Wine making is an art form that will change the way you look at the world and the people in it. You and your talents will be fully integrated into each bottle of wine you make. Making homemade wine is a fun hobby, not to mention great tasting wines can be made for just pennies on the dollar. Many people assume wine making is a difficult process, however it's easier than most people think. Wine making is an age old tradition that people all over the world continue today. Making homemade wine can be summarized into six steps:
Step 1 - Sourcing Grapes: Wine making is simple and you can even make wine from frozen grape juice concentrate available at your grocery store. If you are more discerning, there are companies that sell juice for different grape varietals such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir to name a few.
Step 2 - Primary Fermentation: Pour grape juice into a wine making container, adding campden tablets, cover the container with a towel and let it sit overnight. Sulfur gas is created by the campden tablets that kills bacteria and eliminates any naturally occurring yeasts. Fermentation begins after adding your yeast. Allow the juice to ferment five to seven days. Fermentation should start quickly, typically within 24 to 48 hours. The juice should start foaming as the yeast converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas.
Step 3 - Secondary Fermentation: Once initial fermentation is complete (in five to seven days), siphon the wine into another container being careful to leave resulting sediments behind. Place an airlock on the container to keep your wine from oxidizing. Your wine will ferment an additional five to seven weeks until it is completely clear. Initially, fermentation will be active and you'll see consistent bubbling in the airlock as evidence. Be careful not to open the container prematurely since contamination is a real threat to your wine. Your patience will pay off.
Step 4 - Racking the Wine: During fermentation, sediments are created and settle to the bottom of your container. The sediment is made up of dead yeast cells and they need to be removed so they don't taint your wine. Racking is a process that removes this sediment. Be careful you don't over rack your wine since it can slow or halt fermentation and introduce oxygen, organisms or both that may also ruin your wine's flavor.
Step 5 - Bottling the Wine: Before readying your wine for bottling, one last racking is necessary to remove all trace sediments from the wine. Adding campden tablets will ensure any existing yeast and bacteria are eliminated. Now you're ready for the last step, bottling your wine. Keep in mind most traditional wine maker's prefer bottling their wine in traditional wine bottles and sealing them with corks, however one should note there are other alternatives out there.
Step 6 - Drinking Your Wine: Saving the best step for last, now we're ready to taste the fruits of your labor. Professional wine maker's keep a detailed journal noting what they did on each batch and the distinguishing characteristics that resulted to replicate or improve the next batch.
Making your own wine is a great hobby and can be lots of fun. Making homemade wine is a process that is perfected over time. It just takes a little patience and some trial and error before perfecting a certain taste and blend you like. There is nothing like the feeling of opening a bottle of wine knowing that you created something that equals or exceeds the quality of high-priced store bought wines.
Step 1 - Sourcing Grapes: Wine making is simple and you can even make wine from frozen grape juice concentrate available at your grocery store. If you are more discerning, there are companies that sell juice for different grape varietals such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir to name a few.
Step 2 - Primary Fermentation: Pour grape juice into a wine making container, adding campden tablets, cover the container with a towel and let it sit overnight. Sulfur gas is created by the campden tablets that kills bacteria and eliminates any naturally occurring yeasts. Fermentation begins after adding your yeast. Allow the juice to ferment five to seven days. Fermentation should start quickly, typically within 24 to 48 hours. The juice should start foaming as the yeast converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas.
Step 3 - Secondary Fermentation: Once initial fermentation is complete (in five to seven days), siphon the wine into another container being careful to leave resulting sediments behind. Place an airlock on the container to keep your wine from oxidizing. Your wine will ferment an additional five to seven weeks until it is completely clear. Initially, fermentation will be active and you'll see consistent bubbling in the airlock as evidence. Be careful not to open the container prematurely since contamination is a real threat to your wine. Your patience will pay off.
Step 4 - Racking the Wine: During fermentation, sediments are created and settle to the bottom of your container. The sediment is made up of dead yeast cells and they need to be removed so they don't taint your wine. Racking is a process that removes this sediment. Be careful you don't over rack your wine since it can slow or halt fermentation and introduce oxygen, organisms or both that may also ruin your wine's flavor.
Step 5 - Bottling the Wine: Before readying your wine for bottling, one last racking is necessary to remove all trace sediments from the wine. Adding campden tablets will ensure any existing yeast and bacteria are eliminated. Now you're ready for the last step, bottling your wine. Keep in mind most traditional wine maker's prefer bottling their wine in traditional wine bottles and sealing them with corks, however one should note there are other alternatives out there.
Step 6 - Drinking Your Wine: Saving the best step for last, now we're ready to taste the fruits of your labor. Professional wine maker's keep a detailed journal noting what they did on each batch and the distinguishing characteristics that resulted to replicate or improve the next batch.
Making your own wine is a great hobby and can be lots of fun. Making homemade wine is a process that is perfected over time. It just takes a little patience and some trial and error before perfecting a certain taste and blend you like. There is nothing like the feeling of opening a bottle of wine knowing that you created something that equals or exceeds the quality of high-priced store bought wines.
About the Author:
Bob Lystra is a wine lover who's been making his own wine at home for many years. He has found a practical guide to make your own wine easily from home. Visit Bob's site at www.winefromhome.com to discover where he learned to make homemade wine.
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