Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Champagne; and wines produced by some wineries have even
become status symbols, such as those produced by Château
Lafite Rothschild.
Here, however, I am using the term “wine” to refer to country
wines. That is, wines made from any fruit available and to
which sugars, tannins, organic acids, spices, and other
ingredients have been added to not only compensate for the
areas in which the ingredients fall short of vitis vinifera
grapes, but also to create their own experience of taste and
smell.
Country wines are in no way inferior, and in fact being free of
the constraints of traditional winemaking leaves you open to
experiment broadly and create delightfully unique wines that
are forever beyond the reach of traditional wineries. Home
winemaking of up to 200 gallons annually is legal in the
United States so long as you don't try to sell it. (If you try to
sell it you will run afoul of the infamous “revenuers” who
always get their culprit in the end.)
Americans drink nearly two gallons of wine per capita
annually, meaning the consumption for a standard household
is just shy of eight gallons. That's 40 bottles of wine. If you
figure $12/bottle, that's nearly $500 per year. At that rate, and
using fruit you either get inexpensively in season or free in
your back yard, you will quickly recoup your investment in
materials and supplies. In addition, homemade wines make
excellent personal gifts; every year I give bottles to friends
and business associates for holiday presents. The wine is
always appreciated.
