Ginger Wine Spritzer and Sweet Ginger Wine
This refreshing spritzer is made with homemade sweet ginger wine. Ginger wine is popular amongst Indian Christian communities during the festive season. It is usually served along with plum cake and other traditional Christmas sweets. If you’ve always wanted to attempt making simple (fruit/root) wine at home, this is a good starting point. It is easy to make and has a brief four-day fermentation period. Ginger wine has a very low alcohol content and is mildy aerated. My version is not as cloyingly sweet as the traditional variants. Made with a blend of warming spices, it makes you feel suitably snug on the inside. Enjoy it plain as a digestif or mix it with some chilled club soda for a refreshing beverage. You could even spike it with some brandy or bourbon if you’re feeling extra festive (hic!).
Recipes
Sweet Ginger Wine
(Makes 750 ml)
Ingredients
100 gms fresh ginger, peeled and cut into chunks
1 liter drinking water
300 gms sugar
2” stick cinnamon
5 black peppercorns
2 dried red chillies, broken in half
4 cloves
1 small piece star anise
1 tsp freshly grated orange zest
1 tsp citric acid crystals
1/4 tsp instant/active dried yeast*
Method
Coarsely pound the ginger in a pestle and mortar. Transfer it to a large, heavy-based saucepan along with the water, sugar, whole spices and orange zest.
Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat. Once it boils, lower the heat and simmer the syrup for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and cover the saucepan with a wire mesh. Let the ginger syrup cool to room temperature.
Once cool, add the citric acid and yeast and stir well to dissolve. Strain the syrup through a cheesecloth-lined strainer and store it in a clean, dry, non-reactive (glass/ceramic) container (make sure to leave at least 2” of breathing room on top). Cover the container tightly with two layers of plastic wrap secured with a large rubber band and set aside in a dark, dry corner of your kitchen for four days.
On the fourth day, remove the plastic wrap. You should see some mild aeration in the wine. Transfer the ginger wine into a sterilized glass bottle and store refrigerated for up to two weeks (some sediment will settle at the bottom of the bottle - that is normal). Enjoy a small amount as a digestif before or after a meal.
*Since this is a small batch of homemade wine, commercial yeast is not required. Instant or active dried yeast (commonly used for bread making) is sufficient to convert the sugar in the ginger syrup into alcohol and carbon dioxide during the fermentation process.
Ginger Wine Spritzer
(Makes 1 serving)
Ingredients
3/4 cup sweet ginger wine
1/4 cup club soda, chilled
Ice cubes
Method
Combine the ginger wine and club soda in a cocktail glass. Top with ice and enjoy!
