The reviewer gave this recipe 1 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Nov. 11, 2009
I have tried this method twice and both times my grape mash has grown mold before the fermentation process. I don't know what to do, I really want this to work, I'm so disapointed.
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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: May 30, 2009
The wild grape starter was much more active for me than store-boughten yeast starter. I dumped my store-boughten yeast starter and use this one exclusively.
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Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Boise, Idaho, USA

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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Mar. 25, 2009
This recipe worked great! Took a bit longer in my cold kitchen & I used non-organic grapes since organic were not available, but the result works perfectly. Thanks very much!
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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Nov. 25, 2008
It works, OMG! Would have never guessed it would be so easy to create your own starter. I have no domestic grapes in yard, so I went in woods and picked some wild fox grapes that the critters hadn't gotten to yet. Only could pick 1/2lb, as the individual grapes are the size of peas and there weren't that many. So I Cut all ingredients in half until I built it up. It hasn't reached and intense level of activity yet, but I will babysit it for a while and see. In the meantime, I'll just add extra yeast to recipes. Bread tastes great though!
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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Oct. 28, 2008
I think this is great! My grape mash started molding at day 3. I decided to just scrape the top moldy stuff off and let it set another day. I then strained it and mix in the flour. It worked great. Now it is time to start making the bread. Thanks for the recipe.
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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Sep. 24, 2008
I looove how sour this starter is. Someone else said it's comparable to San Fran sourdough and I agree. Super duper sour! When it comes to starter/other wet ingredients ratio in a recipe I think you probably want to go 1:1 or even 1/2 to 1. I made a loaf of bread a couple days ago using only starter (no yeast) and it was so sour I could barely eat it! I should've made a bigger batch and added additional water or milk...
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Cooking Level: Intermediate

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The reviewer gave this recipe 1 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Aug. 25, 2008
My grapes started to mold on day three. I don't know why, but I would appreciated suggestions:)
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Cooking Level: Intermediate

Living In: San Martin, California, USA

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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
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Reviewed: Jun. 16, 2008
Update again: I never got to make a bread with this. We went on vacation, and then hubby had surgery so when I got back to it, it was still sitting on the counter and it smelled like a VERY strong beer! I wasn't sure if I should use it, so I ended up throwing it out. I will try again at some point, it seemed to really bubble, very yeast-y! Upate: Bubbling nicely! (see posted pic) after 3 days. Original review: Mashed the grapes for fermentation 6-16-08, will update and take pics/ progress. I am experimenting with bread making that does not use the traditional yeast, I am also trying to make Salt Rising Bread (recipe also on this site). I am interested to see which one turns out the best...(:
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Cooking Level: Expert

The reviewer gave this recipe 1 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Oct. 23, 2007
Attempted this with horrible results. The day I added the wheat flour, my starter spilled all over the table. May try again some day.
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Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Wellsburg, New York, USA
Living In: Addison, New York, USA

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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Sep. 17, 2007
I am on day seven and getting worried that it wont turn out! It seems such a weird way to make sourdough starter! But, I have my fingers crossed and a tasty sourdough biscuit recipe all ready to be used on day nine! UPDATE: Well, my fears were unfounded. It is now about three weeks later and I have used the starter to make pitas, rolls and bread. I wasn't sure about the amounts to feed the starter, so I just guesstimated and added equal amounts of flour and water each time. The consistency is viscous and the smell is very sour. I use a cup of starter, mixed with milk and flour and put it in the oven overnight and the next morning I mix up pitas, rolls, whatever and it works every time.
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Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Los Angeles, California, USA
Living In: Vancouver, Washington, USA

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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Jul. 12, 2007
Talk about quick! I am only at step 2 and have already watched the flour mixture rise rapidly in the first couple of hours. I did forget the grape mush til day 4 however. Can already smell the pleasant sour smell.
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Cooking Level: Intermediate

Living In: Denver, Colorado, USA

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The reviewer gave this recipe 1 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Jun. 11, 2007
I don't know what I did wrong, but my grape juice mush started growing mold by the third day at room temperaturen and I had to throw it out. If you know how to avoid this, the reviews sound great, but watch out.
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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Dec. 9, 2005
This worked great. I did it in late fall, and the temperatures in my kitchen were pretty cold, so I let it sit an extra day. It is bubbly and active now, about a month after I started it. Two cups of starter will raise two loaves of 100% whole wheat bread right over the tops of the pans! It has taken this long to develop the sour flavor--it was only mildly sour at first. A long, slow, cool-temp rise will make your bread more sour. Also, the bread becomes more sour as time goes by--on the second or third day it's pretty sour!
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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Oct. 17, 2005
This starter was not good after the first week, but now that I have kept it for 6 weeks, it works and tastes great! I live 30 miles from San Francisco, so that may have alot to do with the wonderful sour flavor. Thanks!
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Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Pittsburg, California, USA
Living In: Concord, California, USA

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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Feb. 5, 2004
This recipe produced a vital and active sourdough starter without any added commercial yeast. I use it at least once a week to keep it fresh and ready to go. It will raise a beautful loaf all by itself. (Be sure to give it extra time.) I always replenish it with whole wheat flour and water and let it sit out of the refrigerator until it is good and bubbly. Then I refrigerate it until I'm ready to use it again. It makes absolutely heavenly waffles and biscuits. The waffles alone are worth making this starter. The instructions say to discard the dough during the initial fermentation process. I didn't, but used it in breads and quick breads with good results. The fermentation process was faster than I expected. Maybe the temperature was warm here. Also I started with grapes a bit on the old side. I think they had alreay started to ferment.
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Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Whittier, California, USA

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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Nov. 30, 2003
This is great!!!! I just started baking bread and this starter was just what I was looking for to make my bread unique. Has a great tangy flavor and friends always want to know where I bought the bread. It is my little secret.
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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Jul. 28, 2002
Most of the starter recipes you're likely to find either _cheat_, by using commercial yeast to kick start the process, or are- quite honestly- too fragile in their early stages. In the former case, you create a colony of whatever strain of commercial yeast that you used. Which sort of negates the point of _making_ your own starter; using home grown yeast. In the latter case, you all too frequently end up with a smelly paste that is _definately_ not starter. I know this to be fact, as I've tried, made and discarded many substandard batches of starter in my career. _This_ recipe, on the other hand, works perfectly, rapidly and dependably. It creates a batch of wild yeast- soon enough enfluenced by whatever yeast are floating around in your area- and creates a powerful starter. Powerful enough that no additional yeast is needed to leaven any recipe. (My advice to substitute this starter for packaged yeast in any bread recipe- leave out a cup of flour, add a cup of the starter. Add more flour, if needed, to get proper texture.) Readers might be interested to know that this starter also well replicates the artisinal starters used in high end commercial recipes. Meaning that- quite often- I have seen professional bakers scrape together all manner of thin skinned fruit, let it sit for a few days and use the fermented juice as a starter basis. I really like this starter. In fact, I've just pulled a batch of it from stasis in the fridge- make certain to pour o
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Cooking Level: Professional

Living In: Omaha, Nebraska, USA

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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Nov. 25, 2000
I used wine grapes from a local vineyard. This makes a very fast "sourdough" starter, with a less sour flavor than my regular sourdough. It has worked in all my favorite sourdough recipes that I have tried it in. If you live in a dry climate, as I do, start it in a large jar, instead of a bowl, to reduce the surface area for evaporation of juice.
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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Oct. 13, 2000
I used store-bought red grapes with good luck. The flavor is truly San Francisco sourdough.
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The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.2 star rating.
Reviewed: Sep. 2, 2000
I was glad to find this recipe, as I had only read references to this starter. It resulted in a nice tangy starter and was interesting to make
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