I was never too fond of alcohol. Unlike other kids who had to wait till they were in high school and college to sneak a drink away from their parents, I had my first sip of whiskey from my Dad’s glass when I was barely 3.

My parents never believed in denying me alcohol as a result, I had tasted everything from vodka to rum from my dad’s glass. So I knew just how horrid it all tasted and was not in the least bit interested in it when I grew up.

At the same time being the only soft drink consumer can be troublesome as a teen trying to fit in to the peer group. That’s when home made wine came to my rescue. Wine was alcohol, and wine was sophisticated. Best of all home made wine was tasty and sweet.

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Here’s the simple recipe my aunt taught me:

• Take one kg grapes. Wash them well and take them off the stems. Now dry them in the sun for a day.
• Take the grapes in at night.  Squash them a bit with your hands and place them in a clean glass or food grade plastic jar.
• Now add one kg sugar to the jar. Close the lid of the jar and shake it nice and hard.
• Put the jar out in the sun for a while. Then hide it away in the back shelf of your cupboard.
• After a month take out the jar and taste the wine. If its still too sweet, stir it up and let it stay for another week.
• If it tastes fine, decant it into another dry glass or plastic bottle.

Serve with cheese or cake.

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