Homebrewed Wine

When I was in college one of my old roommatespick it is important to follow the instructions and
used to like to brew his own beer. I alwaysmake sure that everything is thoroughly rinsed
enjoyed watching him concoct his creations in ourclean afterwards. There would be nothing worse
tiny apartment kitchen in Tallahassee and thenthan having to throw away your batch of wine
watch over the coming weeks the water andbecause it was tainted with bleach that didnt get
sludge mixture turn into something more; to turnrinsed out.
into a delicious tasting beer. I myself enjoy theIt is important to check the sugar levels of your
occasional bottle but never enough to make myjuice, and to double check the levels if using a
own.juice from concentrate. Using your hydrometer,
Wine however, is another story. Ive still yet tothe sugar level should be about 22 Brix. If for
make my own wine, and I am not entirely suresome reason the level is not around 22 Brix, the
why I have not attempted to. For first timers likelevel is quite simple. If the level is too high and
me, it make more sense to purchase a wineneeds to be lowered, it can be done by diluting
making kit from a supply store because thesewith water or juice. To bring the level up you can
kits have all the essential bits and pieces ofmake a sugar and water mixture should by boiling
equipment so you do not have to worry about1 cup of sugar with a third cup of water. Once
forgetting to buy something.this mixture is cool (do not add hot sugar to the
Before getting started it is important to makejuice) it can be slowly added until the proper levels
sure that you have everything you need.have been reached.
Whether you are buying a kit or buying all theUsing your acid titration kit you will be able to
pieces individually, make sure that you have theadjust the acid levels. This is very important
following:because red and white wines have certain acid
Large nylon straining baglevels, which are essential. A dry red wine for
Food-grade pail with lid (2 to 4 gallons)example should be between 6 and 7 grams per
Cheeseclothlitre while a dry white is between 6.5 and 7.5
Hydrometergrams per litre.
ThermometerOverall temperature of wine is also important and
Acid titration kitbeing able to adjust the temperature of your
Clear, flexible half-inch diameter plastic tubingjuice is something everyone needs to know how
Two one-gallon glass jugsto do. Fermentation for red and white wines vary,
Fermentation lock and bungthe average temperature for reds is usually
Five 750-ml wine bottlesaround 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit while whites
Corksfermentation is usually cooler around 55 to 65
Hand corkerdegrees. If you find that your wine needs to be
Once you have the equipment it is important toadjusted there are many methods that can be
pick your grapes. What grapes you use willused. If trying to cool your wine the best method
depend to a certain extent as to what is availableis to place a reusable ice pack from the freezer
in your area. Vitis vinifera is the classic choice for(if you dont have these ice cubes in a zippered
flavour and character. It is a famous Europeanlock plastic bag will do the trick) into the juice and
wine-grape family that includes varieties such asstir until the temperature is achieved. Take the
Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernetpack out and continue as before. Warming wine
Sauvignon. In the United States, to make a verycan be a little tricky. Some people like to take a
broad generalization, vitis vinifera grapes thrive insmall amount of juice and warm it in the
California and the Pacific Northwest. However,microwave before adding it back to the larger
they do also grow well in microclimates scatteredcontainer of juice while other people like to wrap
all over the country. Don't be discouraged if youthe juice bucket with an electric blanket. This
live in a colder area where you are less likely tosecond method takes longer but can yield a more
find them. There might be other hybrids whichaccurate temperature as it is easier to control the
grow near you, although if you are not sure yourwarmth. Either method will work so it is more a
best bet is to ask a local produce wholesaler ormatter of preference.
order some grapes from a wine making store.Transferring your wine from one container to
Once you have your grapes it is important toanother to separate the sediments is very
inspect them. Take a large handful or two ofimportant. Remember that the transfer container
grapes, squish them and strain the juice. Takeneeds to be sterilized! Using a siphon hose (your
your hydrometer and measure the sugar level ofclear tubing), slowly transfer the juice making sure
the juice. The level should be around 22 Brixto not to stir up the sediments and seal it with
which or 11 percent potential alcohol. The fruitthe bung and fermentation lock.
should taste sweet and ripe but also mildly tart.Bottling wine is similar to bottling beer. You fill your
Make sure the grapes you are going to use haveempty wine bottles with your wine, and use a
been thoroughly cleaned and all stems, leaves,hand corker to cork the bottle to seal it. This can
insects or other bits of debris have beenbe hard to do the first time so it is suggested
removed as this will ruin the flavour of thethat an empty bottle is practiced on first to get
finished wine.the hang of it. It is not important to purchase
It is important to mention at this point that it isbottles if you have empty wine bottles at home
not necessary to use fresh grapes, manyyou can sanitize and recycle those.
homebrew shops sell a grape concentrate thatA common myth is that homemade wine is not
you can use as well so do not get discouraged ifcapable of tasting as good as wine produced at a
you can not get the correct kind of grapes forwinery. The same methods are used to create
the wine you want to make, the concentrateswine at home as they are at wineries; the only
are available in many verities and some havedifference is the size of the batches being made.
sugar already added so you do not need toAlso dont be afraid that making wine from home
worry too much about fooling around with thecould cause you to go blind if it is not correctly
Brix.made; this is another fallacy that people often
Like beer brewing, it is extremely important tobelieve to be truth. The alcohol made by the
make sure that all pieces of equipment are cleanfermentation of sugar is ethyl alcohol not its
and sterilized. Clean everything with very hotdeadly cousin methyl (wood) alcohol.
water and boil anything that can be boiled. ThereAfter doing this research on making wine at
are a lot methods that can be used forhome, it appears that it is nowhere near as
sterilization, some people like to use a bleach anddifficult or dangerous as many make it out to be.
water mixture, others like to use a sterilizationPerhaps in the coming weeks I will put my wine
powder which can be purchased at your localmaking skills to practice and make my first batch
wine making store. Regardless of what option youof vin de Finnigan.