Dandelion Winemaking 2000

When I came back from a trip to find our lawn completely covered in dandelions, I knew immediately what had to be done. We had to make Dandelion wine! And since the following day was May 1st, it seemed quite appropriate.

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4/30 Day 1 - In the Beginning ...

One nice thing about Dandelion Wine is that you don't need any special equipment to make it. Just dandelions, some sugar and yeast, oranges and lemons, and pots to boil water in. If you've got dandelions around, give it a try!

First, you need a field of dandelions. Just not any field, mind you. There shoudn't be any pesticides around. Some people have this tendency to try to kill off dandelions, instead of appreciating the wine raw material they have available!

Gather around 2 quarts of dandelion heads. You don't want any stalks in the mix, but the little green leaves below the actual flower are OK. Get the best, yellowest dandelions you can, and try picking at midday when the flowers are as open as possible.

Here are my 2 quarts of dandelion heads, gathered up and ready to become wine. Try not to get any little bugs or spiders when you collect them!

Boil 4 quarts of water in a pot. Put the dandelion heads into a ceramic bowl, like a crock-pot bowl. When the water is boiling, pour it over the dandelion heads. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or cloth, and let sit for 2 days. You'll want to stir the mixture twice each day while it sits.

Day 7 - Into the Carboy
Dandelion Wine 2000 Main Page
Winemaking Instructions