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See also: How can I avoid mistaking the bite of a Zinfandel's pepper note for the zing of acidity? Wednesday, November 19, 2008 Are wines blended before or after they're fermented? Monday, November 17, 2008 Can I cook with "corked" or otherwise spoiled wine? Friday, November 14, 2008 What is "sobrematuration"? Wednesday, November 12, 2008 My new house's wine cellar is warmer than I thought it would be when I moved in. What should I do? Monday, November 10, 2008

Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, or "Vinny" for short. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the technical aspects of winemaking to the fine points of etiquette. I hope you find my answers educational and even amusing. Want to see more of them? Check out my archive. And here are my most Frequently Asked Questions.

Dear Dr. Vinny,

If wine is made of fermented grapes, has anyone ever substituted other fruits to make a wine-like beverage?

—M.T., Denver

Dear M.T.,

Absolutely. While legally the word "wine" refers to the stuff made from grapes, there's all kinds of other "wines" out there, made not only from every kind of fruit from cherries to pineapples, but also from flowers or herbs (remind me to tell you about the time I tried dandelion wine). Typically these fruit wines are sweet and meant to be consumed while still young.

—Dr. Vinny

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