Grapes in a Bottle

MattParkman · Dec 25, 2011

This is a technique of mine I have shared with very few people that I leave open to public use. I have developed a technique for making a bottle of wine using red berries and white wine that when ready to drink turns a light blush. First to start you need to have the wine bottle prepared. You actually grow the grapes in the bottle but the main problems with that are over heating of the bottle and moisture in the bottle. There are two easy solutions to these problems. First to stop over heating you must trellis a single grape cluster and vine to the ground and bury the bottle 2/3 in the ground. When the flowers on the plant are bloomed you train the vine into the half buried bottle. The grapes do not need sunlight to mature as all the photosynthesis takes part in the canopy. Canopy over the half buried bottle is the way to keep most moisture out but for perfectionists a simple paper towel helping to train the vine into the bottle can keep everything else. As it collect moisture it will wick into the air of the bottle to provide the slight humidity needed. A good growing season is always helpful in any wine making. The end of this step will give you a healthy bunch in the bottle. Be careful in your grape selection you want a varietal with good sized berries and an average bunch size that will fill but not overfill the bottle. Tie off the end of the vine on the top of the bottle so it stays at the top and freeze if you have to make the white unaged wine to fill the bottle with. Finally, fill the bottle with white wine and cork right along side the stem to keep the grapes suspended. I was successful using catawba grapes in their first five years after that their bunches pressed along the sides <unappealing> My bottle reccommendation is an American red, magnum bottle. If you are considering trying this technique and have any question feel free to email me at [email protected], best of luck

Brew and Wine Supply · Jan 30, 2012

MattParkman said:
This is a technique of mine I have shared with very few people that I leave open to public use. I have developed a technique for making a bottle of wine using red berries and white wine that when ready to drink turns a light blush. First to start you need to have the wine bottle prepared. You actually grow the grapes in the bottle but the main problems with that are over heating of the bottle and moisture in the bottle.

This is how "Pear William" is made, where the pears are growen in the bottles then brandy is added after the fruit is picked.

AlFulchino · Jan 30, 2012

that is pretty cool!

GerardVineyard · Jan 30, 2012

having fruit in the bottle is neat to look at and then you realize that you paid for a whole bottle of liquor but the fruit displaces half of it ....

Brew and Wine Supply · Jan 30, 2012

the pear gives the brandy flavor and the brandy preserves the pear. after you pour some out you need to top off the bottle with more brandy to keep the pear from rotting.

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