If the average person was asked to create an image in their head of how wine is made they will often close their eyes and create a vision of vineyards and majestic wineries. Now, while this is hardly an inaccurate depiction of how wine is made some individuals may envision a radically different image. In fact, they may close their eyes and think of their grandparents setting up a homemade wine making supply contraction in their basement and fermenting homegrown fruit to create some uniquely tasting wine. Yes, homemade wine making is also a cultural event that has survived for many years. Although it had lost popularity in prior decades thanks to the internet making home winemaking equipment easily available to the public this tradition is starting to gain popularity once again.

If you ever watch the documentary ITALIAN-AMERICAN you will notice that homemade wine was a tradition among the immigrants who came from Southern Italy and Sicily during the early part of the 20th Century. In this environment, making wine at home was more than just a means of having a source of something to drink it was a retention of a cultural identity that would otherwise have been left in their homeland. Of course, it would be inaccurate to insinuate that the Italian culture is the only culture that embodied this trait, but it became the most well known and associated with it. This is why it is celebrated at a variety of annual Italian festivals held throughout the United States.

So, if you would ever like to see an excellent display of home wine making and its influence on maintaining a cultural identity visiting one of these Italian festival expos would be a fine experience. In fact, you may even be able to pick up a great bottle of wine while you are there!