Make elderflower sparkling wine yourself: how it works

If you want to make a refreshing and sparkling drink yourself, elderflower sparkling wine is a good option. Here we show you what you need for the non-alcoholic drink and how you make it.

Make elderflower sparkling wine yourself - the ingredients

With this recipe you can make eight liters of elderflower sparkling wine. If you want to do less first, you can downsize the quantities.

• You need eight liters of tap water to make it. Alternatively, you can also resort to still water. However, make sure that it is not salty, so it is rather neutral in taste.
• There is a kilo of sugar in the liquid.
• Measure out 100 milliliters of apple cider vinegar.
• You also need two organic lemons.
• Elderflower umbels are the main ingredient. You need 30 large umbels.
• The elderflower sparkling wine is bottled. Plastic bottles and glass bottles with screw caps are only suitable to a limited extent. The reason is the pressure that is created when the drink is manufactured. Swing top bottles with an elastic rubber ring are ideal.

Elderflower sparkling wine - the recipe

The production of homemade elderflower sparkling wine is quite simple.

• First, remove dirt and possible insects from the elderflower umbels. Just shake out the umbels carefully. Do not wash the flowers. The pollen that carries the aroma would be rinsed out. If the umbels are clean, remove the green stems.
• Cut the two organic lemons into slices and put them together with the flower umbels in a large saucepan.
• Dissolve the sugar in a liter of warm water. Then fill the sugar water together with the vinegar into the elderflower in the pot.
• Add the remaining seven liters of cold water and cover the pot. Now the brew has to brew for 48 hours. To do this, place the pot in a dark place at room temperature.
• Then filter the liquid over a sieve and a cheesecloth and fill it into clean bottles.
• It takes about three to four weeks for the broth to ferment and the elderflower sparkling wine to be ready. During this time, the bottles should be stored in a dark and cool place.
• Tip: Since some liquid can squeeze out of the bottles due to the pressure, it is best to place the bottles in a plastic tub. In between, also check whether mold has possibly formed on the liquid.
• Store the finished elderflower sparkling wine in a cool place. Then it stays unopened for three to four months.

If you still have a few elderflower cones left, read in our next article how to make elderberry syrup yourself.