morning_dragon

Wow, I could have sworn that you just recently posted about tightening your belt and working out a budget for your finances. :)

Anyhow, hobbies are good! :) You should speak to branwynabout this. He makes his own wine and can probably give you good advice.

for 200$ I can make over 600$ worth of wine :). Plus work is doing very well so I'm actually UP hours rather then down :).

Do they sell the vines, too? ... And would they grow in Texas?
...are you gonna mash the grapes with your feets? ^.^

I could, but I live in an apt :)

If ya come up here to Ft. Worth I got all of the equipment ya need to make wine. :)

Also there is a place near me that specializes in that kind of stuff and ya can get a better kit for less $$$. I use 2 glass carboys. Much better than plastic.

I would higly recommend ya come up here to Ft Worth and visit that small homebrew store near me. They really know what they are doing and will be able to get ya started with the correct tools and ingredients. Also they can recommend recipes and even give you instructions on how to make them properly. There is a lot ya need to read about when making yer own beer or wine.

My godfather and a neighborhood friend growing up both have been making their own wine for years. I don't know their set-ups, but both enjoy it. Good luck with your new hobby.

from a reprint of an Amish cookbook from 1935.

Dutch Dandelion Wine

Gather (while sun is shining) one gallon of dandelion blossoms. Pour over them 1 gallon of boiling water, then let stand in cool place for 3 days. Then put in a porcelain preserve kettle, add the rind of 3 oranges and one lemon, cut fine. Boil for 15 minutes and then strain. Add 3 lbs. of granulated sugar, together with the pulp and juices of the oranges and lemon. After it is lukewarm add one-half a yeast cake. Let stand for a week in a warm place and then strain again. Then let stand until it stops fermenting, after which bottle.

Let us know if it works. ;)

WTF do I know about wine? WTF do I know about making wine?

And shit, after Califur, I sure as hell don't even know anything about drinking wine.

F the kit, IMHO. Find some guy nearby who has some experience making wine and get him to teach you the real tricks. Then make crazy ass good wine.

Cause you can buy 30 bottles of two-buck chuck here for a lot less than that whole kit. And it's still pretty decent. So make something you can't buy in a store.