cordelia Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 My husband has for at least a year been making home made wine.... ..some are much nicer than others, one of the best for example was made purely with pears from my mums 35 year old pear trees....and the usual wine ingredients..sugar etc (no grape juices or concentrates) others, from kits have been tolerable, and one elderberry that hadnt looked at an elderberry in its creation was awful.... We've given them to family and friends as gifts, only when we've thought them nice, (and usually much to my husbands grief...as he does love wine) We may have given my sister an awful elderberry...but we didnt realise it was awful... and our apple wine (from apples from my sisters garden)...is a little sharp...(we didnt realise the apples should have been red apples..oops and picked them green) well, at a bonfire party at my brother and sister in laws, with her best friend and her family there, we gave a couple of bottles to them , from my sisters apples....(we think they liked the pear one...it was strong but lovely..all 30 bottles of it) ..and when we did, my sister in law, pulled a face to her friend...(and they all sniggered)... Now she isnt a girl she is in her 40's and high up in the education field...so I think it was unnecessary, but we wont be giving them any more home made wine... (Her friends I must have seen (known) for at least 20 years, and at parties they never speak, until our 15month old baby was born...and I decided I'd had enough of being ignored..so speak to them regardless..and its not just me, they dont speak to my mother or sister if they are present....wouldnt you think the older members of that family could at least me pleasant to my aging mother...) well enough of them... Do any of you make your own wine??...and do you now keep it to yourselves?? ( we've always taken wine to invites...but really £3 to £8 wine tastes much the same..and we arent really into buying more expensive wine, except for christmas, so had thought home made was much more special)...but we wont make the mistake again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I hate wine s"Ooops, word censored!"s & I especially hate home made s"Ooops, word censored!"s keep your lovley wine for yourself & your husband, or nice people who appreciate it. I am jealous - I wish I could make wine (or had a friend that could ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted November 11, 2008 Author Share Posted November 11, 2008 ...we also made home made Sloe Gin, from local sloes....now that was great and they (my brother and his wife, and my sister) liked that...but it takes months to make... and the trees had no sloes this year We gave some of that to our new neighbour...and she never mentioned it....or said if she'd tried it.. are we just embarassing everyone by giving home made gifts?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 see my blog, link in my signature. There's pics of our homemade pear wine being DJ'd (I think it's either in october or septembers blog??) and we've recently joined our local 'wine circle' (see November's blog) DH racked off the fermented wine today so we're just waiting to see if it's clear enough before bottling it. I had a little taste and it's okay but it needs a bit of time to mature and I think it needs racking again. It's all good fun isn't it! I love it when people give me home made food/drink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I love home made gifts It is so lovely to think that someone has put real effort and time into something. Ignore the people that snigger - I bet they would be exactly the sort of person that would spend an absolute fortune on a cleverly marketed 'handmade' product from an expensive shop though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I made some lime flower wine once that had a second fermentation in the bottle and the first I knew was when the corks started popping off. These were quickly wired down and we had the most glorious "lime flower Champagne". This year there was a glut of superb blackberries and I have 15 litres of pure blackberry juice(no water added) wine on the go. I am going to try to make one demijohn on the sweet side like a port. Will be ready to drink for NEXT Christmas, alas Home made things are much nicer, I love to experiment but I have made stuff that had to be poured down the drain. I do give away sloe gin which I make on the dry side and everybody loves that, but no sloes this year so I am trying Cinnamon's cranberry vodka instead. Never given away wine . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 My late aunt used to make wine...and I defy anyone to taste better wine anywhere. Her rhubarb wine was absolutely delicious. The thought and care and attention that goes into a home made gift is what makes it special, not the price tag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 The thought and care and attention that goes into a home made gift is what makes it special, not the price tag. I wholeheartedly agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 me too! A nice alternative is to get a bottle of red & make a muslim bag of mulling spices,then tie it to the bottle neck with instructions on how to make it. http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2921/mulled-wine-kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 ... make a muslim bag ... I think alcohol is against their religion! We make mulled Mavrodaphne at Christmas, just pour a bottle of Mavro into a saucepan, plop in a mulled wine spice bag and bring to the boil. Our little tradition is to have a glass of that and a good cry over 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 We make mulled Mavrodaphne at Christmas, just pour a bottle of Mavro into a saucepan, plop in a mulled wine spice bag and bring to the boil. Our little tradition is to have a glass of that and a good cry over 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Is that like "Greek port" ? Seem to remember having something like that on Corfu but I might be wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Is that like "Greek port" ? it's a sweet red wine, not quite as strong as port. If you like sweet wines, try Commandaria, that's really nice too. You might only be able to get it in Greece/Cyprus etc though You can get Mavro in the supermarket though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 My dad used to make wine and I can remember him making rhubarb wine but I was too young to try. OH and I tried making wine with a kit but it was disgusting and we've not tried since. I would love to give it a go but have a lack of space at the moment. Perhaps we'll start when the kids have left home (or at least one of them) I would love to receive a home made gift of any description and I think its very rude of people to be ungrateful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 We've made redcurrent gin and vodka and blueberry gin and vodka in the past. It's good to do in the summer and then crack open on Christmas Eve to prepare ourselves for the arrival of the mother in law...... It's thoroughly recommended but, be warned, doesn't taste at all alcoholic so you drink more than you should and pay for it! When my father in law died, one of his colleagues commented that she remembered his "runner bean wine" from about 20 years previously.......we're still not sure if she meant this as a compliment or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I've got homebrew bubbling away just now! Cider, ginger-and-lemon wine, and rosehip wine. My first attempt. Have no idea if they will be nice, or if I'll like them, or what!!! So, which me luck! However... It's downright rude to pull faces at the gifts anyone gives you, regardless of wether the present is your taste or not ! Surely this is something that you're parents tell you when you're a little kiddie of 4 or 5? I would have been furious if I were you, it's totally unacceptable to snigger like that about ANY present at all. And I'm sure your homebrew is lovely! I would have some strong words to your sister about her behaviour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 ... make a muslim bag ... I think alcohol is against their religion! Oh crikey - I can't believe I typed that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I have always taught my kids and tried to live by the maxim that 'Courtesy costs nothing'. Jackiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 ... make a muslim bag ... I think alcohol is against their religion! Oh crikey - I can't believe I typed that I love homemade gifts especially if it's edible or drinkable and last year made chocolate truffles for the teachers at my daughters school, they seemed really shocked I'd made them instead of buying them. Keep up the wine making and enjoy it yourself or with special friends Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I've made wine again this year - after a break of about 18 years I probably won't give any as presents but only because I don't drink and I can't tell if it is good enough or not - it all tastes disgusting to me I will test it on family members though I'd buy your friend (sister?) cheap stuff and keep the good stuff for yourselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 ....Keep up the wine making and enjoy it yourself or with special friends Karen x you're welcome to come and sample some! It may possibly be akin to the peapod burgundy on The Good Life though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Peapod Burgundy - I remember that There is a super drop of red in the dreaded Tesco at the moment,half price. Yaldara Estate its called, & is normally £8 a bottle - yummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 we watch re-runs of the good life all the time, it never gets boring and I adore it! They really don't make them like that any more, pure genius; the acting, the writing, the directing, everyrthing!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Peapod burgundy ah yes a good vintage Margot Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 It has a real feel good thing going on,doesn't it? I can't stand many other re run shows of that era, but I always have time for Tom'n'Barb & a glass of red Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I told Ian that Tom and Barbara reminded me of us and our attempts at self-sufficiency and he said "I wish you looked like Felicity Kendal!" Charming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
