Does elderflower champagne always have to be bottled so early?!

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FilledAle

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Does elderflower champagne always have to be bottled so early? All the recipes I've found say to bottle it around day 6 or 7 and then go one to list all the things you have to do to stop the bottles exploding! Why can't I just let the fermentation almost finish and then prime it when I bottle it? Has anyone tried doing it this way? I started this 10 days ago now, although I am using the natural elderflower yeast so a bit of a slower start. I racked it off the elderflower and lemons into a demijohn at day 3 and fermentation was rapid so been going at least 7 days and still bubbling away rapidly now so there is no way I could bottle it yet without having to keep opening them. I don't see the point of bottling it if I can't close the bottles I may as well leave it in the demijohn!
 
You can treat it like a beer transfer to another demijohn to clear and fine it as well like wine then transfer to bottles and prime.
Sparkling wine does need high carbonation say more than 4 vols so you do need strong bottles.
 
I've never made it but would like to give it a go one day. Personally I'd also go with the let it ferment out completely and then prime option. I also have a complete inability to stick to any sort of schedule when brewing so any intention to bottle on day 6-7 would mean it would still be in the primary on day 14 😁

Regarding bottles, if you consume any Prosecco in the household (my wife does), keep the bottles and use them. They'll be very strong. If you have a crown capper with a 29mm bell and some 29mm caps then these should fit on Prosecco bottles. You can also buy plastic corks with cages to stop them blowing off.
 

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