Q: A few years ago you covered a question about vinegar mothers. Well I've got a new spin on the question.
My balsamic vinegar has grown a mother. Is there any way I can use it to make vinegar from wine? I know that balsamic is traditionally made from un-fermented pressed grapes carefully aged in barrels. That sounds too complicated to do at home, but I'd love to find some use for this mother.
Sent by Liz
Editor: Liz, it's certainly worth a try! Take a look at this How To post on making vinegar:
• How To Make Your Own Vinegar
Has anyone made vinegar using a mother from balsamic vinegar?
Related: How Can I Make Red Wine Vinegar at Home?
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I'm at a loss why it's called a mother. I read the linked post and I am still a little confused. Just a little strange to me since I've never heard of it! I'd be interested to hear about what you can do with it though.
Faith,
Interesting question. Don't pretend to know the answer. Wouldn't be surprised If the 'mother' organism was the same stuff an any vinegar and that balsamic 'mother' is the same critter as cider mother.
Yes! You can absolutely us it to make vinegar. Pour in your leftover wine (keeping red with red or white with white, of course) wait about 2 months, and voila! You should have some fairly decent tastig vinegar. Feel free to throw in fresh fruit, like raspberrys or peaches to give your vinegar a fruity flavor.
What is a "mother?"
Trish is pretty much spot on. The mother is a blob of organisms that can "give birth" to vinegar. I'm not an expert so it's hard to explain. lol
Yeah, it will probably work. But I've never had a homemade vinegar made with "leftover wine" that wasn't dreadful. I've had decent homemade vinegar made with a dedicated bottle of rather good wine but really, not cost effective. And we um, never have leftover wine.
The real question is why do you have leftover wine in the first place? ;)