Archive · 16 Nov 2025
Kolkata Families Brew Homemade Grape and Ginger Wine for Christmas
Imagine Christmas is coming, and some people in a city called Kolkata love to make their own special drinks.
They make two kinds of homemade wine: one with grapes and one with ginger.
It's like baking a special cake, but for drinks!
People start making it early, sometimes needing about three weeks to finish.
Some families have made these drinks for a very long time, learning from their grandmas and aunts.
They use things like grapes, ginger, sugar, and spices.
It's a fun way to get ready for the holidays and share a taste of tradition with friends and family.
Kolkata residents begin preparing homemade grape and ginger wine for the Christmas season.
The tradition is particularly strong in Christian families, especially in areas like Bow Barracks.
Winemaking is viewed as a ritual that combines tradition, taste, and the spirit of giving.
Recipes for both red grape wine and ginger wine typically take 21 days to prepare.
Key ingredients for ginger wine include sugar, water, ginger, chillies, cardamom, plums, and lemon juice, while grape wine uses grapes, water, whole wheat, cinnamon, cloves, and sugar.
- Who
- Kolkata residents, particularly Christian families and individuals continuing family traditions.
- What
- The tradition of making homemade grape and ginger wine for the Christmas season.
- When
- Starting in the lead-up to Christmas, with preparation taking 21 days.
- Where
- Kolkata, with a specific mention of Bow Barracks.
- Why
- To enjoy during the festive season, for personal consumption, as gifts, and to uphold family traditions.
Traditional Winemaking
Modern Adaptations
Recipe Source
Traditional Winemaking
Recipes passed down through generations within families.
Modern Adaptations
Recipes shared via digital platforms like WhatsApp.
Scale of Production
Traditional Winemaking
Primarily for personal consumption or gifting.
Modern Adaptations
Some households prepare small batches for sale.
- Ginger Wine Preparation Time
- 21 days
- Grape Wine Preparation Time
- 21 days
- Key Ginger Wine Ingredients
- Sugar, Water, Ginger, Red dry chillies, Cardamom, Plums, Lemon juice, Caramelised sugar
- Key Grape Wine Ingredients
- Black or purple grapes, Boiled and cooled water, Whole wheat, Cinnamon sticks, Cloves, Sugar
- Location Highlighted
- Bow Barracks, Kolkata