Retsina

I couldn't find a recipe, but I found some ideas which may help to make retsina or a wine similar...

Retsina is made using white or sometimes rosé wine and gets its distinctive taste from pine resin (sap from the Mediterranean Aleppo Pine tree). Apparently the Aleppo pine also grows in El Paso Texas in the US. I don't know whether it is harvested and sold by Greek-Texans or if you'd have to do it yourself! I don't know about the health angle of using sap from other pine trees.

Another idea which *might* provide a similar taste (I have no idea if it would) is to store the wine during maturation in a pine barrel or to make an infusion of pinewood or cut some pine staves and use them in your fermenter or bulk storage container.

It's an interesting idea - I'd be interested to hear if you come up with a 'solution' and how it tastes if you do :)

Jim

From my one and only, many years ago, tasting of Retsina, I figure you could use a blend of turpentine and vodka, diluted with distilled water to reach the appropriate alcohol level. Obviously, that's just my opinion as I've been led to believe that many people actually enjoy the stuff.

Ross.

Yeah, it's nasty stuff. I suppose you could pour some Pine-Sol into a batch, and approximate the taste of Retsina.

Retsina is the only booze I ever poured out, rather than chugged as a

Kirk

That turpentine makes me wonder if it mite be injurious to your health?

According to Wikipedia, i guess it can be:

"Another anecdote claims that an excess of undiluted retsina was lethal for King Eric I of Denmark and Sigurd I of Norway.[2]" from: