Okay, so “wildwine” – sounds fancy, right? Let me tell you, it was a bit of an adventure for me. It all started because I wanted to try making something…different. I’m no expert, just a dude who likes to mess around in the kitchen. I thought, why not try making some wine from, well, whatever I could find growing around!
Finding My “Ingredients”
First, I went for a walk. It was more like a foraging mission. I’d seen some wild grapes growing near the old creek bed, so I grabbed a bunch of those. They were smaller than the ones you get at the store, and a little more…tart. I also found some elderberries – I remembered my grandma used to make elderberry jam, so I figured, why not?
Important: I made sure I knew what I was picking. Don’t go eating random berries, folks. Seriously. Google is your friend. I double-checked everything before it went into my bucket.
The Mashing and Mucking
Back home, the fun (and messy) part began. I washed all the fruit, picking out any leaves or twigs. Then, I basically just smashed it all up. No fancy equipment here – just a big, clean pot and a potato masher. It got pretty juicy, pretty fast. I felt like a real old-timey winemaker, stomping grapes…except with my hands, and on a much smaller scale.
Yeast and Waiting
Next, I added some wine yeast. I had some leftover from a previous, more “normal” winemaking attempt. Sugar, too, it need some food for the yeast. You know how it works in normal winemaking!
And to added all to a big jar, slapped an airlock on top (basically a fancy lid that lets gas out but not in), and…waited. I put it in a cool, dark spot in my basement.
The Waiting Game
This was the hardest part. Weeks went by. I’d check on it every few days, giving it a gentle swirl. It bubbled away, smelling…interesting. Not bad, not exactly good either, just…wild.
The (Possibly) Drinkable Result
Finally, after what felt like forever, the bubbling slowed down. I carefully siphoned the liquid off the sediment (the gunk at the bottom), and bottled it. It was a cloudy, purplish-red color. Time for the taste test!
So, how was it? Honestly? Not amazing. It was tart, a little funky, and definitely had that “wild” taste. I’m not sure I’d serve it to guests, but hey, I made wine! From stuff I found! It’s definitely an experience, and I’ve got a few bottles of something truly unique sitting in my basement. Would I do it again? Maybe. I’d probably research some more recipes first, though.
It might become my personal little stock, or just a fun thing to look back, and laugh a bit, anyway, I did it.
