Vinyards, Wines and other such things...

[Arravis]

My character is an Avariel elf who's family runs a small vineyard. Since the avery he's from is in a VERY cold region, high in the mountains, I'm assuming it would be some kind of unusual, perhaps even mildly magical, grape.

Anyway... I know nothing about wines myself (I don't even drink alcohol). I've gone online and started to research home-made wines to try to educate myself on the process (since I assume large-scale methods wouldn't give me any real insight on how it would be created via a middle-ages tech level), but there is so much technical information it's overwhelming. Anyone have any advice, know of good websites, hints, general info, etc on this?

Additionally, I'm trying to find some odd and exotic bottle designs but I'm having no luck. there just seems to be only the old standards and that's it. Thanks .

 

[Azure Trance]

Desmond Reids "D&D Guide To Alcohol"

It's huge.

 

[Enkhidu]

Try also this site.

 

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

It would have to be some kind of magical grape. Normal grapes can't survive in the type of environment you're talking about. So that gives you a great deal of freedom. You have more room to make stuff up because this wouldn't be an "authentic" vinyard to begin with.

 

[Arravis]

True, Biggus, but I suspect the overall process of fermintation and such, wouldn't be that much different.

I know they do make wines out of frozen grapes, but all I know of them is that they tend to be very sweet.

Anyone think that Wine Tasting would be a skill on its own?

 

[dave_o]

Y'know, wine doesn't HAVE to be made out of grapes! Try things that would survive in a cold region. Maybe, like, a pine-based wine? Or a wine based on a local flower?

It might be an aquired taste, but, hey! It's unique.

 

[Arravis]

Really? I had no idea... I knew you could add all kinds of other ingredients to the grapes, but I didn't know you didn't have to use them. What kinds of other things ferment and make alcohol? I know potato's do (though they don't grow in that climate).

 

[Gregor]

Perhaps the grapes dont have to be magical but the vinyard is? That way you can grow your grapes in any environment.

Also for roleplaying fun, maybe you can do it country Italian style, where the village all comes together to harvest your vinyard, celebrate, eat, drink, hear bards and stomp the grapes in big vats?

Cheers,

 

[Arravis]

Yeah, that's what I was imagining. My original idea was a hanging-gardens style vineyard of grapes that only grow in cold weather. I was thinking they only thaw out for a few weeks a year and they are harvested at the very first frost after the thaw. Not sure how realistic or practical that is though...

 

[Oghma]

Try this link for a discussion of icewine from canada, made from grapes frozen on the vine. Hope it helps!

--Oghma