Elderberry wine belongs to the genre of "fruit wines," which are wines created from fruit other than grapes, in this case, elderberries. Elderberries are the fruit of the bushy shrub Sambucus, of which there are numerous species. However, elderberry wine is created from either the blue elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) or the black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) (Sambucus nigris). Still, wines, sparkling wines, and sweet dessert wines can all be made with elderberries.
Depending on how the grapes are processed, elderberry wine can be sweet, tart, or tannic. It is sometimes compared to Port due to its dry, earthy flavour. It can be matured in oak barrels as well. As far as fruit wines go, elderberry wine may be the closest in flavour and body to grape wines.
Flavour Profile
Elderberry wine is a dry, medium-bodied red wine with flavours of elderberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, and cherry, as well as earthy overtones. This profile might differ depending on whether the wine is dry or sweet and how long it has matured.
Difference Between Elderberry Wine And Elderflower Wine
Elderberry wine is frequently confused with elderflower wine, which is created from the blooms of the elderberry shrub rather than the berries themselves. Elderflower wine, which is created by fermenting the blooms with yeast and sugar, is a white wine, whereas elderberry wine is red.
Elderberry Wine Regions
For hundreds, if not thousands, of years, elderberry wine has been produced. It originated in Europe and was produced in milder climates like the United Kingdom, Germany, and Scandinavia, where grapes could not thrive. Elderberries are frequently planted as hedgerows, so they would be readily available near homes and farms.
One English cookbook, compiled by a Jane Austen contemporary, describes the process of making homemade elderberry wine, which included foraging for the berries, simmering them, straining out the pulp, adding sugar and spices like ginger, allspice, and cloves, adding yeast, and then ageing it in barrels, sometimes fortifying it with brandy to prevent spoilage. Making elderberry wine was thus simply a method of preserving fresh elderberries.
How To Enjoy Elderberry Wine And Food Pairings
Elderberry is a full-bodied wine that pairs well with red meat and game, particularly steaks, chicken, hamburgers, short ribs, and other braised meat dishes like pot roast, roast or grilled chicken, portobello mushrooms, and semi-hard aged cheese like cheddar or gouda. Alternatively, because of their fruitiness and acidity, some kinds combine well with spicy dishes like curries or Thai noodles, as well as strong cheeses such as blue cheese and desserts such as ice cream, chocolate, caramel, and berries.