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Make Wine, Not War

Homemade wine may seem like a crazy concept, as if it came about after a bad acid trip by Betty Crocker. But, it?s really not that crazy at all. In fact, winemaking in the home is an old tradition. It was born out of necessity; prior to the 20th century the wine sold commercially was extremely expensive and those who didn't want to drink away their paycheck found another option. They began to make their own wine. This was a much cheaper way to produce a bottle, but the flavor of the wine often suffered and the alcohol content fluctuated: one batch of wine would have very little alcohol, while the next would be wine's version of Ever Clear.

Innovations in winemaking have led to a drastic improvement in homemade quality. What once appeared to be an art reserved only for accomplished viticulturists or people who could stomp on grapes with the grace of a Michael Flately is now an art that everyone can take a sip of. So roll up your leaves, grab some supplies and make wine, not war.

From a technical standpoint, you could make wine with a vat of grapes and some (hopefully clean) feet; wearing an outfit straight out of the Renaissance may also help. But, for those who aren?t likely to spend their day getting purple, you have one of two choices: purchase several supplies or a winemaking kit. If you choose the former, you will need to procure a slug of ingredients, and a lot of equipment. You will also have to follow such specified and stringent instructions that the process of winemaking may seem like a dictatorship: the grapes will have absolute power and Mussolini will demand the first sample. However, if you choose to purchase a winemaking kit, you will find the art of producing homemade wine is much easier and much more enjoyable.

Winemaking kits can be purchased in all kinds of places. Some home furnishing stores sell them but online is one of the best places to look. The online inventory is extremely diverse ? you can find winemaking kits for making red wine, winemaking kits for making white wine, winemaking kits for making fruit wine, and winemaking kits for making sherry, just to name a few. Depending on the kit, the price can vary. Some kits are under a hundred dollars while others can be quite expensive; it purely depends on what you?re looking for.

No matter the type or price of the kit, most winemaking kits come with similar equipment. The supplies include a fermenter with lid, a carboy, a large spoon, a recipe book, sanitizing products, a hydrometer, a corker, corks, an airlock, a siphon hose, a siphon, a bottle filler, a bottle brush, equipment instructions and winemaking instructions.

Some people may enjoy the challenge of making wine without a kit, but for those of you who are novice winemakers, a winemaking kit is the best bet. Spending the day making wine for yourself or your friends is a great way to get acquainted with the art of winemaking. Each time you do it, it will get easier. Even if the first batch results in less than stellar wine, wine that seems to put the ?low" in Merlot, rest assured, it just takes a little practice. Before you know it, you will be able to truly enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Thoughts about Wine Grapes

Make Wine, Not War


Homemade wine may seem like a crazy concept, as if it came about after a bad acid trip by Betty Crocker. But, it?s really not that crazy at all. In fa...


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A Featured Vintage Charts Article

Eggnog, Wassail, Hot Wine -- Oh My!

It is a cold winter night outside while inside a group of family and good friends is clustered around a crackling fire, thinking how wonderful the party foods look, tucked here and there throughout the living room. The genial host grandly sets down a huge bowl of Christmas cheer on the table near the fire. What is this? Eggnog! The crowd good-naturedly surges forward as one to the punch bowl, eagerly clamoring for a cup of alcohol-enhanced ambrosia. Such a fantastic tasting experience! If it is eggnog, then we are celebrating the holiday party-filled days between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Happy times for all are coming.

Reaching back in history to about 1775, eggnog enjoyed popularity on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, from England to America. The word "no" in eggnog is thought to have come from an object known as a "noggin," a small mug made of carved wood. This wooden mug was used to serve drinks to the tavern patrons seated at tables; tankards were used to serve drinks at fireside. (Was this elementary fire protection, assuming the tankards were constructed of metal or some other fire-resistant material?) The eggnog drink itself is descended from a hot British drink known as "posset" which contained eggs, milk, and ale or wine. (Sugar was added some time down the timeline.) Eggnog is used as a toast to ensure everyone's good health in the year to come. It had many silly-sounding (but memorable) names including egg-flip, egg-hot, and of course eggnog.

Eggnog, in the 18th century, was considered a beverage for the well-off. Milk was quite expensive and therefore economically out-of-bounds for most people. When eggnog made its way over to America, it became easily accessible to all classes because of the large numbers of milk cows there. To give the drink a little "oomph," rum was often mixed into the eggnog. Rum was relatively inexpensive compared to other alcoholic drinks and easy to obtain, making it the perfect additive.

American Colonial history dictates that there were at least a few special occasions involving eggnog and high society. In Baltimore, Maryland, etiquette demanded the practice of young men calling upon all their friends on New Year's Day. At each visitation made, the men were offered a cup of eggnog. Not wanting to offend anyone by refusing the proffered cup of cheer, the gents became, in a word, "sloshed" and could barely get back to their own homes.

It was also accepted as doctrine that President George Washington, the Father of America, was an extreme fan of eggnog. He concocted his own version of eggnog which included sherry, rum, and rye whiskey. Only the bravest of his friends were willing to try it.

When thinking about eggnog on a cold winter night, we should always remember the joys of wassail and hot mulled wine, as well as their companion, hot hard cider.

Rather than originally being a drink, wassail first embraced caroling. Some centuries ago, groups of carolers brought cups with them, and while they performed at the doors of the rich, a servant would fill their cups with hot spiced ale, frequently topping off the drink with a floating roasted apple slice.

Hot mulled wine has been popular for centuries. "Mulled" means heated and spiced, making this drink perfect for those cold winter nights. In medieval times, these drinks were named after Hippocrates, the father of medicine, public opinion being that hot wine must be healthier than drinking the polluted water which was available to the masses.

By 1500, cookbooks included various methods of mulling wine. In addition to French wine, honey, cinnamon, cardamon, and galingale (a pungent, aromatic plant related to ginger) were added to the warming mixture. In Victorian England, "Negus," a version of mulled wine, was served to children at their birthday parties. Mulled wine has been a party drink for hundreds of years.

Some mulled wines are similar to today's sangrias, sometimes using white wine in place of red. All sorts of things are added in, including oranges, cloves, twelve spice, and more. Do not forget a couple of sticks of cinnamon.

Last, but certainly not the least, is cider. Its use was known of in England before the time of Christ. The apples used to make the cider were rumored to have come from sacred trees.

There was no such thing as alcohol-free cider in years past. Everyone, including pious clergymen and small children, drank cider as matter of course. The cider was not sweet, as there was no refrigeration available. Modern refrigeration has made sweet (nonalcoholic) cider extremely popular. Alcoholic cider is now known as "hard" cider.

Be sure to buy pasteurized cider for your holiday parties as E. coli can lurk hidden in unpasteurized cider.

To your good health! Cheers! L'chaim! Skoal! Bottoms up! Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

About the Author

Terry Kaufman is Chief Editorial Writer for Niftykitchen.com, Niftyhomebar.com, and Niftygarden.com.

?2006 Terry Kaufman. No reprints without permission.

A synopsis on Vintage Charts.

Eggnog, Wassail, Hot Wine -- Oh My!


It is a cold winter night outside while inside a group of family and good friends is clustered around a crackling fire, thinking how wonderful the par...


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