Wines made from fruits other than grapes are known as "other than standard" wines. In fact, there is great objection on the part of some purists to the calling of any drink, wine, which has not been made from the juice of grapes. It is true that the dictionary defines wine in this way, as the "fermented juice of grapes", but it also adds that in the broader sense wine is the fermented juice of any fruit or plant used as a beverage. There is no need to quibble over the term, for fruit wines have a long and distinguished tradition in the United States and in England, but a long and not so distinguished tradition in continental Europe where it has in the past been attempted to be passed off as grape wines. Yet in Europe they make sizable quantities of apple wine for "home" consumption. Spain produces a sparkling apple known as Sidra, the Spanish term for cider. At one time raisin wine was widely made in France-when a disease swept over the country's vineyards. But this settles nothing! It only shows that some fruit wines exist and have existed.
What does settle the argument in favor of fruit wines is that they are good, they are healthful, and they can be made where grapes are not readily available, for there is no place where one cannot find some fruit, flower, vegetable, or sap which is convertable into wine.
There are few things in life which can afford the individual more pleasure and satisfaction than making his own wine. Wine is fun to make, it is a great natural food, and it is legal for the head of a family to make up to 200 gallons a year without needing a license. That's alot of wine in one year for one family to consume!
So it is because of where we live that I make fruit wines, and it is because of the law that our family has opened the Winterport Winery so that you too might enjoy the "fruits" of my work.
