With our step-by-step photos and instructions, it’s easy to make your own small-batch grape juice!
Late September and early October is Concord grape season in California’s central valley.
It’s more like nectar than store bought juice, thick and smooth.
Elise Bauer
Homemade Grape Juice Is Best Enjoyed Fresh
We like to dilute ours a bit with sparkling water.
So when it’s in season, we drink it up.
I’m pretty sure you could use this grape juice recipe with any kind of sweet grape you like.
Elise Bauer
Homemade Grape Juice
you’re able to use this recipe for any amount of grapes.
One pound of grapes will yield about a cup of juice.
But if you are using a more tart grape, you may want to add sugar.
I would just taste the juice and add more sugar to taste if needed.
Keep in mind that 1 pound of grapes will yield a little less than 1 cup of juice.
Put the grapes in a basin filled with water.
With a potato masher, mash away at the grapes so the juice begins to flow.
If you have picked a lot of grapes, you may need to work in batches.
We have found it easiest to mash about 4 pounds of grapes at a time.
Put the mashed grapes into a large stockpot.
Slowly heat the grapes and juice to a simmer on medium heat and then simmer for 10 minutes.
Stir occasionally so that the grapes don’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
Elise Bauer
Halfway through cooking mash some more, breaking up as many of the remaining grapes as possible.
Get another large pot, place a large fine mesh sieve over it.
Alternatively you might cover it with two layers of cheesecloth, secured with a rubber band.
Elise Bauer
check that pot is sitting on a plate to catch any juice that may run over.
Ladle the grape mixture over the fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to strain.
Let sit for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator to strain completely.
Elise Bauer
Remove sieve or cheesecloth.
Note that sediment will have formed on the bottom of the container.
Rinse out the sieve or cheesecloth and strain the juice again, to filter out some of the sediment.
Elise Bauer
Pour or ladle juice into containers.
Simple Tip!
Note that the grape mash can be composted.
Elise Bauer
If you let it sit around too long it could eventually turn to vinegar.
Did you enjoy this recipe?
Let us know with a rating and review!
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
