Day 3 – Moonshine

posted by Momo Fali on November 3, 2011

This is a table in the corner of our basement where my husband makes his own wine. It is a step-by-step process that I will, someday, outline here for all of the people who have asked. Probably right around the time that I take that trip to Tahiti. Which is to say, don’t go holding your breath.

Winemaking isn’t difficult, but it is time consuming. It involves letting very gross stuff happen to your fruit, then straining and wringing that gross stuff through a basketball jersey (WAY classier than cheesecloth and less likely to fall apart), mixing in sugar water, capping it and, as my father-in-law says, “letting it work” for a while. Months, actually.

See that sludgy looking stuff at the top of some of the jugs? That’s “working”. I promise that you don’t drink chunks of fuzzy fruit. Have you ever seen someone syphon gas? There’s some of that involved to separate the liquid. I don’t do that part, just in case those puffs of sludge travel through the tube. *shudder*

If you’re going to make wine, you have to be patient and not vomit at the sight, smell or feel of fermented fruit. This is why I will drink the peach wine, but I will not help make it.

My husband learned how to make wine because his parents taught him and every day they have a glass in the late afternoon. I love knowing that when my husband and I are their age, we can toast them with an old family recipe.

Of course, that one glass they have is equal to about three glasses of “regular” alcoholic wine. The homemade stuff is quite strong and I’ve had more than one batch that tasted like nail polish remover. But, boy do you sleep! Plus, you can just breathe on your nails and the polish comes off. Bonus!

We once had to walk a friend home after she had a few glasses. She will always be quick to say, “I walked TO your house!” but she forgets that she didn’t need help getting here. Every time my mom has half a glass of our wine, she starts to cry. So, we have that going for us.

I wonder if she has noticed that we keep “forgetting” to bring it to dinner.

    Comments

  • Rachel (Hounds in the Kitchen)


    We have similar bubbling bottles tucked into corners around our house. Ours are beer, mead, or hard cider. I don’t love the look of yeast byproducts but I do love their names – trub and flocculate!

  • FireMom


    OH! I love homemade wine. I want to try yours! But I’d have to sleep there — I live too far away to drive home.

  • Melisa


    You’re bringing some to NYC, right? Just checking.

  • SurprisedMom


    The closest I’ve come to homemade wine is homemade mead that my sister and her husband make every rare once in a while. I know it’s a long process, but oh so delicious! If I’m ever in the area, I’ll stop by for a glass . . . with a designated driver that isn’t me. 🙂

  • unmitigated me


    I love peach wine, though admittedly I’ve only had some that was about 5-6% alcohol…

  • dysfunctional mom


    Homemade peach wine sounds HEAVENLY. Your crying mom sounds hilarious.

  • Middle State/MomZombie


    Someday I will taste homemade wine that tastes better than the homemade wine my father used to brew. Until then, I shudder at the thought …

  • Headless Mom


    Yum.

    I love the tradition aspect of it!

  • Rhea


    That’s so cool your husband makes wine from the same recipes his parents did. I like the legacy, the passing of the guard sound of it.

    And peach wine? Sounds delicious!!

  • AlisonH


    But, but…all that fruit! You puree it, then jam or freeze it and you have fruit sauce to pour on anything including fruit…said the good little Mormon with strawberry and plum sauces in the freezer.

  • Donna C.


    You are quite funny! I just read your about page and Laughed out Loud (that’s LOL if you’re into acronyms hehe) I love the reason for your title Momo Fali. I wondered about that as soon as I saw it. I’m very impressed that you have been able to keep up with the heath concerns of your children. Obviously they are very loved :O)

    I don’t think I’ll ever drink wine again…

  • Jessica


    We LOVE homemade wine! An uncle makes it and shares with us from time to time and my father-in-law is always telling my husband he should do it. He’d like to. But as you say, it’s time consuming and he’s already got too many “open” projects that don’t get enough attention. Maybe someday we’ll take it on. 🙂