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How to Make Rose Petal Wine (1 UK Gallon Recipe)

 rosepetal

Rose Petal Wine is one of the most elegant and aromatic flower wines, combining delicate floral perfume with subtle notes of honey, citrus, lychee and soft summer fruit. Made from the petals of fragrant garden roses, it produces a pale golden to blush-coloured wine of remarkable refinement.

Properly matured, Rose Petal Wine develops exceptional smoothness and a lingering floral bouquet, making it one of the jewels of the Flower Collection.

Wine Profile

  • Style: Premium aromatic flower wine

  • Colour: Pale straw, pale gold or delicate blush (depending on the rose variety)

  • Body: Light

  • Sweetness: Dry to off-dry

  • Acidity: Medium

  • Alcohol: 11–12% ABV

  • Yield: Approximately 1 UK gallon (4.5 L), around 6 × 750 ml bottles

  • Difficulty: Beginner

Flower Character

  • Dominant Flavours: Rose, honey, lychee, citrus blossom, delicate summer fruits

  • Aroma Strength: Very Strong

  • Recommended Brewing Strength: Light

  • Best Drinking Age: Medium (9–36 months)

Harvest Calendar

  • Harvest Season: June – August (UK)

  • Best Picking Time: Early morning after the dew has dried

  • Suitable for Fresh Use: ✔ Yes

  • Suitable for Drying: ✔ Yes

  • Suitable for Freezing: ✔ Yes

  • Best Source: Home-grown, fragrant, unsprayed garden roses

Identification & Safety

Correct identification

Use strongly scented garden roses from the genus Rosa.

Excellent choices include:

  • Old English Roses

  • Damask Roses

  • Bourbon Roses

  • Alba Roses

  • Rugosa Roses

Which roses should be avoided?

Avoid:

  • Florist roses

  • Roses sprayed with pesticides or fungicides

  • Weakly scented modern hybrid tea roses

  • Artificially coloured roses

Which parts should be used?

✔ Petals only.

Remove the white base (the "heel") of each petal if practical, as it can contribute bitterness.

Never use

  • Leaves

  • Stems

  • Rose hips (these have their own separate recipe)

  • Petals showing signs of mould or decay

Best Petals to Use

Choose petals that are:

  • Freshly opened

  • Intensely fragrant

  • Dry

  • Brightly coloured

  • Free from insects

Deep pink and red varieties generally produce the richest aroma, while white and pale pink roses create a more delicate wine.

Ingredients

  • Approximately 2 litres loosely packed rose petals (around 180–220 g)

  • 2.0–2.25 lb (900 g–1.0 kg) white sugar

  • Water (to make up to 1 UK gallon (4.5 L))

  • Juice of 2 lemons

  • Juice of 1 orange

  • Finely pared zest of 2 lemons

  • Finely pared zest of 1 orange

  • 100 g raisins

  • 1 tsp yeast nutrient

  • 1 Campden tablet (optional)

  • Wine yeast (half packet recommended):

    • Lalvin QA23 (highly recommended)

    • Lalvin 71B

    • EC-1118

Optional Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp light honey

  • 1 tsp glycerine after fermentation

Preparation

  1. Harvest flowers during a dry morning.

  2. Remove the petals carefully.

  3. Trim away the white base of each petal if practical.

  4. Shake gently to remove insects.

  5. Use immediately after harvesting.

Making the Flower Infusion

  1. Place the petals into a sanitised fermentation bucket.

  2. Add the citrus zest.

  3. Pour over approximately 3 litres of boiling water.

  4. Cover immediately and allow to steep for 18–24 hours.

Avoid prolonged steeping, as excessive extraction can introduce bitterness.

  1. Strain through muslin or a fine sieve.

Discard the petals.

Making the Must

  1. Dissolve the sugar into the warm infusion.

  2. Add:

    • Lemon juice

    • Orange juice

    • Raisins

  3. Top up with cool water to reach 1 UK gallon (4.5 L).

  4. Allow to cool below 25°C (77°F).

  5. Add:

    • Yeast nutrient

    • Crushed Campden tablet (if using)

  6. Wait 24 hours if using Campden.

  7. Add the yeast and stir thoroughly.

Primary Fermentation

  1. Ferment for 5–7 days.

  2. Stir gently once daily.

  3. Maintain 18–22°C.

The room soon fills with an exquisite floral aroma as fermentation begins.

Transfer to Secondary

  1. Siphon carefully into a sterilised demijohn.

  2. Fit an airlock.

  3. Top up if required.

Secondary Fermentation

Continue fermentation for approximately 3–5 weeks.

Rack whenever sediment reaches approximately 1–2 cm.

Clearing & Aging

Once fermentation has finished:

  • Leave to clear for 2 months

  • Rack again if necessary.

  • Bottle when brilliantly clear.

Rose Petal Wine matures exceptionally well.

  • Minimum aging: 9 months

  • Ideal aging: 12–24 months

  • Peak drinking: 2–4 years

Expected Results

  • Original Gravity: 1.086–1.096

  • Final Gravity: 0.995–1.000

  • Alcohol: 11–12% ABV

Tips for Better Rose Petal Wine

  • Use only highly fragrant roses.

  • Remove the white petal bases where practical.

  • QA23 beautifully preserves delicate floral aromas.

  • Raisins improve body without masking the perfume.

  • Mature for at least one year before opening.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using florist roses.

  • Harvesting sprayed flowers.

  • Including leaves or stems.

  • Over-steeping the petals.

  • Drinking before sufficient bottle age.

About Rose Petal Wine

Rose Petal Wine has been enjoyed for centuries throughout Europe and the Middle East, where fragrant roses have long been prized for both culinary and medicinal uses. Home winemakers discovered that the same delicate perfumes could be preserved in a beautifully aromatic wine.

The finished wine combines floral elegance with subtle notes of honey, citrus and tropical fruit, producing a drink that is remarkably sophisticated. Depending on the variety of rose used, the wine may range from pale straw to a delicate blush, making each batch unique.

Few flower wines capture the essence of an English summer garden as successfully as Rose Petal Wine.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve well chilled (8–10°C)

  • Excellent as an aperitif

  • Pairs beautifully with goat's cheese, Brie and Camembert

  • Complements grilled chicken and seafood

  • Wonderful with lemon tart, rose-flavoured desserts, macarons and fresh berries

Storage & Aging

  • Best consumed within 4 years

  • Store in a cool, dark place

  • Best drinking window: 1–4 years

  • Continues to develop greater complexity during its second and third years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any garden rose?
Only if it is strongly scented and has not been treated with pesticides or fungicides. Old garden roses are generally far superior to many modern varieties.

Why remove the white base of the petals?
The white base can contribute bitterness. Removing it results in a cleaner, more elegant wine, although it is not essential if time is limited.

Can I freeze the petals?
Yes. Fresh petals freeze extremely well and can be collected over several days.

Can I dry the petals?
Yes, but fresh petals generally produce a richer, more vibrant aroma.

How long should I age Rose Petal Wine?
It is usually at its finest after 12–24 months, when the floral bouquet has softened into a beautifully integrated wine

 

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