Are these Damsons?

[googoomuck]

I think they are, anyone made a wine from them before?

[LordEoin]

They sure look like them alright. I haven't made wine from them but i've used them in jam alright.

[Damo]

Looking at pic it's hard to tell.

Damsons are in the plum family, prunus (something)

Damsons are normally smaller than plums, trying to judge by leaf size they do look smaller. Imagine a plum as a golf ball, a damson would be like a ping pong ball if that makes sense!

Are they ripe? They should taste tartish with a hint of sweetness.
All the better for making wine.

Go for it!

[johnrm]

Look like sloes to me.

[googoomuck]

Looking at pic it's hard to tell.

Damsons are in the plum family, prunus (something)

Damsons are normally smaller than plums, trying to judge by leaf size they do look smaller. Imagine a plum as a golf ball, a damson would be like a ping pong ball if that makes sense!

Are they ripe? They should taste tartish with a hint of sweetness.
All the better for making wine.
Go for it!

I'll get another later and post a better pic. Roughly the size of a big grape. They do taste quite pleasant, not too sharp and a little sweet. If I pick these now could I freeze them for use later? (waiting on some demis)

[googoomuck]

Look like sloes to me.

Very similar looking alright, but they are bigger than sloes and taste better. Most sloes around here are still green.

[LordEoin]

sloes grow on the blackthorn tree. it has spikey thorns and different leaves.
Those leaves look like plum leaves and I see no thorns.

[irish_goat]

Looks like poison berries, I'd say you'll be brown bread by the end of the day.

[googoomuck]

Haha I was just worried I'd get a dose of the brad pitts.

[DEMPSEY]

Looks like poison berries, I'd say you'll be brown bread by the end of the day.

I agree so can I have your car

[Bzfeale80]

They look like damsons similar to this http://thegirlwiththewoodenspoon.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/damson.jpg

[larree]

It's makes a gorgeous red wine, much like plum wine, just a touch dryer. It was always one of my Grandfather's staples!

[DEMPSEY]

I wonder are they the berries that my cousins in kerry used to call freachons. Used to go picking them when I was little and they were so tasty they made me big.

[Bzfeale80]

Dempsey freachons as you called them - usually referred to as Fraughan/Blueberry - Latin name Vaccinium myrtillus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccinium_myrtillus

I seem to remember them being called blackcuts where I live. Depending on where you are in Ireland/Europe they can be called any of a number of local 'names' - Fraughan (from gaelic Fraochán) Bilberry (from a scandinavian root) blueberry, Blaeberry,Whortleberry among others

It is a small berry about the size of a blackcurrant or smaller. They are usually picked on last Sunday of July (known as Fraughan Sunday!)

To give you an idea of the size of a fraughan https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWuj4VtihN6cxf33BRadXEaLl0Mmb8x4npAxcOIsvbjcYybhP3

A damson which is from same family as plum has a stone in middle and is considerably larger.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRkDgzyiyH1hx7MjpWFjThuJ6_M8IQ_1EDcQx9WhK-iei9lgRh_bA

[googoomuck]

Heard of them alright, my Granda used to sing a song that mentioned them. I picked 4lb of damsons tonight and started a batch of wine. I'll stick up a recipe in the next day or two.