Strawberry Country Wine

Total timeline: 88 days (28 fermentation + 60 aging)

  1. Day 0

    Crush + steep

    Crush strawberries in straining bag, add hot sugar-water, cool to 70°F.

  2. Day 0

    Add Campden

    Crush 1 Campden, stir in. Wait 24h before pitching yeast.

  3. Day 1

    Pitch yeast

    Add pectic enzyme, nutrient, then yeast.

  4. Day 1-8

    Primary

    Punch down fruit cap twice daily for 5-7 days. Strawberries throw a lot of foam.

  5. Day 8

    Press + rack

    Squeeze straining bag gently; rack to glass carboy under airlock.

  6. Day 8-28

    Secondary

    Ferment to dryness (SG <1.000). Strawberry color fades fast — protect from light.

  7. Day 28-60

    Stabilize + age

    Rack off lees, add k-meta + sorbate if back-sweetening (most strawberry wines benefit).

  8. Day 60

    Bottle

    Bottle and rest 30+ days. Drink within a year — color and aroma fade.