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WINE-FRUIT OF THE VINE
“If life gives you lemons…make lemonade”
But
“If life gives you Grapes…By all means..Make wine” P.I.B.
I’m not really sure when the first batch of wine was made but history and the bible suggest it’s been around for a long time. There is evidence that the Iranians were producing wine as early as 5,000 B.C. I’ve heard that a lot of you medieval types drank wine because the water was so impure. Most cultures have a long history of wine making, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Germans, and I certainly would give the French their due in this endeavor.
Like most true Italians I’ve been making my own wine since I was a kid. My father made wine and my grandfather made wine. I think it’s like an Italian “Right of Passage”. Kind of an Italian “Bar Mitzvah”
I don’t want you to get the wrong idea here. You see my father never was a drinker (poor misguided soul) and to be honest, it’s rare that I ever have a drink myself. My love affair with wine is not about self consumption, it’s about creativity and patience. You see to make a good wine, you have to be patient, some things just can’t be rushed. One of the old wine producers used to say: “there will be no wine..until its time”.
Much like good Italian cooking, making good wine is an act of love. Sure it’s cheaper and easier to order pizza or buy some Chatu 7-11 at the local store, but then you miss out on the creative process. You miss out on the transformation from the grape to the wine, and the feeling of satisfaction you get when you create your own wine.
The best part for me is when you taste your wine, and sample the fruit of your labors. Perhaps it’s even better when you share your work with your neighbors and friends. Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not claiming to be Earnest or Julio Gallo here, just a do it yourself, home wine making kind of guy.
Everyone has their favorite hobbies and pastimes. Some guys rejoice in maintaining their lawns, some like to rebuild their cars, I just happen to like making great food and wine.
“Wine is bottled poetry.”
Robert Louis Stevenson <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Robert_Louis_Stevenson/>
Like any good cook that takes the opportunity to sample their work when preparing it, I have been known to take a few sips on the siphon hose while transferring the product from one storage container to the other. OK, perhaps I tend to transfer the wine more often than the next guy.
I learned a lesson early on that its best to let the other family members in your household in on the fact that you are making wine. The smells rendered during the fermenting process are quite unmistakable. Once when I was a kid I tried to brew a 5 gallon batch without my parents knowing about it. I can tell you from experience that hiding your homemade “still” in your clothes closet, will do little to keep you from being discovered.
In the early days I’d make wine from anything I could ferment including raisins. I have to tell you that my friends and I, all thought my stuff was as good as any wine out there. (but back then we thought M.D 20/20 and Boones Farm, was champagne.
Growing up there was always wine at the dinner table at my grandfather’s house. In fact, he had a large keg down in the basement. I can remember the old man having a glass of ‘Dago Red” every night with dinner. To tell you the truth I never saw my grandfather intoxicated. He always had one or two small glasses and that was it. My family never treated alcohol as taboo, the wine was on the table and if I wanted a sip, it was there for the taking. By taking the mystery out of it, none of us ever abused it, it was no big deal.
Today it’s really very easy to make wine at home. Don’t be dismayed by visions of crushing grapes barefoot in a large wooden barrel, with Italian music playing quietly in the background. You can now purchase wine making kits on the internet very inexpensively, and they contain everything you need to get started.
Also, you don’t need to get too serious or pretentious about your wine to enjoy making or drinking it. You also don’t need to mortgage your home or speak French enjoy a nice glass of wine. There is no need to wear a tux or be served by a guy in a restaurant with a little silver creamer bowl around his neck on a chain. Today there are many offerings available from wineries in the ten to twenty dollar a bottle range.
Recent research suggests that a glass of wine a day may actually be good for you. I wish all medicine tasted that good.
Relax, have fun, and enjoy….
Please feel free to contact me at: pooritalianboy@gmail.com <mailto:pooritalianboy@gmail.com>
P.I.B.
“If life gives you lemons…make lemonade”
But
“If life gives you Grapes…By all means..Make wine” P.I.B.
I’m not really sure when the first batch of wine was made but history and the bible suggest it’s been around for a long time. There is evidence that the Iranians were producing wine as early as 5,000 B.C. I’ve heard that a lot of you medieval types drank wine because the water was so impure. Most cultures have a long history of wine making, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Germans, and I certainly would give the French their due in this endeavor.
Like most true Italians I’ve been making my own wine since I was a kid. My father made wine and my grandfather made wine. I think it’s like an Italian “Right of Passage”. Kind of an Italian “Bar Mitzvah”
I don’t want you to get the wrong idea here. You see my father never was a drinker (poor misguided soul) and to be honest, it’s rare that I ever have a drink myself. My love affair with wine is not about self consumption, it’s about creativity and patience. You see to make a good wine, you have to be patient, some things just can’t be rushed. One of the old wine producers used to say: “there will be no wine..until its time”.
Much like good Italian cooking, making good wine is an act of love. Sure it’s cheaper and easier to order pizza or buy some Chatu 7-11 at the local store, but then you miss out on the creative process. You miss out on the transformation from the grape to the wine, and the feeling of satisfaction you get when you create your own wine.
The best part for me is when you taste your wine, and sample the fruit of your labors. Perhaps it’s even better when you share your work with your neighbors and friends. Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not claiming to be Earnest or Julio Gallo here, just a do it yourself, home wine making kind of guy.
Everyone has their favorite hobbies and pastimes. Some guys rejoice in maintaining their lawns, some like to rebuild their cars, I just happen to like making great food and wine.
“Wine is bottled poetry.”
Robert Louis Stevenson <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Robert_Louis_Stevenson/>
Like any good cook that takes the opportunity to sample their work when preparing it, I have been known to take a few sips on the siphon hose while transferring the product from one storage container to the other. OK, perhaps I tend to transfer the wine more often than the next guy.
I learned a lesson early on that its best to let the other family members in your household in on the fact that you are making wine. The smells rendered during the fermenting process are quite unmistakable. Once when I was a kid I tried to brew a 5 gallon batch without my parents knowing about it. I can tell you from experience that hiding your homemade “still” in your clothes closet, will do little to keep you from being discovered.
In the early days I’d make wine from anything I could ferment including raisins. I have to tell you that my friends and I, all thought my stuff was as good as any wine out there. (but back then we thought M.D 20/20 and Boones Farm, was champagne.
Growing up there was always wine at the dinner table at my grandfather’s house. In fact, he had a large keg down in the basement. I can remember the old man having a glass of ‘Dago Red” every night with dinner. To tell you the truth I never saw my grandfather intoxicated. He always had one or two small glasses and that was it. My family never treated alcohol as taboo, the wine was on the table and if I wanted a sip, it was there for the taking. By taking the mystery out of it, none of us ever abused it, it was no big deal.
Today it’s really very easy to make wine at home. Don’t be dismayed by visions of crushing grapes barefoot in a large wooden barrel, with Italian music playing quietly in the background. You can now purchase wine making kits on the internet very inexpensively, and they contain everything you need to get started.
Also, you don’t need to get too serious or pretentious about your wine to enjoy making or drinking it. You also don’t need to mortgage your home or speak French enjoy a nice glass of wine. There is no need to wear a tux or be served by a guy in a restaurant with a little silver creamer bowl around his neck on a chain. Today there are many offerings available from wineries in the ten to twenty dollar a bottle range.
Recent research suggests that a glass of wine a day may actually be good for you. I wish all medicine tasted that good.
Relax, have fun, and enjoy….
Please feel free to contact me at: pooritalianboy@gmail.com <mailto:pooritalianboy@gmail.com>
P.I.B.
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