"Noix de la St Jean is an aperitif made from red wine, alcohol, an infusion of crushed green walnuts and dried walnut husk, spices (cinnamon, cloves, mace, nutmeg), and sugar.
  
In French the word "apéritif" means: which whets the appetite.
  
Noix de la St Jean owes its name to the fact that the picking of green walnuts takes place on St Jean in June. Generically, “walnut wine” is not a wine, it does not ferment; it is a traditional aperitif obtained by maceration of green walnuts in wine and alcohol. These nuts were split then macerated in a mixture of wine, fruit alcohol (or rum) and sugar for 40 days.
  
 The nutty taste is enhanced by spicier notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
  
 Saint-Jean walnuts can also accompany melon as a starter, or be substituted for Porto or Banyuls on your chocolate or nut-based desserts."