november2014

lmost everyone who has appreciated a good glass of

wine has romanced the notion of creating his or her own

vintage. However, for thousands of years, the production

of the “nectar of the gods” has been shrouded in mystery.

Yes, a few ambitious soles attempted to formulate their

own wines utilizing more chemistry skills than winemaking

know-how. The wines that they produced were interesting,

but not always worthy of an award at a wine show. But, the

vast majority of wine lovers simply left the process to the

professionals.

Fortunately, with the increased interest in everything related

to wine, home winemaking has become a very popular

hobby. New stores and online retailers specializing in home

winemaking and home brewing supplies are increasingly

common, and there are many books, periodicals, and web-

sites now available for aspiring winemakers.

The actual process of winemaking is fairly straightforward.

Traditional grape wines can be easily created, as well as

those from fruits and even vegetables and grains. It is

important to note that winemaking is not a hobby for those

who are impatient. Homemade wines require months and

sometimes years to reach their full drinking potential.

Before you begin to make your first batch of homemade

wine, you will need to purchase the right equipment.

One additive that is called for in almost

every wine recipe is a Campden

tablet. This is actually a sulfite that

prevents oxidation and growth of wild

yeast while promoting the growth of

cultured yeast.

Pectic enzyme is another common

additive used in fruit wines. It helps

promote flavor, aroma, and acid

extraction from the fruit. Tannin is also

frequently needed to add bite to white

wines. And, of course, sugar and yeast

are necessary to produce a wine’s

alcohol. Granulated sugar is the best

sugar for making wine. Avoid using

brown or powdered sugar. Some reci-

pes, however, do use honey instead

of sugar. The yeast that is required

for winemaking is different than bread

yeast. Ask your winemaking retailer

which variety is required for the type of

wine that you are making.

Once the additives have been blended

into the primary fermentation con-

tainer, the wine will begin fermenting.

This process usually lasts from 3 to 10

days during which time the container

should be covered loosely with a piece

of cloth and a rubber band around the