For those who have accomplished successfully making traditional wine from home, or for those who are looking to try something a little different here is a great little recipe to make strawberry wine that is very easy to follow.

Take 7 pounds of washed and hulled strawberries (preferable to use ones that are fresh picked, but if this is not possible standard supermarket strawberries will do too) and put them in a large earthenware crock and mash well.  Add the juice of one lemon and 2 gallons of boiling water and stir briskly for 2-3 minutes.  Cover the mixture with a clean linen cloth and then put in a dark and cool place for once week.  Be sure to not disturb the mixture during this time.

After a week, take the mixture and strain it using a double layer of cheese cloth into a clean bowl.  The strawberry pulp can be thrown away after it is strained.  To the juice add 5 pounds of sugar and stir until it is completely dissolved.  Once the mixture it completely combined pour the juice and sugar mixture into another clean crock and let it stand another week, making sure this time that you mix is daily so that the sugar does not settle on the bottom.

Once this second week is over take the mixture and pour it into one gallons glass bottles and loosely cork or use fermentation locks if you have them.  Place the bottles in a cool dark place for 3 months; when the wine stops fermenting (bubbling) it is time to pout it into individual wine bottles and tightly cork.  Even though it is now finished, this wine needs to age for at least 12 months before it will be completely ready to drink.

Once it is ready be sure to have your taste buds tickled!  Try this wine chilled accompanying chocolate cake or even use it as a sangria base on a hot summer day.