Wine is typically made from fermented grape juice, however wine can technically be made from any fruit or vegetable with enough sugar content to ferment into alcohol. So is it possible to make a tasty carrot wine? Let’s explore the idea of using carrots to make wine and see if this unusual vegetable can produce a palatable beverage.
Can you make wine from carrots?
Yes, it is absolutely possible to make wine from carrots. While unconventional, carrots contain enough natural sugars that they can be fermented into alcohol. The process of making carrot wine is very similar to traditional grape wine. The key steps are:
- Chop and cook the carrots to extract the sugars
- Add yeast to start fermentation which converts sugars into alcohol
- Allow time for fermentation to finish
- Strain, filter and bottle the final carrot wine
With the right timing and technique, the natural sugars in carrots can be transformed into carrot wine.
What does carrot wine taste like?
The taste of carrot wine can vary quite a bit depending on the ingredients and methods used. Here are some general flavor notes:
- Sweetness – Carrot wines range from dry to sweet depending on fermentation time.
- Earthiness – Can have a soil-like, root vegetable taste.
- Vegetal flavors – Can taste stewed, roasted or slightly bitter like carrots.
- Fruitiness – Hint of fruity esters depending on yeast used.
- Savoriness – Can have a savory, umami taste.
- Heat – Spicy versions exist depending on spices added.
With its earthy, stewed and subtly sweet vegetable notes, carrot wine is often described as having a very distinctive flavor profile unlike any other wine. The flavor is polarizing – some find it intriguing while others don’t care for its unusual taste.
Carrot wine fermentation process
Here are the basic steps to make carrot wine at home:
- Wash, peel and chop carrots into small pieces.
- Simmer the carrots until very soft to extract the sugars.
- Optional – for added flavor, include spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves while cooking.
- Mash the cooked carrots into a pulp. Let cool to room temperature.
- Transfer mashed carrots to fermentation container, adding water as needed.
- Add wine yeast, nutrient and acid blend to fermentation container.
- Install airlock and allow the mixture to ferment 1-2 weeks until bubbling slows.
- When fermentation is complete, siphon carrot wine to secondary container.
- Optional – add supplemental sugar for a sweeter, higher alcohol wine.
- Let wine age/mature additional 4-12 weeks.
- Rack the wine to clean container, filtering out sediment.
- Bottle finished carrot wine. Let bottles age several months to improve flavor.
Key factors like choice of yeast strain, fermentation temperature and aging time can all affect the final flavor and quality of homemade carrot wine.
Carrot wine alcohol content
The potential alcohol percentage of carrot wine depends on:
- Sugar content of the carrots – Higher sugar means more potential alcohol.
- Added sugar – More fermentable sugar increases alcohol content.
- Yeast alcohol tolerance – Typical wine yeast can ferment to ~12-15% ABV.
- Fermentation time – Longer fermentation consumes more sugars into alcohol.
Most carrot wine ends up in the 10-13% ABV range. With extra sugar additions and high alcohol tolerant yeast, it’s possible to reach up to 15-17% ABV. However, too much alcohol can overwhelm the subtle flavors of the carrots.
History and origins
Wine has been made from all kinds of produce throughout history, but carrot wine specifically first emerged in England in the Middle Ages. Carrots were prized for their sweetness, lending to their use in wines and beers.
Some accounts suggest that in times of grape crop failures, carrots were used as an emergency wine-making substitute. Their widespread availability made them convenient for fermentation in a pinch. Queen Elizabeth I is said to have been fond of a particular spiced carrot wine.
The tradition of carrot wine making persisted in some rural English and Irish households well into the 20th century. The practice saw a minor revival in England during World War II when grain for beer making was restricted.
Today, carrot wine remains a novelty drink made in small batches by home winemakers and gardening enthusiasts. It receives attention as an unusually flavored fermented beverage.
Pairing carrot wine with food
Due to its vegetal, earthy flavor, carrot wine pairs well with dishes that highlight similar qualities. Here are some food pairing ideas:
| Food | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Root vegetable soups or stews | Accentuates the earthy flavors |
| Mushroom risottos | Matches the umami savoriness |
| Roasted chicken or turkey | Contrasts with subtle sweetness |
| Hard aged cheeses | Complements the complexity |
Sweet styles of carrot wine with some residual sugar can complement spicy dishes. Savory dry versions pair better with hearty meat entrees. Keeping the wine’s flavors in mind, creative food pairings can certainly be explored.
Where to buy commercial carrot wine
While still a niche product, it is possible to purchase commercially made carrot wine from some winemakers:
- St. Killian Importing Co. – English import company that offers a traditional carrot wine.
- Celebration Cellars – Oregon winery making carrot wine varietals like spiced, hopped and sweetened versions.
- Sherwood House Vineyards – New York winery with a carrot orange wine called Rabbit Duck.
- Homemade winemaking sites – Etsy, eBay or wine forums may have homemade carrot wines.
There are also recipes available online from winemakers detailing how to craft your own homemade carrot wine.
Is carrot wine worth making?
For curious wine aficionados or gardening enthusiasts, carrot wine can be an interesting novelty beverage to try making. Here are some pros and cons to consider:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
For the adventurous at-home winemaker, it can be fun to experiment with carrot wine. However, inconsistent results mean it tends to work better as a novelty hobby wine rather than a serious tasting wine.
Conclusion
While certainly unusual, wine made from carrots is absolutely possible to create. The earthy, vegetal flavors produce a truly distinctive tasting experience. Carrot wine is an intriguing fermented beverage with a fascinating historical tradition. For the curious winemaker, it can be an exciting experiment and conversation piece. However, the significant effort required and unpredictable results mean carrot wine remains a niche product. But for those looking to explore beyond classic grape varieties, carrot wine offers a literally novel tasting experience.