In general, most people are familiar with the usual grape-based wines, but know very little about all the other fruits that one can use to create the perfect fruity aroma. Strawberries are getting quite the spotlight these days, thus why we invite you to read on to know about the best strawberry wines we love in 2021.
What’s Strawberry Wine?
Wine is made from the fermentation of fruit juice, and in this case, strawberries. If you are wondering what’s fermentation, it’s the process used for making various beers, wines, and liquors.
Simply put, the fruit juice will foam because of yeast and bacteria, transforming the juice’s molecules by breaking them down. Moreover, a similar process is also used in the making of kimchi, yogurt, cider, kombucha, etc.
How to make Strawberry Wine at home?
Before we jump straight into our top list, did you know you could easily make your very own homemade strawberry wine? It’s a very fun activity and the process is extremely satisfying! Here’s what you will need to make some delicious wine:
- An earthenware crock
- 7 pounds of strawberries
- 5 pounds of sugar
- 2 gallons of boiling water
- 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons of wine yeast (optional)
A step-by-step guide to making strawberry wine:
- Wash and hull the strawberries (remove the green stems).
- Mash the strawberries in an earthenware crock.
- Cover them with boiling water.
- Now, squeeze the lemon completely, or add lemon juice as much as you want.
- Stir for 2 minutes.
- To add the yeast, make sure the temperature is at 85 F beforehand, then add the 2 teaspoons of wine yeast and mix thoroughly.
- Cover the crock with a clean linen cloth and let the whole thing rest in a cool place.
- From now on, every day, you are going to stir your mashed strawberries once a day for a full week.
- After the week is done, pour the liquid from your crock into multiple 1-gallon glass wine bottles. Make sure that the bottle corks are a bit loose.
- Let your bottles rest in a cool room without any sunlight for at least 3 months.
- Finally, when the liquid is clear and not foaming or bubbling anymore, that means the fermenting process is complete. Poor your wine bottles in individual clean bottles and let them rest for at least a full year before drinking. Enjoy!
Top 10 Strawberry Wines 2021
If you never tasted a strawberry wine before, or that you are not that knowledgeable in wines in general, let us help you out with this list of our favorite strawberry wines:
Arbor Mist Mango Strawberry Moscato
Let’s start our top 10 with something light, enjoyable, and sweet. This Moscato is a balanced mix of strawberry and mango that brings a smooth flavor, making you want to relax outside on a balcony or at the beach. The latter is made in New York and alcohol is 64% by volume. Finally, in case mangos are not your thing, know that they also offer a version with pineapple instead.
Hinnant Strawberry
Made locally in North Carolina, this is by far one of the sweetest juicy fruit wines on the market. If you prefer your wine to be bitter or have a strong aroma without the sweetness, then the Hinnant Strawberry is perhaps not made for you. That said, this strawberry alcoholic beverage will go well with a little snack, like cheese, cookies, crackers, and some fruits on the side.
Arbor Mist Strawberry White Zinfandel
Another one in the Arbor Mist family, the White Zinfandel edition is more of a rosé wine than anything else. Did you know that, originally, the white zinfandel was invented by a winemaker named Bob Trinchero in 1948? Since then, it has become extremely popular around the world, and lucky you, you can now taste this happy mistake with strawberries. Oh, and by the way, despite its name, the white zinfandel wine is not a white wine!
Verdi Strawberry Sparkletini
Coming from the Piedmont region, this wine strawberry delicious juice will make you feel light and fresh, like a breeze of wind in the early morning. This Verdi drink is a malt beverage that mixes well with pretty much anything, as long as you keep the bottle at a cool temperature.
Horton Strawberry Wine
Now, this fruit white is a flavorful mix of strawberries, raspberries, red fruits, and grenache (cherries). The Strawberry Wine Horton packs quite a punch, as it is cold and sweet at the beginning, and warmer near the end. This fruit alcoholic beverage is made in Gordonsville, Virginia, and is best served at a cool temperature.
St. James Strawberry
The Saint James Strawberry wine is dark, flavorful, and most importantly, absolutely delicious. Made with love in Missouri, it is best served with desserts such as cake, chocolate, croissants, etc. If you were looking for a dessert wine, this is probably the best choice out of the list!
De Luna Strawberry Kiwi
De Lune Strawberry Kiwi is a favorite in Florida and is often used in many fruit cocktails. This wine is mixed with kiwis and is fun to drink on its own or with a dessert. Furthermore, if you just want to eat some fruits like grapes and berries, De Luna’s classic wine style will bring just about the perfect blend between sweet and bitter.
WineHaven Strawberry Rhubarb
This American strawberry wine contains strawberry and rhubarb. Its clear as a crystal, red color is stunning, and its mildly sweet taste will bring you under the sun on a beautiful summer day.
Rudius Cabernet
Black cherries, red fruits, and of course, strawberries, the Rudius Carbernet is aimed at the wine lover who really wants to experience a complete taste of strong aromas. Near the end of your sip, you may notice a soft toasty oak flavor, which is surprising for this kind of wine.
Il Duva Rosa Imperiale
And finally, this Italian wine is also a product from the region of Piedmont. The II Duva Rosa Imperiale wine is mixed with Brachetto grape and strawberries and will go perfectly with a plate of cheese, bread, and grapes.
This concludes our top 10 list of the best strawberry wines. We hope it was helpful in your research and that you will be able to find the perfect wine to satisfy your taste buds.