How to Make Homemade Wine Without Grapes

Both cider and wine are alcoholic beverages made by fermenting fruit. Typically, we associate wine with grapes and cider with apples, but in reality, there are lots of fruits that can be used to make both wine and cider. We can even have a crisp, white apple wine!

The main difference between the two is the higher alcohol content in wine (basically above 10%) versus cider (basically below 10%). This comes from fermenting the wine considerably longer than cider. This also means ciders have more natural sugar content because the sugars haven’t been converted to alcohol.

But, more to the point, there are a lot of homemade wines we can make without grapes. Though these “country” wines don’t get a lot of respect in high-brow circles, they are really fun to make and a pleasure to drink with friends and family. Plus, people don’t have much expectation as to how it’s supposed to taste.

Source: City Steading Brews/YouTube

How to Make Wine at Home

The recipe for making fruit wines is simple and similar for all fruits, so it’s worth becoming familiar with which fruits work well for homemade wines and what the results might provide. Then, why not try it?

Necessary ingredients include fresh fruit, yeast, sugar, water, and time. Many home winemakers choose to use other stuff, such as lemon juice and pectic enzyme, to help with the process.

We’ll need a large vessel (a few gallons or more) to do the primary fermentation and some smaller jugs for the secondary fermentation. The wine will need to be racked, or siphoned from one vessel to another, at least twice in order to rid it of sediment and particles.

Testing the wine for alcohol contention before it is bottled for final storage. This should only be done when air has stopped moving through the airlocks used in fermentation. Fruit wines should be stored in the bottle for a year or two before drinking them.

7 Great Fruits to Use for Homemade Wine

Source: BrewTube/YouTube

1. Apples

Though apple cider is much more popular than apple wine, apples do make a pleasing light white wine. Wines made from apples are best aged for a couple of years to fully realize their potential.

2. Blackberries

A common addition to blended wines with apples or pears, blackberries can be used on their own to make a rich red wine. Like apple wine, blackberry wine should be aged for two years to reach maturity.

3. Blueberries

A favorite amongst home winemakers, blueberries behave a lot like grapes in that they are easy to make wine from. They can be used to produce both bold, rich wines and light sweet sippers. Plus, it only takes about a year for blueberry wine to be ready.

Source: DIY Fermentation/YouTube

4. Cherries

Another common source of ciders, cherries make great wine, and it is something quite special. They have enough tartness and complexity to get favorable comparisons with grape wines. Plus, cherries in any form are naturally wonderful.

5. Plums

Plums make a very pleasant-tasting, complex wine that is popular in East Asian countries. These wines also have a wonderful color. Plus, they are ready to party after just a year of aging. Plum wine is a crowd-pleaser.

6. Raspberries

As with their close relatives (blackberries), raspberries often get tossed into a mix with other wine fruits to add complexity and color. Likewise, they make fine wine when solo. Give that raspberry wine a couple of years to get complicated.

Source: gregpryorhomestead/YouTube

7. Strawberries

A wonderful destination for all those strawberries that appear in the early summer, especially for those with their own strawberry patch. Strawberry wine is a lovely treat for the hot weather, and it’ll be ready by the same time next year.

Love That Homemade Wine

Nothing says self-sufficiency quite like growing and producing your party beverages at home. It’s a doable process to get it going, and it’s really inexpensive (only a dollar or two a bottle) once things are moving. Plus, walking organic, homespun wine. That’s living the good life.

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