Malagas stoned

JohnLV · May 1, 2019

Hello!
I decided first time to make some dandelion blossoms wine. Before dandelion mass blossoming, in searching process for wine reciepe, I found colt's foot wine reciepe from old, year 1847 wine makeing book. In this reciepe one ingredient makes me cofused - Malagas stoned. In Google I did not found any explanation. Is it some mineral like limestone? For ten gallons I need to add ten pounds of "Malagas stoned" - quiet much.

Reciepe original - https://books.google.lv/books?id=tJ...oECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q=colt's foot wine&f=false

Thank you!

Blacksmith1 · May 1, 2019

It is not written in modern english. If I understand it correctly Malagas is a plant and I think they mean it should be crushed and cut small.
I could be completely wrong. I can find no link to a substance called Malagas.

McKnuckle · May 1, 2019

Why are you following a random 170 year old recipe for something unrelated to what you want to brew? Dandelion wine is a pretty common country wine product. You should be able to find many proven modern recipes for that.

Meanwhile, I believe I’ve solved this. “Malagas” were grapes indigenous to that area of Spain. They are sweet white or pinkish white in color. They could also be raisins from the same. “Stoned” might refer to them being crushed and the pits removed.

bernardsmith · May 1, 2019

Hi JohnLV - and welcome. In Scotland, where I grew up, we referred to fruits with pits and stones removed as "stoned fruit" and canned fruit would inform the buyer whether the contents had been stoned or were still pitted or with seeds.

Mallerstang · May 1, 2019

I think I have the answer - on page 1 of that online book you found, there is a reference to "four hundred weight and a half of good Malaga raisins."

The recipe also involves boiling 64 gallons of river water for an hour, and the use of a (presumably enormous) horsehair bag.

Mallerstang · May 1, 2019

What a wonderful book! There is another recipe that calls for 40 lb of raisins and you have to cut them all in half.

Mallerstang · May 2, 2019

Also the book advises not to use "any materials of doubtful character" which I think is timeless good advice for wine and life generally.

Mallerstang · May 2, 2019

PS (and I may have been getting into the Ribena and Welches wine this evening) I picture some Dad 150 years ago making his kids cut all those raisins in half...