May wine (Maibowle)

Name: May wine (Maibowle)
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Yield: ± 1.5 litres
Ingredients: 1 small bunch of sweet woodruff (± 4 g, 8 to 10 stems), picked before flowering; 1 bottle of dry white wine (750 ml), well chilled; 2 tablespoons sugar; 750 ml chilled sparkling wine or sparkling water; a few strawberries or orange slices

Updated on 9 October 2026

Makes: ± 1.5 litres
Time: 15 min + 3 hrs wilting
From: Sweet woodruff

Ingredients

1 small bunch of sweet woodruff (± 4 g, 8 to 10 stems), picked before flowering
1 bottle of dry white wine (750 ml), well chilled
2 tablespoons sugar
750 ml chilled sparkling wine or sparkling water
a few strawberries or orange slices

Method

Leave the stems to wilt on a plate for 2 to 3 hours to release the scent.
Tie them together and hang the bunch leaves-down in the wine, with the cut ends out of the liquid (they contain bitter compounds).
Leave to infuse for 20 to 30 minutes, no longer, then remove the bunch.
Dissolve the sugar in the wine, add the sparkling wine just before serving and drop in some fruit.

Storing: Drink the May wine the same day, well chilled.