| There is a mistaken belief that wines are made | | | | he turned to Pattie, tried a second sip, and said, 'I |
| only from grapes. Of course, grapes do make a | | | | think I'm in love.'" |
| terrific wine and are an ideal fruit to ferment into | | | | Although non-grape wines will not usually taste |
| a beverage that can age for years and improve | | | | anything at all like wines made from the juice of |
| its taste and aroma over time. Even young wine | | | | grapes, you can be pleasantly surprised with the |
| made from grapes is enjoyed by many with its | | | | results of wines from vegetables and other fruit. |
| fruity flavors. | | | | Did you have a massive potato crop this year? |
| Although not all consider it a wine, technically | | | | Try some potato wine! Too many peaches in the |
| speaking because it is fermented with yeast, | | | | tree? Peach wine has delighted many a home |
| mead is also a wine. Mead, which is made from | | | | winemaker and their guests. |
| honey, has been enjoyed for centuries, and some | | | | If you do decide to try some wine from things |
| even claim that the origin of the word | | | | growing in your own yard, be sure to keep in |
| "honeymoon" has its roots in the mead beverage. | | | | mind some cautions: |
| It is said that when a couple were married, they | | | | - Refrain from using vegetation that has had a lot |
| were sent away to get to to know each other | | | | of chemicals like insecticide sprayed on. |
| for a month along with many intoxicating bottles | | | | - Use professional wine yeast (it's inexpensive - |
| of mead. | | | | enough to make five gallons cost a dollar a |
| Indeed, wine can be made from just about any | | | | packet) instead of just hoping the wild native |
| organic material as long as it is not poisonous. Do | | | | yeast in your backyard will ferment your juice. |
| you keep a garden and sometimes have far too | | | | - Sanitize your equipment and use food grade |
| many crops to store in the freezer? Why not | | | | plastic or glass to ferment and age your wine. |
| experiment with making wine out of that extra | | | | - Become familiar with some wine making basics |
| fruit or vegetables. | | | | to increase your chances of creating a wine that |
| "Vegetables?" you ask. Yes! In her book, "Making | | | | will delight yourself - and your guests |
| Wild Wines & Meads," Pattie Vargas writes | | | | If you're a bit hesitant about how a wine might |
| about a parsnip wine she entered in a competition: | | | | turn out, you can always make several small one |
| "The restaurant owner poured some parsnip wine, | | | | gallon batches instead of the larger five gallon size |
| swirled it in his glass, held it in front of the candle | | | | that most home winemakers that are using |
| to judge its clarity, held it beneath his nose, and | | | | commercial kits, make. |
| looked once again before taking a timid sip. Then | | | | |