The girls and I are back at my parents' home visiting my Dad, sister, and our dear friend Heidi. We're busy working/playing in the clay and are having a grand ole' time. Yesterday as we sat around the table to devour our favorite thai food, we opened a bottle of homemade Merlot grape juice to celebrate our reunion. It is so unbelievably delicious! The best part about this juice is that there is no added sugar or preservatives. It's a great story how this juice came to be, so I thought I 'd share.
Last fall while visiting a friend, I noticed the vineyard next door was dripping with ripe grapes...I thought to myself, "Why haven't they been picked?!" It turned out that due to an early frost they were not suitable for winemaking, and were not going to be used.
Lucky me!
You see, I'm not a wine drinker. However, I am a juice fanatic...and when making grape juice, it is best to wait and pick the grapes after a frost.
I mustered up the courage to call the owner of the vineyard to see if I could pick them for juice making. She said yes! The only form of payment she wanted was some of the juice I was going to make.
My friend, September, came along with me. Do you recognize her neck? :) She's the neck model in many of the pictures for Pamela Susan. Here's one of my favorite shots of her. Once we arrived we learned these beautiful grapes were Merlot. Not only were they Merlot, but they were certified organic...even better!
I couldn't resist capturing a picture of the stream of sunlight shining in on the grapes... so pretty.
Here is the juicer I bought for only $4.99 at our local Goodwill!
The grapes are steaming away.
Gorgeous color.
60 quarts later I was one happy gal!
Merlot grape juice is BY FAR the most enjoyable fruit drink I've ever tasted.
It is so sweet that no additional sugar is needed!! If you ever have the opportunity to can some yourself this fall, you need to do it.
To learn more about canning, here is a great site.
I canned my juice a little different from the online sources I found--I didn't strain the grapes. I washed and de-stemmed them, then allowed the juicer to do the rest of the work. It's so easy! Please contact me if you have any questions about how I processed them.
Tomorrow I'll post pictures of the jelly that was made from this juice...so yummy!
Have a great day!
Oh that sounds delish! And how pretty is that shot with the sunlight catching the grapes! Lovely.
Posted by: Dionne C | March 03, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Oh man! I should have asked to try some before you moved! You'll have to save a can for when I finally get to visit! :)
Miss you!
Posted by: Summer | March 03, 2009 at 04:04 PM
I feel as if I know that neck so well!
I was lucky to partake of some of this juice--and partake, and partake. So amazingly good. But we haven't had the jelly yet, cause the jar is just too cute. :)
Posted by: Elissa | March 03, 2009 at 05:06 PM
It is so delicious. Thanks for sharing your experiences with all of us. I love your posts.
Posted by: Rebekah Gardiner | March 03, 2009 at 05:16 PM
Yummy!!!! I love grape juice...but, I also love wine! heheee
That looks like alot of fun and one heck of a deal!
So, pigs with no legs, eh? Cool.
How has your week been going?
;P
B
Posted by: Beth Perry | March 03, 2009 at 06:28 PM
That DOES sound delicious! Grapes are about my favorite food ever... so grapejuice... heaven. I'll have to try it someday if I can get my hands on enough Merlot grapes! Thanks for posting the link with instructions! And I loved the pic of the sun streaming in too.
Posted by: Sarah Stice | March 03, 2009 at 09:41 PM
That DOES sound delicious! Grapes are about my favorite food ever... so grapejuice... heaven. I'll have to try it someday if I can get my hands on enough Merlot grapes! Thanks for posting the link with instructions! And I loved the pic of the sun streaming in too.
Posted by: Sarah Stice | March 03, 2009 at 09:42 PM
I found you! i knew i wouldn't lose you! ;-)
i miss you so much in Medford, but i can see you are having a grand time up north.
Yummy! I love when my mom makes grape juice! You are an excellent photographer! great pictures!
Posted by: Brooklyn Gillespie | March 03, 2009 at 10:28 PM
say hi to Avery and Clara for me :-)
Posted by: Brooklyn Gillespie | March 03, 2009 at 10:34 PM
The health benefits of grape derived much of its nutrient components as another set of substances whose properties are studied in recent research
Posted by: dental health center | May 13, 2010 at 01:40 PM
Hehe, how about the owner? How many of those bottles did you give her? She was probably amazed with the result and asked you how to do it. Having a vineyard must be advantageous, when it comes to food and beverages DIYs. Good thing she was generous to share those Merlot grapes with you… Btw, did you give her some of the jellies you made from the juice afterwards?
Posted by: Rob Feckler | May 17, 2012 at 06:38 AM