It is always more pleasurable and satisfying to eat and drink something that you’ve grown or made yourself.

Home-made drinks are a delicious way of enjoying a plentiful crop of fruits, or making something special and a little different for yourself or for guests or a present for someone.

It’s best to use seasonal produce to get the best quality and flavors.

Here’s a recipe for Damson wine:

Damson wine is one of the easiest and most successful of home-made wines to make.

You will need the following home brewing equipment:

A large plastic bucket

A one gallon glass demi-john for the fermentation, plus an airlock to prevent air from entering the vessel while permitting the carbon dioxide gas produced by alcohol fermentation to escape.

A siphoning tube made of flexible plastic tubing attached to a few feet of hard plastic tubing. The hard tube goes into the demi-john to a point just above the sediment, and a quick suck on the soft end starts the movement of the clear liquid out of the demi-john.

Ingredients

1.4kg ripe damsons, washed

6 pints of water, plus 1/2 pint water

1 packet of commercial wine yeast

1.4kg unrefined organic sugar

Method

1. Put the damsons in a large, stainless steel pan, cover with the 6 pints of water and bring to the boil

2. Allow to cool, then tip into a large bucket, cover with a cloth and leave overnight.

3. The following day, remove a little of the damson liquid, dissolve the yeast in it and leave for a few minutes until it appear bubbly. Then add it to the damsons. Sir well with a wooden spoon and cover.

4. Allow to ferment for three days, stirring well 3 times a day.

5. Gently dissolve the sugar in about 1/2 pint of water until it forms a clear syrup. Allow to coll, then sir into the damson mixture. Ferment for 5 days, stirring everyday and often.

6. Once the vigorous fermentation stops, strain the mixture and transfer it to a demi-john. Fit with an airlock and store at room temperature for about 3 months.

7. When the fermentation stops, remove the airlock and syphon into bottles, cork and leave for about six months before drinking.

Variation

Elderberry wine

Use 1.4kg of elderberries instead of damsons and follow the same method.