Vin de Casă
The Quirky Foodster Team
Ingredients
- Fresh red wine grapes, stemmed — 10 kg (22 lb)
- Sugar, to adjust sweetness if needed (optional, depending on grape ripeness)
Method
- Wash and stem the grapes, then crush them by hand or with a press to release the juice, keeping the skins and pulp together (the 'must').
- Transfer the must to a large, clean fermentation vessel, filling no more than three-quarters full to allow room for fermentation activity.
- Cover loosely with a clean cloth and let ferment at room temperature, stirring the cap of skins back into the liquid once or twice daily, for 7–10 days until fermentation slows.
- Strain the liquid away from the skins and seeds through cheesecloth or a wine press.
- Transfer the strained wine to a clean demijohn or bottles, and let it settle and continue fermenting quietly for several weeks to months.
- Rack (siphon) the wine off any sediment periodically until it runs clear, then bottle for storage.
Introduction: Homemade red wine, fermented simply from freshly pressed grapes, reflecting Moldova’s deep and long-standing winemaking tradition.
Cultural Background: Moldova has one of the world’s highest densities of vineyards relative to its size, and making wine at home has been passed down through generations of families, each with closely guarded methods and preferred grape varieties.
Tips: Cleanliness of all equipment is essential throughout the process to avoid spoilage. Taste periodically as fermentation progresses to track how the wine is developing.
Variations: Use white grapes for a homemade white wine, following a similar process without extended skin contact. Blend different grape varieties for a more complex homemade wine.
Storage: Once fully fermented and clarified, store bottled wine in a cool, dark place; well-made homemade wine can keep for a year or more.
Reheating: This drink is served at room temperature or chilled and is not heated.
Nutrition: Per serving (approx., 150 ml glass): 125 kcal, 0 g protein, 0 g fat, 4 g carbohydrate.
FAQs:
Q: How long does homemade wine take to be ready?
A: Initial fermentation takes about 1–2 weeks,
Q: Is making wine at home a common practice in Moldova?
A: Yes, many rural households maintain
- Fresh red wine grapes, stemmed — 10 kg (22 lb)
- Sugar, to adjust sweetness if needed (optional, depending on grape ripeness)
Please log in to leave a comment.