Nettle Measuring

[purplephoenix]

Hi There - I'm new to the board, just signed up today. Have been jam/chutney making for a couple of years, embarked on my first veg plot this year, so very much a novice at stuff, but enjoying it loads.
I picked up a couple of demijohns in a charity shop recently, and decided to have a go at wine making. Nettle wine looks easy - so fancy starting with that. However, recipe I've found asks for 2 litres of nettles.
Do any of you lovely people know how to measure 2 litres of nettles?? cos I'm stumped.

thank you!

[Odsox]

Hi there and welcome to the group.

Sorry not a winemaker, but I would suggest that however you measure them, it's probably best if you wear a pair of gloves while you do it.

[MKG]

Welcome, purplephoenix

Get a bucket. Pour in 2 litres of water. Mark the level.

Pick nettles and put in bucket. Press down LIGHTLY - so the gloves would be good. When your LIGHTLY pressed nettles reach the 2 litre mark, you have 2 litres of nettles.

Mind you, nettle wine isn't one I'd choose for a first attempt.

Mike

[red]

or you can pick into a measuring jug :)

welcome to the forum

[pumpy]

General rule of thumb....... an ordinary carrier bag-full is the amount you are looking for.

[purplephoenix]

Hi there - thanks for the replies and welcomes. Mike - which wine would you choose as a first attempt (nettle seemed very simple, and I figure there's lots of free ingredients in the field out the back, so if it goes horribly wrong, I won't have wasted much....but I'm open to suggestions!).

:o))

[frozenthunderbolt]

Blackberry and elderberry is a winner. Equal parts both - about 2 L each per gallon (4.5 L). Freeze and then thaw to get best flavor and color. You would need roughly 1.2 kg sugar per gallon for a medium wine.
Unless mike says I'm wrong ;-)

[MKG]

As if

I completely agree with FTB - blackberry and elderberry is the one most likely to produce a wine you'll actually like, purplephoenix, even though it looks a bit more complicated. The only reason I thought nettle wine might not be the best choice for a first attempt is the result - it has a taste (like Marmite has) which people either love or hate. If you're in the hate bracket, you might just give up after your first attempt.

If you must do something with your nettles, I'd try nettle beer first - it's quicker and it will give you an idea if you're going to like the flavour.

Mike

EDIT: Here's a quote about nettle wine I've just found on the forums ... "I made some last year, this year it's still revolting and I added sultanas and a couple of lemons. I gave it all away but luckily the person I gave it to loved it, so I suppose it's all a question of taste! "

[purplephoenix]

Thanks all - Mike, I think you might be right on the nettle beer idea - a friend of mine said the same thing about the wine idea. So, I think I might attempt the elderflower wine recipe thats on the site at the moment (just because there's a load out in the fields at the mo), and then branch out into blackberry and elderberry later in the year (I made blackberry and elderberry jelly last year, and it was stupendous).

Reen