Muscadine Wine
This beginner-friendly recipe requires simple ingredients and basic winemaking equipment. The process includes crushing fresh muscadine grapes, fermenting the mixture for 4-6 weeks, and bottling the wine for storage.
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Course Beverage
Cuisine American
Servings 5 bottles (750ml each)
Calories 120 kcal
Large stockpot or food-grade plastic bucket for fermentation
Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
Fermentation lock and bung fits your fermentation vessel
Sanitized glass carboy 1 gallon or 5-gallon, depending on the batch size
Hydrometer optional but helpful for measuring alcohol content
Siphon or funnel
Bottles with corks or caps
A spoon or stirring paddle sanitized
- 5 lbs fresh muscadine grapes washed and de-stemmed
- 5 cups granulated sugar adjust for sweetness preference
- 1 gallon filtered water
- 1 packet wine yeast such as Lalvin EC-1118 or Red Star Premier Blanc
- 1 tsp yeast nutrient optional but recommended for better fermentatio
- 1 Campden tablet crushed, to sterilize, optional
Step 1: Preparing the GrapesWash and de-stem the muscadine grapes.Place the grapes in a large sanitized stockpot or bucket and crush them to release the juice. You can use your hands, a potato masher, or a wine press. Step 2: Adding IngredientsPour the filtered water over the crushed grapes.Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved.If using, add a crushed Campden tablet to sterilize the must (grape mixture). Let it sit for 24 hours before proceeding to fermentation. Step 3: Starting FermentationAfter 24 hours, sprinkle the wine yeast over the surface of the must. Add yeast nutrient if desired. Stir gently.Cover the fermentation vessel with a clean cloth or loosely with its lid to allow oxygen to help kickstart fermentation. Step 4: Primary FermentationPlace the fermentation vessel in a cool, dark place (70–75°F). Stir the must daily to keep the grape skins submerged.After 5-7 days, strain the mixture through cheesecloth into a sanitized glass carboy, discarding solids. Step 5: Secondary FermentationAttach the fermentation lock to the carboy to allow gases to escape while preventing contamination. Step 6: BottlingSiphon the wine into sanitized bottles, leaving sediment behind.Seal the bottles with corks or caps and store them in a cool, dark place.
Nutritional Information (per 5 oz serving):
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Protein: 0g
- Fat: 0g
Cooking Tips:
- Sweetness Adjustment: Taste the wine before bottling. If it’s too dry, dissolve additional sugar in a small amount of water and mix it in.
- Storage Tips: Use dark bottles to protect the wine from light, which can affect flavor.
- Testing: A hydrometer can measure the sugar content and help you track alcohol levels.
Keyword Homemade Drinks, Wine