Wild Winemaking

January 1, 2018
Bender provides for the home winemaker a unique collection of recipes to make wines beyond the typical grape-based varieties. The first few chapters break down the essential steps toward getting ready, with Bender helping readers understand how wine is made and the equipment necessary, and how Bender has found success in his own winemaking process. The subsequent chapters provide recipes utilizing fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, peppers, and even cannabis. He includes recognizable base ingredients, such as strawberries, pumpkin, basil, and jalapenos, but he also introduces lesser-known items, like Buddha's hand, chokecherry, and Thai dragon peppers. Each recipe is accessible and not as time-consuming as one might expect. The final chapter touches on creating potential food pairings, cooking with the various wines, and even hosting wine-tasting and winemaking parties.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)