why is my elderflower champagne not fermenting?

[clare]

I followed the ish recipe and remembered from somewhere it should froth before you strain and bottle it only it isn't frothing so can I assume as with my wine I need to add some active wine yeast?I know the flowers should have the yeast in them but I really want to save the day with this as I have had my bottles ready for a year for this as I just missed the flowers last year and only managed cordial.Is there anything I can do?Please help!
Clare

[CyberPaddy66]

I personally wouldn't risk using wild yeasts for any brew as they are so uncontrollable and commercial brewing yeast is so cheap it's a crime :D

If you have a hydrometer you can see if your brew is doing anything by taking an Original Gravity reading at the start and a Specific Gravity reading at any time during the fermentation process, a drop in your reading means the brew is fermenting even if there are no signs of fermentation on the surface, also a Final Gravity reading can help you determine the overall strength of your finished brew.

If not then there's not really any way to be sure what's happening in your brew and you may end up with cordial again.

If in doubt either way empty a packet of wine yeast in your brew and give it a gentle stir, the worst that can happen is the yeast doesn't work and you're no worse off than you were before ;)

[clare]

Thanks for the tip,I did just that and put a teaspoon of yeast in and it is now fizzing and in the bottle thank god!in a couple of weeks we will crack it open and check out the taste.

[CyberPaddy66]

I hope your using old champagne bottles and not wine bottles, they can't take the pressure!

[clare]

I have some Grolsch type bottles but wine size thanks !I don't want it all over the kitchen!