Blackberry wine is a crowd-pleasing beverage that is surprisingly easy to make at home. No matter your level of experience, here you’ll learn all you need to know about how to make blackberry wine. 

What Does Blackberry Wine Taste Like? 

If you like fruity red wines, you will like blackberry wine.  Most people describe blackberry wine as having a smooth and balanced flavor, like a Merlot or Malbec. Homemade blackberry wine tends to be complex and aromatic, sure to impress your friends. 

Just like with any other wine, the flavor profile of the end product depends on the quality of the fruit you start with. Select ripe berries that are bursting with flavor for a rich wine. You can’t fix a bland berry! 

Did you know that your genetics contribute to your wine preferences? If you were born with high taste sensitivity, you might find dry wines or hard ciders overwhelmingly bitter. Fruits with high tannins make dry wine with a bitter flavor.  Blackberries are low in tannins, leading to a sweet wine that you will love.  

Is Blackberry Wine Good For You? 

Not only are they delicious, but blackberry wines have many health benefits. Similar to elderberries, blackberries are full of antioxidants that can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of strokes.  Consuming moderate amounts of blackberry wine can even reduce the risk of heart disease. Basically, there are only good reasons to make blackberry wine at home! 

All the Equipment You Need to Make Blackberry Wine

If you are new to winemaking, don’t be intimidated by all the equipment out there. Here’s a list of the basics you will need to make blackberry wine at home. Good news – you’ll be able to use almost all of this equipment again for other types of wine. 

You’ll need more fermenting containers and bottling equipment if you are making a large batch of wine. A good rule of thumb is 5 bottles and corks per gallon of wine, but it never hurts to have a few extras on hand. Make sure your primary fermenter is large enough for your fruit juice before you start making blackberry wine. 

Equipment You Need for Homemade Wine:

• Primary fermentation container (a plastic fermenting bucket works well)
• Glass carboys as secondary fermentation containers
• Airlock or fermentation traps for the carboys
• Food-grade straining bag
• Plastic tubing for a siphon
• Corks
• Hand corker
• Wine bottles 
• Hydrometer 
• pH meter
• Optional: shrink wrap capsules and labels for the bottled wine