Are you excited yet? You should be. Making your own wine is more than just mixing up some ingredients and then stirring gently…it’s an art form. First, you need to gather your equipment, then buy up the ingredients you need. You can either buy an all-inclusive kit which contains everything, or buy the parts separately. We’ll assume you will use a kit as you’re probably just starting out. Let’s look at the basic equipment you’ll find in a kit and the types of kits available.
You’ll need the following equipment to start making wine:
• bucket with a lid for the wine to ferment in; it should be at least a gallon (some sold in kits are nearly 8 gallons) • couple of jugs • rubber stopper • airlock • siphon tubing, racking cane, and bottle filler • straining bag (coarse is best) • corker • brush for the jugs • hydrometer • the actual juice (usually referred to as the kit by itself)
Back in the day, wine kits weren’t worth it. They produced poor or mediocre wine, and were considered strictly for beginners. However the quality has really gone up to the point that wine made from kits can be just as delicious as wine made from grapes. There are four kits to keep your eye out for: pure concentrate, partially concentrated, pure juice, and a mix of concentrate and juice. What’s the difference? Water. Pure juice kits don’t need water and are more expensive. But with concentrates (which have the water removed), it doesn’t taste quite as authentic. Just be sure you get everything you need. Don’t assume the kit will come with the additives; you may have to buy them separately.
Wine making kits will range anywhere from $30 to $100 and up, depending on the type of kit and the equipment included. Visit your local brewery and see what tips they can give you. Also check on websites such as GrapeStompers.com, HomeBrewers.com, R and B’s Wine Supply, and others. They offer tips, recipes, videos, and sell equipment. They’ll have you looking like a pro in no time.
