Making the most of the fall harvest...Homemade Grape Juice from fresh picked Concord Grapes.
My Grandfather's childhood home is just down the hill from where I currently live. It's a great old home with a huge barn, lots of pasture and an amazing garden. My Great Aunt and Uncle raised their family in the house and it is still in their family. It has always been a favorite place to visit
Last weekend I went down to harvest grapes. These grape vines have been around for years and produce huge Concord Grapes. Once the grapes are ripe, it's always a race to pick them before the raccoons get them! Those darned raccoons are grape eating predators. During the night, they can eat every last grape and then we are left with none!
Luckily this year, the raccoons have found better eating and hadn't yet touched the grapes. My sister, on the other hand, found the grapes first! She picked all the humongous grapes that were on the top of the vine. No bending...no crawling. Just nice easy picking.
I had to crawl on my hands and knees under the vines to find the grapes. Still fairly easy picking and a little mud on my knees doesn't cause me any worry!
These grapes were quickly turned into grape juice which I then canned and will store in my pantry until needed.
I used a steam juicer to make juicing fairly easy. One warning about these grapes and the juice, the color is intense and will leave a beautiful stain on many surfaces.
I mix equal parts of water with this juice when I'm ready to drink it. Sometimes the juice needs a bit of sugar. Just stir in a bit if needed. I like it a bit on the tart side and sometimes the grapes provide just the right amount of sweetness and no sugar is needed.
If you are looking for other recipes to preserve food check out Blackberry Jam, Apple Pie Filling and How to Freeze Raspberries.
Equipment used for making Homemade Grape Juice
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If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Homemade Grape Juice
Ingredients
- 20 pounds concord grapes
Instructions
- Place washed grapes in the top of a steam juicer. You do not need to remove stems.
- Place water in bottom of steam juicer.
- Steam grapes for 1.5 - 2 hours until juice stops flowing.
- Place juice in canning jars and process with a hot water bath or freeze juice.
- Mix with equal parts water and juice before drinking.Add sugar to taste if too tart.
Notes
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
CakePants says
I've never had fresh grape juice, but I bet it's phenomenal!! Your photos from the site are stunning - it looks like the kind of shot you'd find on a postcard!
Kathy says
Anything fresh and homemade is best! Thanks 🙂
Linda Johnson says
It’s amazing ; much better than store bought.
Kathy says
Hi Linda,
This is pretty amazing!!! I love being able to use the juice all year long!
Kathy 🙂
Adina says
I've never thought about making grape juice myself, it sounds like a great idea. I keep getting offerd grapes from people's gardens nowadays and keep turning them down because I don't like their thick skin and many pits. But I am sure they would make a very good juice.
Pamela @ BFG says
When I saw your grapes on Instagram the image stuck with me, so much that I was telling my husband about your beautiful grapes a night later! I love this grape juice you made, I can taste it from here (I wish!). We just planted grapes for the first time this year.... hoping one day they will be 1% as pretty as yours!
Amanda says
The scenery around your grandparents' old place is absolutely beautiful. Wow!
I've never had homemade grape juice. What a fascinating process. I bet the flavor is ten times better than store bought.
Balvinder says
Those grapes from your grandma's are beautiful!...And the juice you made from is much more delicious than the store-bough versions.
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Your farm is beautiful, Kathy. I love grapes and store bought grape juice but never made my own. Making your own juice was such an awesome things.
Kathy says
I love making food that is grown here. It is so great to be able to use it all year long.
Manali@CookWithManali says
how wonderful to make fresh grape juice! you are lucky!
Kathy says
Thanks, Manali! I am lucky to have access to such fresh and lovely grapes.
Laura ~ Raise Your Garden says
I am so insanely jealous of your grape harvest and I think I can taste your juice through the screen. Nothing, nothing compares to fresh grape juice. Best stuff on earth!
Kathy says
It is quite delicious!
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
What a great post, Kathy. Love that you make your own grape juice from a grape field that's been in your family for so long. Love the shot of the lake below the grape/vineyard. What lake is that? It looks so peaceful there - even if you have to crawl on your hands and knees to get those grapes!
Kathy says
Hi Geraldine,
It was very peaceful in those grape vines. The lake is Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho.