QUESTION: As we travel around the country, we always try to stop by a winery or two, if there are any in the area.
We’ve noticed that at some wineries, the wines are made out of fruit other than grapes.
Is this a common practice?
ANSWER: Quite common, particularly in areas where the climate is not conducive to winegrape growing.
In these (generally) colder climes, many vintners use hybrid grape varieties that have been developed with the climate in mind, and many instead use other fruits such as apples, pears, cherries and berries.
Another popular wine in colder climates is mead, made out of honey.