going for the vin

What is this ruby-colored potion? Homemade vinegar. That's right, wine fans: Homemade vinegar is as flavorful and nuanced as the wine it's made from, and it keeps you from ever having to pour out the last remnants from an open wine bottle.

To make vinegar, all you need is water and wine, a container and a vinegar starter, creepily called a mother. You can buy these items in kits or individually online or at beer- and wine-making stores.

Once you pour the liquids into the container and put cheesecloth on top (so air gets in but bugs stay out), you just leave in a dark place and let mom work her magic. The first batch can take up to three months, but after that you just strain out what you need and pour in more wine and water as necessary, so the process goes more quickly.

Bottle your ruby goodness in clear jars for a unique gift, make a bold marinade, or mix with good olive oil, freshly ground pepper and sea salt for a simple, sensational salad dressing.

Comments

That is a GREAT idea. I can't tell you how many times we poured out the last fifth of a bottle of Cab because it sat around long enough that neither of us wanted to drink it any longer.

And imagine how cool it would be at a dinner party to tell your guests that you dressed the salad with homemade wine vinegar.

Way cool.

Good idea but I have never had enough "extra" wine lying around to do anything with other than to cure a hangover from the night before;) If I do tho, I will try this for sure!! Thanks for the idea!