Army Worm Wine
Ray Reigstad of Duluth, Minn. is the producer and bottler (but not, unfortunately, seller) of Army Worm Wine, which he distills from fermented forest tent caterpillars of the species Malacosoma disstria. Reigstad explains the process of straining, fermenting, and aging his brew in his online manifesto. “It’s a white wine; I’d say it would go really good with walleye or any seafood, but especially a freshwater fish,” he says. From a review of Army Worm Wine in the Duluth News Tribune:
Reigstad got the idea for army worm wine last year from a co-worker who told him that his grandfather used to make it. That got Reigstad thinking about how it could be done since wine is typically made from a fruit or flower.
“Army worms eat leaves,” he reasoned. “So essentially they’re a combination of fruit and flowers.”
[Acknowledgements to Museum of Hoaxes, though this is not a hoax]
September 6th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
For some reason, walleye isn’t the first fish I think of when I think of wine.
/Although, your results may vary, especially if you live in Duluth.
September 6th, 2006 at 11:13 pm
When I read this article, I can’t say that the fish choice was the first thing that put me off.
It’s amazing that he was able to make pretty good wine out of caterpillars, though.
September 7th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Just looking at the guy, I’m thinking that it might NOT be all that great of a wine. He has the look of somebody who would drink turpentine.
September 8th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
That sounds so disgusting. I wasn’t thinking, “hmm what could I eat with this wine?” . I was thinking, “why would anyone want to drink worm juice?” .
September 19th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
Something tells me it’s not the first time that guy has been photographed with a bottle in each hand.
May 29th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Why not? If there’s enough sugar in it it’ll make wine. Not too many folks complain about the “bug” influence in mead. Honey goes through bees. In Mongolia they drink fermented mares milk.