Lemon Balm Wine - I'm going for it!

[BigDaveK]

I can't get rid of it so I may as well see if we can can get along.

After tasting the leaves I noticed if the plant is starting to flower it becomes very bitter. Fortunately I had one that wasn't flowering yet.
Basic flower wine recipe. Juice of 1 lemon, some of the zest, a little citric acid to lower pH.

I wasn't expecting the color!

 

[Cosyden]

Did you drink that before putting it in the bucket?

 

[vinny]

Did you drink that before putting it in the bucket?

That's a lot of vitamin B

 

[Raptor99]

After tasting the leaves I noticed if the plant is starting to flower it becomes very bitter. Fortunately I had one that wasn't flowering yet.

That's true for most herbs. You have to pick them before they flower.

 

[BigDaveK]

Transferred to secondary.
Lost some of the vibrant yellow.
Has an incredible lemon flavor! I wasn't expecting that.
There's also an "herbal" element. Not medicinal. It's not unpleasant - I just don't care for a lot of "herbal" concoctions I've tasted over the years.
We'll see where this goes.

 

[Rahgnar.s]

I have tons of this growing wild in my backyard. Can't wait to see how it turns out for you.

 

[VinesnBines]

There's also an "herbal" element.

I have no idea if this would work with anything other than grapes; to remove the herbal, grassy flavor in Cab Franc, you use milk (casein). This article is a useful primmer on fining agents. Fining Agents - The Australian Wine Research Institute

 

[BigDaveK]

I have no idea if this would work with anything other than grapes; to remove the herbal, grassy flavor in Cab Franc, you use milk (casein). This article is a useful primmer on fining agents. Fining Agents - The Australian Wine Research Institute

Thanks! I saved the article as a PDF.
The lemon balm is kind of strong so maybe I used too much. I'll see how it tastes when I rack.

 

[BigDaveK]

First rack from secondary.
Good lemon flavor so far. It's more of an herbal lemon than fruit lemon taste, if that makes sense.
I may try the lemon balm with other ingredients next year. I think it could add some complexity in smaller doses.

 

[Snafflebit]

Your wine shed must look like a mad scientist’s laboratory
Do you have a jar of eyeballs somewhere?

 

[Rahgnar.s]

Your wine shed must look like a mad scientist’s laboratory
Do you have a jar of eyeballs somewhere?

Eyeball wine sounds like it would be great for Halloween!

 

[winemaker81]

Your wine shed must look like a mad scientist’s laboratory

Mine looks like a medieval alchemist's shop.

 

[winemanden]

Mine looks like a medieval alchemist's shop.

Have you found that STONE?

 

[Terryfirma]

2 years ago I mixed my Lemon Balm with Strawberry to ferment- but I just never like a Strawberry Wine. It’s dry and potent, but I wish I had left it with just the Lemon Balm.
I was worried it wouldn’t have flavor.
It’s on my list for next Spring. I noticed after it flowers in the hot Summer, it has a fall surge. I’m going to taste to see where it is now?. Lemon Balm Sumac might be a really good combo? Happy fermenting.

 

[BigDaveK]

2 years ago I mixed my Lemon Balm with Strawberry to ferment- but I just never like a Strawberry Wine. It’s dry and potent, but I wish I had left it with just the Lemon Balm.
I was worried it wouldn’t have flavor.
It’s on my list for next Spring. I noticed after it flowers in the hot Summer, it has a fall surge. I’m going to taste to see where it is now?. Lemon Balm Sumac might be a really good combo? Happy fermenting.

As a gardener I hate lemon balm - I can't get rid of it. Keeps popping up everywhere. If my wine turns out well my disdain may be tempered a bit and I'll accept it...but I don't think I'll ever welcome it.

 

[winemaker81]

As a gardener I hate lemon balm - I can't get rid of it. Keeps popping up everywhere. If my wine turns out well my disdain may be tempered a bit and I'll accept it...but I don't think I'll ever welcome it.

Look at it differently -- if the Lemon Balm comes out good, it gives you reason to be diligent in picking what's growing in inconvenient places!

 

[BigDaveK]

Look at it differently -- if the Lemon Balm comes out good, it gives you reason to be diligent in picking what's growing in inconvenient places!

That's my thought. I have dozens of recipes where it's one of the ingredients. In my garden it goes from a sneaky little sprout to 2 feet across in one season.

 

[sour_grapes]

As a gardener I hate lemon balm - I can't get rid of it. Keeps popping up everywhere. If my wine turns out well my disdain may be tempered a bit and I'll accept it...but I don't think I'll ever welcome it.

When life hands you lemon balm.... Well, with @BigDaveK , you know the rest

 

[BigDaveK]

When life hands you lemon balm.... Well, with @BigDaveK , you know the rest

We've had cold nights for a while but last night was below 30 for the first time. It breaks my heart to know my foraging fun is done till next year.

Although...I have a couple possibilities using roots.

 

[Terryfirma]

We've had cold nights for a while but last night was below 30 for the first time. It breaks my heart to know my foraging fun is done till next year.

Although...I have a couple possibilities using roots.

Have you made Parsnip?.
I have it on my goals list..
There is alway wintertime Cranberry wine ..:}
And, clean -the-freezer wine.