05-04-2008, 05:42 AM
The Finest Wine of the South
By Vintner Ra'roshva (edited, and published by the University of Gwylim Press)
The Finest Wine of the South, is not actually a wine at all, instead it is fermented Sugar-cane rice (which is not to be confused with Skooma; which is concentrated Moon Sugar. Moon Sugar being made from the dried stalk of the Sugar-cane). In Ta'agra we Khajiit call it Fermea, though Imperial's and others who speak Cyrodiilic call it 'Rice Wine', and one of the only products made from the Sugar Cane that is Legal in other parts of the Empire (though it does cause mild affects similar to those acheived by eating Moon Sugar when consumed, however the alcohol in the Wine is stronger so the affects like that of Moon Sugar are less noticable).
The production of the Fermea is similar to that of other alcholic beverages; once the Sugar Cane Rice is harvested, it is grinded up to remove the outer shell (which is sifted out of the mixture to improve th quality of Wine, though in lesser brews it is often left in), the dry powder is then put into a large mixing vat, together with yeast (which is Imported from Colovia and Hammerfell) and water. Everything is mixed around in the vat, and then is covered and left to sit for a few days to allow for the yeast to start producing gas.
After three-or-so-days the brew is mixed again, and then transfered to a Valenwood-Wooden Barrel (which are rather steep in price, due to the Green Pact making Lumber exports from Valenwood expensive, but give the Wine a far better taste. Cheaply barreled wines may use Chorrol Oak, or a Mixed Lumber from the Tenmar Forest, which can often sour wines, and in the case of Tenmar Forest lumber can introduce foreign pollens to the brew, which can ferment the Wine horibly, ruining entire batches). The Barrel is then stored in a cellar for atleast a year (though is the Wine is better with a longer age).
Fermea is often broken out during celebrations, and is a tradtional drink of the Khajitt (especially though of Torval). Every year the Mane grants his Seal of approval to his favourite Vintner of that year, who gets to wear a braid of the Mane's own hair, one of the highest honours a Khajiit may attain. Even many of the Cyrodiilic Emperors have aquired a taste for our wines, and each year a good amount of barrels are exported to the Imperial City for Imperial Court events, such as the annual Ball.
This one leave's his reader with this;
Pour out the wine without restraint or stay,
Pour not by cups, but by the bellyful,
Pour out to all that wull.
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Is based on the Arena quote about Torval having 'The Finest Wine of the South'.
Quote is from Edmund Spenser (some dude from 1500's), and it is meant to be wull
I tried to make it sound 'correct' in terms of actual brewing, though from an actual Vintner's perspective it would all probably be very wrong lol