Fresh Grape Juice

Fresh Grape juice is phenomenal, and an option very few of us have had outside of concentrate versions. With grapes being what some would call an expensive fruit, the most effective option is to grow your own! Even if you live in a colder growing zone like me, 3B, there are many varieties of grapes that do well here. Prairie Star, Severnji, and Valiant are 3 of my varieties with the last two being extremely similar to Concord grapes. Just for reference, my one 4 year old Valiant vine harvested 35 lbs of fruit in the 2023 season.

What You Need

• 2 Large Pots (or one pot and a large bowl)
• 5 lbs grapes (or how much you have available)
• Strainer
• Ladle
• Cheese Cloth
• Masher and stirring spoon
• 1 Cup water

The process for creating your own fresh grape juice is simple, and once finished can be watered down, mixed with other juices or as I prefer just as it is!

How To Make Fresh Grape Juice

1st Step

Remove all the grapes from their clusters and rinse with water.

2nd Step

On a medium heat add Water and Grapes and mash gently.

3rd Step

Increase temperature to medium / high until a light boil begins for 20 minutes while continuing stirring.

4th Step

Place cheese cloth across the strainer and place the strainer on the 2nd pot or bowl.

5th Step

Use a ladle or pour your grapes into the cheese cloth draped strainer. Your juice will be filtered through the cheese cloth retaining all the seeds and pulp from the juice.

Once all the grapes are straining, cover with a lid and allow to drain without squeezing. This provides a clear cleaner juice. After an hour of straining pour the juice into sterile glass jars. When freezing your juice for later use leave a few inches of headspace for the freezing process. I also leave the lid on but not sealed to avoid breakage.

After the first batch, squeeze the excess juice out of the cheesecloth by spinning it or applying pressure. This will have a cloudier juice with some pulp in it. Once you have removed the juices, go plant that seed and pulp to create more delicious fruits for the future!!