| Up until a few weeks ago, I thought I knew quite | | | | necessarily needed for the person that makes |
| a bit about home winemaking. I've been making a | | | | one or two batches of wine from kits per year, it |
| variety of wines for years - both from kits and | | | | can be helpful to better understand the process |
| from "scratch." I've discussed the subject of | | | | and what might improve their wines. |
| making wines at home with others who have | | | | Many experience problems with the clarification |
| plenty of experience, learned from them and | | | | process, and will benefit from Chapter 5 which |
| learned quite a bit on my own. | | | | has over 25 pages which discuss clarification and |
| What happened three weeks ago? Daniel | | | | filtering methods and includes a very helpful |
| Pambianchi's book, Techniques in Home | | | | description of the various additives that can be |
| Winemaking: The Comprehensive Guide to Making | | | | used, the pros and cons of each, and what they |
| Chateau-Style Wines published by Vehicule Press | | | | actually do. |
| (Montreal) in 2008 arrived at my door. When I | | | | Thinking about purchasing some oak barrels to |
| opened it up in the evening, I began reading and | | | | age your wine? Turn to Chapter 8 where you will |
| didn't stop until about 2AM. I devoured the first | | | | find a comprehensive guide on barrels, types of |
| 149 pages before fatigue set in and even though | | | | oak, storage and maintenance of barrels, and |
| I wanted to keep reading, I needed to sleep. | | | | much more! Presently, I don't have the space at |
| Over the course of the next couple of weeks, I | | | | home to consider using oak barrels, but someday |
| picked up Pambianchi's book and read every day. | | | | when I do, I will be re-reading and studying this |
| And every day, I learned something new and | | | | chapter in detail. |
| useful. This book is complete with information | | | | One very helpful chapter is on diagnosing |
| about every aspect of the craft and is suitable | | | | problems with wine, and goes through a number |
| for anyone who makes wine, whether they begin | | | | of common complaints and possible solutions to |
| with grapes, juices, kits, or other fruit. Although it | | | | rectify or fix the problem. |
| focuses primarily on grape wines, the knowledge | | | | The author has provided many useful charts on a |
| inside can be applied to those made of other | | | | variety of subjects, including listing major grape |
| ingredients such as fruit. Of course, amateurs and | | | | varieties from California, and their characteristics, |
| professionals who primarily make chateau-style | | | | and his own quality ratings. The diagrams and |
| wines will especially benefit from this work. | | | | images throughout the book are helpful in |
| The book opens with an Introduction that covers | | | | explaining the various subjects that the author is |
| the basics and even includes information on grape | | | | discussing. |
| identification. From there, it gets into much | | | | As well as full coverage of the process to make |
| greater detail with chapters on equipment, | | | | wine, there are individual chapters devoted to |
| sanitation methods, analysis and the many | | | | making Pinot Noir, Sparkling Wine and Ice Wine. |
| different techniques that can be used in making | | | | For those who enjoy making these types of |
| wine. Many of these techniques may not be | | | | wines, these chapters are a must read. |
| suitable for all, but knowing about them can be | | | | In short, this book is the definitive guide to home |
| very helpful in creating wines. | | | | winemaking for both the novice and those in the |
| There is much detail about various equipment and | | | | art of fermentation. It should be on the desk of |
| testing tools that are available and how they | | | | every person that has a passion for turning juice |
| should be used and interpreted. Pambianchi has | | | | into the wonderful beverage of wine. I know that |
| provided easy to understand scientific equations | | | | I will be referring to my copy many many times! |
| where necessary so that the we can make | | | | The author, Daniel Pambianchi who is both a home |
| better informed decisions about wines they are | | | | and professional winemaker for years and is the |
| making. The book makes it quite clear that | | | | Technical Editor for Winemaker Magazine, has |
| winemaking uses both science and art in producing | | | | written an excellent book that I would |
| good wine. While some of this equipment is not | | | | recommend to anyone interested in this craft. |