Winemaking with kids around

[Anonymous]

DH and I have made wine as a hobby for a few years now, and DD (11) is getting curious and wants to help. We haven't let her, but my parents tents are horrified we'd even consider it. So, DCUM, assuming she doesn't drink it, are there moral, legal, or ethical issues here?

[Anonymous]

I’d let her help and consider it a science experiment. If you let her try a sip, she’ll probably find it disgusting. Might work out well.

[Anonymous]

Don't know about legal, otherwise, no issues for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d let her help and consider it a science experiment. If you let her try a sip, she’ll probably find it disgusting. Might work out well.

This is exactly her reason for wanting to help.

[Anonymous]

Why do your parents know or care? Do they live with you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do your parents know or care? Do they live with you?

DD complained to them.

[Anonymous]

What do they think winemaker families do, exactly?

I'm French and our relatives own a vineyard. Either you're a distant owner, you pay a manager and your kids don't necessarily get involved, or it's the family business, learned at a young age and passed down the generations.

There's no moral question here. Obviously your kid isn't going to become an alcoholic just because they're engaged in the process. Use best practices against CO2 build-up, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What do they think winemaker families do, exactly?

I'm French and our relatives own a vineyard. Either you're a distant owner, you pay a manager and your kids don't necessarily get involved, or it's the family business, learned at a young age and passed down the generations.

There's no moral question here. Obviously your kid isn't going to become an alcoholic just because they're engaged in the process. Use best practices against CO2 build-up, of course.

I assume OP is talking about home winemaking. Garagiste, not a winery owner.

[Anonymous]

Your parents are wrong. There is absolutely no reason for her not to be able to help with this.
We have good friends who make wine and their kids have been involved in the process since they were old enough to help.
The kids are now off to college and are as nerdy as their parents.

[Anonymous]

Your parents are dumb.

[Anonymous]

My father made wine as a hobby for a while. I don’t remember all of our ages but he definitely showed us what he was doing. I remember thinking it was interesting then thinking it was a lot of work. It was all about the process, not about drinking alcohol. I don’t even like wine as an adult. I probably tried some but don’t even remember this being a big part of it.

[Anonymous]

It’s cooking and science. Nbd. Even a tiny taste now & then isn’t going to hurt.

[Anonymous]

My mother made hard cider pretty regularly when I was growing up. I thought it was tremendous fun (science! bubbles! siphoning!) and hated the resulting beverage. Let your daughter help!

[Anonymous]

Awesome, thank you! We're starting a batch this weekend, and she'll be thrilled.

[Anonymous]

The grandparents are wrong.

I’d also let her taste it, personally, at 11. Just taste at appropriate times in the process. But we don’t have a family history of alcoholism.