The biggest challenge you will face as a homeowner winemaker is deciding to be one. For many people, wine is a complete mystery. For them, the first step is often the most challenging obstacle. It is one that sadly stops many home winemakers from overcoming “go.”
I want to share a hidden gem… wine’s secrets of wine are not as complex, and any fear that it evokes is overrated.
This article is intended to assist you in overcoming the mythology of wine and dispelling its obscurity. We want to bring the process out to see that making wine is not magical. It is not a myth. It is the natural process Mother Nature provides, which happens to produce the wonderful gift of wine.
The Fermentation
Fermentation is the foundation of all other actions when making wine. This is what transforms your fruit into wine. The foaming and bubbling of the fermentation yeast eat any available sugars and transform them into alcohol and CO2 gas.
It is a natural process that can happen on its own, but only if the circumstances are favorable. This is when you, as the winemaker, are involved…
Another way to look at how the process works is by recognizing that the maker is not creating this wine but instead taking care to ensure that all conditions are in place to ensure a successful fermentation. Once the fermentation is in progress, there is nothing for the winemaker other than to wait.
A typical fermentation can take between 2 and four weeks. At this time, the only requirement of you, as a winemaker, is to siphon wine out of the sediment periodically, a procedure referred to by more skilled winemakers as “racking.”
The first racking process is usually completed between the 5th and seventh day following fermentation. If any pulp is present in the recipe, this is the best time to take it away. The fermentation remains open in the open air. After the initial Racking, the fermentation must be closed off from air by a sealed container with an air trap, or “air-lock,” as we call it.
The second Racking is generally performed after fermentation has finished. When given ample time to settle, another racking process is completed, then bottled.
For home winemakers producing 5 or 6 Gallons of wine, Racking is a procedure that typically takes up to 15 minutes. As you can see, Mother Nature is taking care of all the work in the fermentation process. For the most part, an uneasy spectator.
Before The Fermentation
As we have said earlier, the winemaker’s primary goal is to ensure proper fermentation conditions are in place. How do you accomplish this?
Start With A Solid Recipe:
The recipe is among the essential elements in setting the foundation for proper fermentation. You can handle the first batch in the fog with a precise, reliable recipe.
There are numerous sources of authentic recipes. First, you can review the recipes on our website at the link below to Wine Making Recipes.
There are various ways to make wine with more commonly used fruits. You can also find step-by-step instructions for these recipes on the following link: “7 Easy Steps To Making Wine”
There are numerous other excellent sources of recipes, including in the books we sell, on the web… Remember that all our pre-packaged juices come with recipes and detailed instructions.
If you’re interested in learning the natural ingredients in a recipe, then you might like to look at the below article on our web website: “Creating Your Own Wine Making Recipes”
It breaks down the various elements of a recipe for wine so that you understand the different components of a wine recipe.
A well-constructed recipe can help you create a balanced ferment using the correct components and quantities… which can result in the perfect balanced wine of astonishing quality.
Start With The Right Equipment:
Investing in the appropriate home winemaking equipment is another method to ensure that you will have a successful fermentation. There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars worth of equipment to make a batch of wine. However, you need to acquire a few essential components before making the first batch of wine.
– A food-grade vessel for fermenting
A lock that can be used to later for to seal the fermentation
Hoses to siphon the juice
A hydrometer for evaluating the level of sugar in the wine, as well as
Something to stir
These are the essential items of equipment that must be acquired before setting out to make the first wine batch. If you own these essential items, you can begin making wine.
If you are dealing with fresh fruit, in contrast to packaged juices, you might be interested in purchasing an evaporation (fermentation) bag to handle any pulp associated.
Consider Starting With A Kit:
An easy method for getting all the abovementioned ingredients and equipment is to purchase any of the three winemaking starter kits we provide. Our kits are called “Necessities Boxes” because they include the necessary items and components you will require. They are made up of the same high-quality items we sell separately. However, they are packaged at an affordable cost.
If you begin with the Necessities Box, you are getting a great bargain price and receiving directions and recipes specific to the package. Also, you will receive directions that guide you step-by-step through the procedure in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Additionally, you will receive an instruction manual that will guide you to your desired success.
You can locate our Necessities Boxes by clicking the following hyperlink on our Sun Cal Necessities boxes website.
After The Fermentation
When the fermentation is finished, the next step is simple. Allow the wine to rest for a couple of days to allow the yeast and remaining solids down to the lower part of the vessel, after which you can siphon off the wine out of and into bottle wine and then cork.
If you are not ready to buy corks for wine bottles, try Mushroom Corks instead. They are corks that can be pushed into the bottle by hand instead of pressing them mechanically as commercial wineries would. They are available as Mushroom Corks at the following link on our website: Mushroom Corks.
If you plan to drink your wine within the next couple of years, ensure that you keep the wine in an air-tight area, like in the basement or a root cellar. A wine cellar that is professionally designed is only required if you are planning to store the bottles of wine for a long time.
