare it take:
- water – 5 liters;
- raspberry juice – 1 liter;
- honey – 2.2 kilograms.
With wild flowers
This preparation has absorbed all the freshness and aroma of wildflowers. To prepare such an original wine, take:
- honey – 2.5 kilograms;
- clean water – 4.5 liters;
- raisins (unwashed) – 30 grams;
- lemon – 1 piece;
- yeast – 20 grams;
- dandelion (fresh) – 120 grams;
- yarrow (fresh) – 120 grams;
- lavender – 120 grams.
Storage conditions
This wine is stored in glass bottles at a temperature of no more than +15 C degrees. The optimal humidity level is 60-70 percent. The storage location should be out of direct sunlight, and it is also not advisable for there to be any products or substances with a strong odor nearby.
