More Use for Undrunk Wine
Vinegar, as defined by the handy Food Lover’s Companion: from the French for “sour wine,” the result of fermented liquid–such as wine or beer–in contact with bacteria …creating acetic acid. Doesn’t sound so appealing, but it makes wonderful salad dressings and marinades. And in keeping with yesterday’s post, apparently works well as a hair rinse.
From my online searches, there seem to be as many opinions about how to make vinegar as there are reasons to drink wine. How I made mine: Start with a lidded container, such as a glass jar. Fill 1/3-1/2 with wine, and then put in a couple shakes of red wine vinegar. Mine are all red wines separated by grape, including one Port. [Yes, that's what happens when one works in a tasting room; that picture doesn't even show half of them.] I haven’t tried yet and have read that it takes longer, but you could do this with whites as well, just use white wine vinegar to get started.
*Instead of adding vinegar to the wine, you can also add a mother of vinegar, which I haven’t seen anywhere but is available online.
[Side note: apparently the same bacteria in Bay Area air which makes San Francisco sourdough so tasty will lead to superb vinegar.]
Some instructions call for placing a cheesecloth over the container, although I let mine sit out for an hour or two once a week (translation: whenever I remember) then replace the lid. After 2-3 months, you’ll start to see and smell results, though it may take longer to reach the final product, especially when starting from scratch as I did. Soon, you’ll have your own vinegar and your own mother, which you can then pass on to friends. Once you’re done, strain some off and place in a pretty bottle from World Market or Target, perhaps with a label.
Martha Stewart, watch out!
making vinegar, uses for leftover wine
….Farley Walker
March 30th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Undrunk wine? What’s that when it’s at home, there’s never any undrunk wine in my house
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:46 am
Derrick has an excellent post on this subject, here:
http://www.obsessionwithfood.com/2006_05_01_blog-archive.html#114883864047391023