~ Sir Thomas Malory
2 bottles good Rhine or Moselle wine (Riesling)
a handful of sweet woodruff sprigs
Rinse woodruff sprigs, and stuff into uncorked wine. Allow to steep several hours in refrigerator. Strain into wine glass & garnish with a fresh strawberry and pinched top of blooming sweet woodruff.
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MAY WINE CHAMPAGNE PUNCH
1 gallon good Riesling wine
handful of sweet woodruff sprigs
1-2 pints fresh strawberries
4 Tbsp. sugar
champagne
edible blossoms from the garden
Stuff sweet woodruff in wine bottle or in large bowl. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. Strain and pour into large glass punch bowl. Add sugar and mix well. Add an ice block (pretty with frozen flowers inside). Blend in champagne. Garnish with woodruff flowers and edible woodruff blossoms from the garden (Johnny-jump ups, pansies, rose petals borage, etc.) Place a strawberry in each glass and top with sweet woodruff flower.
* Try May Wine and May Wine Champagne Punch with 'Award-Winning' Michigan wines and sparkling wines (http://www.michiganwines.com/Awards/awards.html)
Comments
i just bought some of this and really didn't know much about it.thanks for the info...now where to put this little beauty>?
i am excited to try this spring ritual.
happy may.
Eileen
Good for you, Marmee. This is a great plant for a woodland garden ... mine is a huge groundcover, a sea of white blooms, and smells ... heavenly!
Go for it, Eileen. It's a delight, one you can only enjoy when woodruff is young, before it hardens. Cheers!
I sure enjoyed the 80 degrees on Friday. How about you?
Woodruff is the best, Lindalou, you would love it! For me, 80s is not spring weather. Things that I wait all year in the garden for, fade too fast. And I'm much like my flowers when I work in the garden ... and wilt.
donna
Thanks, Anna. I think less is more too. This is so simple, it's hardly a recipe but certainly enjoyed by all those who taste it :)
I'm certain they won't mind, Donna. It doesn't take that much. Wish you lived near ... I have oceans to share! It blankets my entire wildflower/azalea beds and later compliments my sea of hosta!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Sweet woodruff has a heady woodsy fragrance, Chad, perfect for wildflower gardens. Wish you lived near ... I have oodles to share.
Thank you, Rick. It should be fine. Again, wish I could share some with you. I give several flats away each spring.
It's a heavenly scent, Kala, that should last for a few weeks, especially wonderful after a rain.
An interesting addition to wine. I never realized it had any taste.
Marnie
Not sure about sweet woodruff way down south ~ sounds delightful though ~~ always love a good groundcover and one with fragrance is a bonus. Except for the 90 degree humid weather we're having it is still hard for me to believe it is already May.
Happy days of gardening, dear friend.
Meems
I didn't celebrate May Day with any wine, but had lunch today with some fellow retired teachers at an old-fashioned soda fountain where they make candy by hand. I came home with a box of delicious chocolates, another great way to celebrate!
I don't know how I missed this post...a belated Happy May Day to you, Joey!