Mulberries come in a variety of colors, white, red, and dark purple. They look like elongated blackberries and are very juicy, with both a sweet and tangy taste. You can eat them as they are or make jam out of them. However, one of the best things you can do with them is to make wine. It is utterly delicious, and, in this article, we will give you some recipes that you can try. There are different ways to make the wine and different things you can add to the fermentation process but there is sure to be one or more that you will like.
The Origin of Mulberry Trees
Mulberry trees originated in China and the Chinese first cultivated the trees for the production of silk. Mulberry trees are now mainly found in Asian countries as well as in the US so you will find that mulberry wine is produced in these countries. Many of these wines are home-produced so don’t feel intimidated at the thought of making your own.
Let’s find out a bit more about mulberries. The trees don’t live as long as some, for example, oak trees. Their lifespan is usually that of a human being but there have been trees known to live for over 200 years. They grow to a height of between 33 – 66 feet or 10 – 20 meters. Generally, the fruit falls to the ground when they are ready to be harvested.
Mulberries are full of vitamins and minerals so are a good fruit to consume. For example, they contain vitamin C, iron, and potassium. Because of this, they aid both physical and mental health.
Let’s take a look at the nutrients in 100 gr of mulberries
Nutrients Amount
Calories 49
Carbohydrates 9.8 gr
Fat 0.4 gr
Protein 1.4 gr
Fiber 1.7 gr
Sugar 8.1 gr
There is no doubt that mulberries are nutritious so it goes without saying that making wine out of them is a good idea. Just remember to drink responsibly and not overdo it otherwise you might suffer from illnesses such as liver damage.
Let’s take a look at some recipes for mulberry wine.
1 – Standard Mulberry Wine Recipes
We’ll first give you a link to two standard recipes for making mulberry wine. One uses yeast and the other doesn’t. Perhaps you’ve never thought of making wine without yeast but it is possible. Mulberries have natural yeast and the reason for adding yeast is to destroy this and get a standard flavor. Natural yeasts have thousands of different strains, and you don’t know which ones will affect the flavor of the wine. However, it isn’t likely that you will get an unpleasant tasting wine so experiment with small batches first.
2 – Mulberry Wine with Cinnamon & Mint
Cinnamon and mint are a great combination, giving your mulberry wine a bright taste. It is an excellent mix for mulled wine with the addition of brandy, sugar or honey, and a splash of orange juice. It is a delicious drink if you are having a gathering in winter and, in addition, it is a great remedy for colds and the flu.
Use one of the standard recipes and add the cinnamon at the initial stage of mash formation. Cinnamon sticks are recommended rather than powder as they have a stronger flavor. You can also add the mint now or at the second fermentation. It all depends on how strong you want the flavor to be.
3 – Mulberry Wine with Raspberries
Mulberries and raspberries are similar in appearance although mulberries are sweeter and longer than raspberries. However, their flavors complement each other. You get a hint of sweetness with a tangy twist.
Use one of the standard recipes but add the same number of raspberries as mulberries. You can reduce the sugar if you don’t want an over-sweet wine.
4 – Mulberry Wine with Fortified Wine
If you want to have a more potent mulberry wine, you can add fortified wine to the fermentation process. Marsala wine, Port, and Sherry are all good choices. The fortified wine should be added after the first wort cleaning, that is after the removal of the first sediment. You will need 250 ml of fortified wine per 5-liter bottle of Mulberry wine.
5 – Mulberry Shatoot Wine
Shatoot is the Hindi word for mulberry wine and this is a wine that is popular in India. It is often made by silk farmers as another source of income. All you need to make their interpretation of the wine are mulberries, cider red wine yeast, and Campden potassium meta bi sulfate to kill any mold or infection from the berries.
6 – 2-Ingredient Mulberry Wine
This is a simple recipe and only needs two ingredients, mulberries, and raw cane sugar. After you have washed and dried the fruit, layer the fruit and sugar in a glass jar. Keep layering until the jar is full. You can put in as much sugar as you want but the more you put in the sweeter the wine will be. Use saran wrap to seal the jar and leave it in a cool dark place for a few months. If you leave it longer, it will taste even better. This is a good recipe if you are happy to wait for your wine.
7 – Mulberry Wine With Rhubarb and Strawberries
This mulberry wine has a lot of ingredients and it takes a while before it is ready to drink. However, it is worth the trouble. As well as mulberries, this wine has rhubarb, strawberries, the zest and juice of lemons, and apple juice. These other fruits give acidity to the wine, so it is not quite as sweet. This wine can be drunk at bottling but it is even better if you leave it for at least a few months.
8 – Mulberry Wine Made with Wheat
Wheat may seem a strange addition to mulberry wine but it works. The addition of wheat compensates for any lack of body in the wine. There are tannins in wheat husks, and these add structure and body to the wine. You end up with a strong and fruity wine with a slightly grainy flavor. You may find that there is a hint of whiskey but that’s not a bad thing. All you need for this version of mulberry wine are three ingredients, mulberries, sugar, and wheat. Layer them in a glass jar, cover with water., and leave the wine to ferment.
9 – Mulberry Wine with Raisins
Yes, you can add raisins to the fermentation process of mulberry wine but keep in mind that they are oxidized grapes, so don’t add too many. Grapes give mulberry wine a richer flavor. They improve the mouthfeel of the wine and cause the flavors to linger on the tongue, giving an overall fruity experience.
10 – Mulberry Wine Made with Rice Wine
This is another unusual way to make mulberry wine but it works and is quite boozy. Instead of adding yeast to the fermentation process, add rice wine instead. Because you are using this liquid, you don’t need to add water to the mix. The recipe only needs three ingredients, mulberries, rice wine, and rock sugar. First, soak the mulberries in a bowl of water with a teaspoon of salt for 10 minutes and then dry thoroughly. Layer the mulberries with the rock sugar and when you are nearly at the top of the glass bottle, pour over the rice wine, making sure that you cover the mulberries. Seal the bottle and store it for around 10 months in a cool and dark place. It will then be ready for serving.
11 – Fortified Mulberry Wine
Perhaps you want a bit of a kick when you have your glass of mulberry wine. If so, you can add a spirit during the fermentation process. This is done when winemakers want to create fortified wines such as Port, Madeira, and Sherry. Usually, a grape-based spirit is used such as brandy, though a neutral spirit such as vodka would work. Yeast naturally dies at 15% ABV so a sudden addition of extra alcohol of around 40% ABV will push up the alcohol content of the wine and poison the yeast. Fortified wines are usually 20% ABV.
12 – Mulberry Wine with Other Fruits
You can add other fruits than the ones we have already mentioned when making mulberry wine. Each will give the wine an individual flavor. Cranberries are a good choice. They will give a tart finish to the sweetness of the mulberries. Elderberries are also an excellent match with mulberries. They are fruity but are not too acidic or sweet so balance the mulberries.
13 – Mulberry Wine Made with Bordeaux-Style Yeast
Bordeaux-style yeast is a great ingredient when fermenting mulberry wine. It gives an intense fruity flavor, smooth tannins, and a mild and spicy finish. The aromas will be of ripe fruit, jam, and cedar.
14 – Mulberry Wine with Champagne Yeast
This is a good yeast to use if you want a higher ABV. It gives both more alcohol by volume and ferments quickly. It will also give your wine a few bubbles. What is better for a celebration? Here is a recipe for mulberry wine made with champagne yeast.
15 – 36 Bottles of Mulberry Wine
Perhaps you want to produce mulberry wine in bulk. Maybe you plan to sell it or you love to entertain. Whatever the reason, this is a great recipe. It uses fruit juice as an additional ingredient, giving the wine an intensely fruity flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, our recipes have inspired you and you are debating which recipe to try first. However, if you have further questions, we have answered a few here.
Can I make mulberry wine without yeast?
Yes, of course, you can. We have given you quite a few recipes that don’t have the addition of yeast. This is called wild fermentation and uses natural yeast in the air. The only thing is that it takes longer to ferment than wine made with yeast otherwise it won’t fully develop the flavor and alcohol content.
What is the best way to ferment mulberry wine?
You can ferment mulberry wine either with yeast or without but either way, the longer the better. There are two steps to follow when fermenting. The first fermentation is where you mix all the ingredients and let them sit. You can leave them in the fermentation bottle for anything between a week and many months. If you want to drink the wine quickly, you can drink it after a short period of fermentation, but it is better if it is left for longer. The second fermentation is in the bottle. Once you put the wine in the bottle it will continue fermenting and will do so for at least a year.
Can I add mulberry stems to the fermentation process?
No, it’s not a good idea as they don’t add anything to the flavor of the wine. Instead, they will make the wine grainy and not at all smooth.
Final Thoughts
We have given you the best mulberry wine recipes we have found and hope that you are now inspired. There are many options so there should be ones that suit your tastes. We hope that you have an exciting experience creating your own mulberry wines.
