Homemade Concord Grape Juice
Fresh homemade Concord grape juice made with ripe Concord grapes using the traditional stovetop method. Naturally rich in flavor, vibrant in color, and perfect for enjoying fresh or preserving for later.
Equipment
- Large stockpot, cloth straining bag or cheesecloth, large bowl, ladle, measuring cups, canning jars or glass bottles, water bath canner (optional), funnel.
Ingredients
- 4 quarts fresh Concord grapes
- 1 quart water
- Additional water for diluting optional
- 1½ cups sugar optional
Instructions
- Wash the Concord grapes thoroughly under cool running water.
- Remove all stems and discard damaged grapes.
- Place grapes and 1 quart of water into a large stockpot.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from the heat and let cool for 1 hour.
- Strain through a cloth straining bag or cheesecloth to remove skins and seeds.
- Gently squeeze the bag to extract as much juice as possible.
- Stir in the sugar (if using) and additional water to taste.
- Bring the juice back to a boil for about 5 minutes.
- Pour into sterilized canning jars or bottles.
- Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes if preserving.
- Cool completely before storing.
Notes
- Organic Concord grapes provide the best flavor.
- Grapes harvested after the first frost are naturally sweeter.
- Sugar is completely optional.
- Add a little plum juice for a richer fruit flavor.
- Store refrigerated for up to one week or preserve by canning.
- Freeze for longer storage.
Storage
Refrigerator: Up to 7 days. Freezer: Up to 6 months. Canned: Up to 1 year in a cool, dark place.Nutrition (Approximate per Serving)
- Calories: 135 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Potassium: 290 mg
- Vitamin C: 18 mg
Recipe Tips
- Use only fully ripe Concord grapes.
- Do not overcook the grapes to preserve their fresh flavor.
- Strain twice for crystal-clear juice.
- Serve chilled over ice.
- Mix with sparkling water for a refreshing homemade grape spritzer.
