The Italians and fine wines are synonymous with each other. Wine-making is a tradition many millennia old in Italy and the Italians have mastered it like no one else. The process is well known with wine producers spending months cultivating the finest grapes. There are later carefully handpicked, pulped and processed to produce the most exquisite wines known to man.
While that is the process in most cases, there are a select few vintners that make wine in their unique ways. It does not involve sophisticated machinery or special fruit but rather the techniques they use to produce one-of-a-kind wines.
In this blog, we examine some of the most unique wines that are produced on the planet that titillate the tastebuds and fire the imagination.
Snake Wine
When you hear the word snake what first comes to your mind?
Slippery, slithery and scary are probably apt terms to describe them. The last thing that would pop into your mind is to grab it and make it into snake wine.
That is where the crazy genius (if you can call it that) lies behind the creation of snake wine. The title is self-explanatory and what you get is a bottle of aged wine with the carcass of a poisonous serpent as one of the ingredients of the wine.
If the thought about the poison of the snake worries you rightfully as it should, relax because the alcohol does its job of rendering the venom harmless making it perfectly fit for consumption. Although, considering the ingredients makes one reluctant to give it a try.
If having a complete reptile in your bottle of wine is not your kind of thing there is another alternative as well. Head over to Vietnam and try the snake bile wine which has more poison and less of the snake’s body.
Does not exactly sound too appetising does it…..
Avocado Wines
Avocados are known for their health benefits as any health enthusiast will vouch for, but avocado wine, really is that not pushing the envelope …
Yes, you read it right the first time as it is wine made from avocado instead of the usual grapes. It is unique, to say the least as the fruit is known for its health virtues more than its succulent sweetness.
The fruits are peeled and pitted before they are used for the winemaking process. At times for good measure coconut is added to the ingredients to add to the flavour. Avocado wine is available in dry and sweet flavours and considering the growing popularity of the fruit we do expect avocado wine to take off as well…
Rose Petal Wine
You will need to fly to good old blighty to sample this special wine.
Among the finest vintners in the UK, Lurgashall Winery has carved a niche for itself by creating unique wines from some incredible ingredients. They were also commissioned to create wine from rose petals.
The wine that was produced is described as having a wonderful aroma although it is quite dry in texture. As there was just a limited batch commissioned for the client do not expect to find any bottles for sale soon.
That does provoke the imagination that those that have tasted the flavour may interpret the fragrance of the flower in a whole different way.
Birch Sap Wine
While Ikea may be synonymous with Sweden, their winemakers are also making a name for themselves in the wine world by creating their special wines.
The key difference is unlike the wines on this list, birch sap wine is nothing novel to the business as it has been around since the mid-1700s.
Since the climate in Sweden is freezing and not conducive to a good grape harvest, the local winemakers decided to use put their ingenuity to good use. Voila! They experimented quite a bit and came up with birch sap wine.
In the wine season, you will find winemakers heading out to the countryside to find birch trees where they drain the sap to create the wine. Surprisingly the taste is pretty good although it is not in the same league as fine matured Italian vino.
Pumpkin Wine
Well, if avocado made the cut why should pumpkin not hop on the bandwagon? Yes, you read it right the first time we have pumpkin wine on the list as well.
If you love a spiced latte, spice it up (pun intended) with a bit of pumpkin to add that extra zing to the taste.
However, this is seasonal as you can only get to enjoy this cool wine option in the months of autumn. Buy a few extra bottles and keep those cold winter evenings at bay while remaining in high spirits!
Garlic Wine
Speaking of spirits and all things ghoulish, if you want to drive away all things evil get yourself a nice garland of garlic as the medieval Eastern Europeans used to do.
Though, you need not take it to the extreme and drive the neighbours crazy when you can instead enjoy a nice pungent variety of garlic wine. If you are looking for something that is the antithesis of regular grape wine for kicks, garlic wine is right up there at the top.
It is produced in California with four different varieties for discerning wine lovers.
However, you are probably best off not sampling this delight as wine connoisseurs have not left too flattering reviews of the stuff.
If you want to make not lose friends the next time you throw a soiree it is best to avoid this flavour of wine from the list of wines for the evening.
In summation
In this blog, we have explored some of the most unique wines out there in the world with each one of them shunning the tradition of classic wines we have come to know.
Rose petal wine though could be on the right track considering flowers and fruits have a special aromatic quality about them that could be explored to create great wines.
Garlic and snake wine defy imagination and it is like embracing the bizarre in the quest to create the ultimate wine that is a hit with wine lovers the world over. But then tastes do differ….
Who knows what is the next wine to shake up the world that could just be around the corner?
Rest assured you will not find any of these outlandish wines on our website. Instead, will find a classic collection of wines from all over the world that will leave you wanting for more….