The Dandelion Cycle

I bottled 5 out of my 8 demijohns of fruit wine from last year over the weekend - 30 bottles in all.  Another 18 to go when I acquire some more bottles able to take corks. 

Varieties were Elderberry, Elderberry and Sloe, Blackberry and Sloe, Damson and Dandelion. Easily the most ready was the Damson, already a pleasant rosé when chilled.  The elderberry could be several years before it's drinkable.  All had identifiable fruit flavours, especially the blackberry.

 

Sadly the dandelion had lost much of the vibrant yellow it had when first brewed, now being a pale straw colour rather like a sauvignon blanc.

Meanwhile, the new dandelion heads are suddenly ablaze in the fields, so this weekend's wine task will be to pick the flowers for next year's brew ...