Want homemade wine for Christmas? Your December deadline starts now

Christmas is less than two months away, and if homemade wine is on your festive menu, it's time to get brewing! From the traditional ruby-red grape wine to lighter green grape and tropical pineapple varieties, homemade wines need time to ferment, settle and develop their flavours. Starting early can make all the difference to what you pour into your glasses on Christmas Day.

But how early should you start? The answer depends on the fruit you choose and the recipe you follow. Some varieties need around 40 days, while others require close to two months before they are ready to serve.

How much time does each homemade wine need?

If you are planning to make wine for Christmas, here is an approximate timeline for some popular varieties. These durations are based on commonly followed recipes and can vary depending on the method, ingredients and fermentation conditions.

1. Red grape wine: Around 55 days

The traditional red grape wine, often called munthiri wine in Kerala households, is a Christmas favourite. Recipes using black or red grapes generally require around 25 days of initial fermentation. After straining, the wine is left undisturbed for at least another 30 days to allow the sediments to settle and the flavours to develop.

That makes it a process of approximately 55 days. If you want to serve it on December 25, start immediately.

2. Green grape wine: Around 39 days
Green grape wine is a lighter-coloured alternative to the traditional red variety. In one commonly used recipe, the grapes are prepared and fermented for around 25 days. The mixture is then strained and left undisturbed for another two weeks to mature and clear.

Allow approximately 39 days in total. This makes it a suitable option for those starting their Christmas wine preparations in November.

3. Pineapple wine: Around 42 days

Pineapple wine brings a fruity, tropical flavour to the Christmas spread. A Kerala Agricultural University recipe uses pineapple, sugar, water and yeast. The mixture is fermented for around 20 to 21 days, after which it is filtered and left undisturbed for another 21 days.

The total preparation time is approximately 42 days.

4. Other fruit wines: Allow around 40–60 days

You can experiment with several other fruits, including beetroot, apple, pomegranate and banana. Their fermentation periods differ according to the recipe. As a general planning guide, keep around 40–60 days available for fermentation, clarification and resting. Always follow the specific recipe rather than assuming all fruit wines take the same time.

A note on Kerala's liquor rules

Before starting, it is worth being aware of Kerala's Abkari Act and the rules governing alcoholic beverages.

The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) lists 3.5 litres as the permissible quantity of wine that an individual can possess and carry. This is a possession limit and should not be confused with permission to manufacture wine at home.

Under Section 12 of the Kerala Abkari Act, manufacture of liquor generally requires a licence, subject to provisions for bona fide home consumption. There have been differing public clarifications and reports about homemade wine for private use. The Excise Department has particularly warned against the unlicensed manufacture and sale of homemade wine. Selling it without the required licence is punishable under the Act. Anyone planning to make or distribute alcoholic wine should check the current requirements with the local Excise Department.

Get your Christmas wine brewing!

With Christmas approaching, now is a good time to choose your favourite fruit and plan your preparation. Remember to use clean, sanitised equipment, allow fermentation to finish completely and never bottle actively fermenting wine in tightly sealed containers, as gas pressure can cause bottles to burst.

Want to try making wine at home but unsure which recipe to follow? Onmanorama Food & Travel will be bringing you three easy homemade wine recipes this week. From traditional grape wine to fruity alternatives, these recipes will help you prepare for the festive season.

Subscribe to the Onmanorama Food & Travel YouTube channel and stay tuned for the upcoming recipes.