Lemons to Lemonade

We've all heard the adage, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." But what if those lemons are grapes?

That was the situation that the Willowbrook community gardeners faced with their most recent vintage of Willlowbrook Community Garden wine. Because of scheduling complications among the members of the garden, the grapes were picked before they were fully ripe. In addition, there was too much fruit on the vines, which resulted in unevenly-developed grapes with under-developed flavors.

Fermenting Willowbrook Community Garden Wine

The resulting wine was thin and almost flavorless. But there was lots of it. It reminded me of the old Borscht Belt joke where two women are having lunch at a new, hyped Jewish deli. One complains about the food, to which the other adds, "And such small portions!"

The Willowbrook gardeners were looking at 132 bottles of wine, more than five times the previous vintage's yield. And yet, since the wine was nearly undrinkable, how could it be used for what it was intended, to raise critical funds for the Willowbrook Community Garden?

The answer: Turn it into vermouth!

Empty bottle of Willowbrook Vermouth

And what is vermouth? It's wine that has been aromatized with healthful botanicals derived from roots, barks, citrus peels, flowers, seeds, herbs and spices. It is a fortified wine, with tinctures of the above-listed aromatics using a neutral spirit. Its name comes from the German word for wormwood, an essential ingredient that you can find at your local winemaking- and brew-supply store.

The roots of vermouth go back to ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, where it was consumed as a tonic with health benefits. Its modern version was developed in Turin, Italy in the 1700s, where it was made primarily in a sweet, red version, and France where a dryer white version was developed in the early 1800s.

While it is used today primarily in higher-alcohol cocktails like Martinis, Manhattans and Negronis, drinking vermouth straight, or with a spritz, as an aperitif is gaining popularity, particularly in Europe, where it is appreciated for its complex flavors and lower alcohol compared to spirits.

Here is a recipe that I used:

VERMOUTH RECIPE

To one bottle of 2025 Willowbrook Community Garden Mission wine add small amounts of the following tinctures:

-          Wormwood

-          Chamomile

-          Rosemary

-          Cinnamon

-          Fennel

-          Lemon/Lime citrus peel

-          Parsley

-          Lemon grass

To make the tinctures, put each of these ingredients separately into small mason jars, add a little vodka or neutral brandy to each and put aside for three days.

After three days, pour one bottle of wine into an 800ml Mason jar, add small amounts of each tincture. Add Simple Syrup to balance the bitter. Stir it up. Drink chilled or over ice!

This method will also preserve the wine, once opened, for weeks or months, since it is now fortified with the alcohol from the tinctures.

If you don't have access to the 2025 vintage of Willowbrook Mission wine, which most of you won't, get yourself a bottle of inexpensive white wine at TJ's or wherever you shop. You can also make your own Simple Syrup to save on cost.

Good luck and drink responsibly!