I grew up in an Italian neighborhood and my uncles and the neighborhood boys would make wine every fall. They used the old country method. I learned from them. I took up winemaking as a hobby later on and used more modern methods. I made a lot of "Hard Cider" for friends. I would cook up 20 gals at a pop. Using cultured yeast you can get 14% alcohol. The usual NY apple varieties are really good for eating, but in Europe they use a special varieties for making Apple Wine, so you get a better taste. If you decide to make your own. Apple Cider unlike Grape wine does not age well, you need to drink it within 30 days for full flavor. If you would like to try to make some, I can give you some tips. It will smell a bit like apple, but it tastes like white wine.
