1kg Mixed fruit (sultanas, raisins, candied orange & lemon) 250g dried apricots 200g glace cherries 250ml cooking brandy 1tsp mixed spice            + + + + + + 1 litre Morrisons pressed red Grape juice 2 lemons, zested and thinly sliced 2 litres cold water 600g + 400g sugar 1tsp pectolase

DAY 1: 30-12-04
This brew wasn't really planned...

The ingredients were destined to become a couple of Christmas cakes, and fruit was chopped and soaked in brandy as per the recipe. When it became clear the cakes would be surplus to requirements, it was decided to turn the fruit into a gallon of festive wine instead of simply binning it.

The soaked fruit, two litres of water, one litre of red grape juice and 600g of sugar were brought to the boil briefly before being poured onto the lemons. 

DAY 2: 31-12-04
The following day, 1 tsp of pectolase and 1tsp yeast nutrient were stirred into the cooled fruit mix. A starter bottle was prepared.

DAY 3: 01-01-05
The reactivated yeast in the starter bottle was added to the brew.

DAY 9: 08-01-05
Having stirred the brew every day for a week, the liquor was strained off the fruit solids into a clean demijohn. Fermentation had been somewhat slow, possibly due to the reduced sugar concentration, or more likely the low ambient temperature. The remaining 400g of sugar (from the 1Kg) was dissolved into a litre of water, which when added to the must, filled the bottle right to the neck. The bottle was sealed with an airlock and put in a warm room to resume fermenting.

WEEK 20: 21-05-05
After a long period of neglect the wine was racked off the lees. The brew was remarkably clear, and needed no additional fining. It was treated with a crushed campden tablet and half a teaspoon of 'sorbate before passing through the Vin Brite for a final polish. The resulting warm yellow wine was sealed with a safety bung and stored prior to bottling. The taste is pleasant, if a little sweet, with a definite tang of Christmas pudding! Possibly one to put in small bottles to be drunk as a dessert wine.

WEEK 25: 23-06-05
Bottled into green glass.

Aug '05: First bottle opened. An unusual taste, not really like a wine at all, and rather too sweet. It may take a while to wade through this one!

Nov '06: Didn't improve with keeping. Still very sweet. Down the sink...

"Pudding mix"