Essential Home Winemaking Equipment

Want to know how to make your own wine in the comfort of your own home? Since the Roman era, lots of people have been doing it, but without the right equipment, it's not an easy thing to do. Here are a few tips of what winemaking accessories and equipment you should look at investing in to make some great homemade wine for a surprisingly low cost!First off, you need to look at how expensive the equipment is and see if it fits within your budget. You can find lots of online vendors who can give you special deals on winemaking equipment. Most of them will probably have a "Starter Kit" where all the basic equipment is included. A Starter kit could be the best thing to purchase at the beginning, especially if you are new to the home winemaking hobby. Most of these kits will be no more than $100, which shouldn't break the budget. Most of the components to the kit can be reused constantly, so you're not required to buy a new kit every time. The kit will pay for itself in no time, as you'll be saving a lot of money!What's in the Starter Kit?The largest piece of equipment will be a large bucket of at least 25 litres which will act as your fermentation vessel. A secondary container will also be required, which will probably be a clear glass container about 20-30 litres in size. The term used for this container is carboy. Although glass is better, you could use plastic if funds dictate.There will also be several rubber stoppers that will be required to be used on the fermentation vessels included with this Starter kit. You'll probably find an airlock included with the kit, which will allow excess carbon dioxide (produced during the fermentation process) to escape while preventing external bacteria and air from entering the container, which has the potential to ruin your wine. Starter kits that are a little more expensive will likely include a couple brushes that are different sizes. These will be used to thoroughly clean the carboy and the bottles that you'll be filling with your finished wine. Assuming corks are included with the kit, you'll also need some sort of device to put the corks in the bottles. It should be easy to use, as you'll be getting a lot of use out it soon!When making homemade wine, cleanliness and sterility are extremely important and will be one large factor between a great wine and homemade vinegar. A good cleaning agent and sterilizing chemical should always be included with the kit. If you try to cut out this stage, you risk spoiling your wine! As part of the process, you'll need to transfer wine between different containers. This is accomplished with a device called a "racking tube", which may be included in your kit.The last piece of equipment you should expect to see in your kit is called a hydrometer. What this does is that it measures the amount of sugar in the mixture before you add the yeast. From here, you can calculate the potential alcohol that will result. The hydrometer will be able to tell you if fermentation has stopped because there is no more sugar left in the mixture, or because the yeast has died without finishing its job.These are some of the more common but essential wine making equipment you'll find in most homemade wine "starter packs". You'll probably need to purchase the ingredient kit separately, as the type of wine you make is your personal choice. A lot of wine kit vendors may include an ingredient kit at a special price if you purchase the starter kit from them. Regardless of the type of wine you want to make, if you have the right wine making equipment, you'll spend many hours perfecting the art of homemade wine and producing your own great-tasting vintage!

by Sarah Timberman · 0

Home Wine Making - Is it Legal

The benefits of home wine making are plenty. It makes a great hobby, it can be fun to make something with your own hands that you can consume, you can make wines to suit your taste and best of all, the wine you make will be less expensive than buying from a store or wine shop. All of that aside, the question still remains, is making homemade wine legal?Well, in 1919, the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, enacted prohibition, which made home brewing in the US illegal. In 1933 the 21st Amendment repealed prohibition legalizing making wine at home, but left out home beer making. This Amendment predominantly leaves regulation of alcohol to the states, which means it is still up to individual states to legalize home brewing in their state codes, even though it is federally legal.The majority of states have legalized home wine making, but the laws vary widely. In 1978 President Jimmy Carter signed into law a bill, which made beer brewed at home for personal or family use tax exempt and allowed certain amounts of alcoholic beverages to be legally brewed in US homes. This bill actually went into effect February 1979.Though the bill technically refers to beer, some added amendments allows for other alcoholic beverages to be brewed within legal boundaries. Depending on your marital status the bill allows between 100 and 200 gallons of home brew to be made per year.Single individuals are allowed 100 gallons per year while married couples can make 200 gallons per year. Keep in mind you are not allowed to sell your home brew unless you get the standard license offered to alcoholic beverage retailers. You must also be 18 years old to make wine and you must be of legal drinking age to drink it.There are still some states where it's illegal to brew alcoholic beverages at home. States like Idaho, where only beer that's made from in state materials is legal and Utah, where under no circumstances can a citizen brew alcoholic products without a license from the state, feel they can better police this issue on their own.So before you go getting yourself in trouble with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, check with your local authorities to find out if home wine making is legal in your state.

by Sarah Timberman · 0

Grape Growing Simple Guidelines for Grape Growing

Planting grapes in the garden or in the backyard can be a gratifying experience. Grapes are generally perennial plants and can grow for years to come. A lot of things have to be considered before you start grape growing.The most common mistake grape growers usually commit is when the grapevine is shaded by trees or when it is being shaded throughout the day. Sunlight is a very essential factor in grape growing. Without the right amount of sunlight, the natural sweetness as well as the proper ripeness of the grape will not likely happen.Here are simple guidelines to follow in grape growing:
 
· The chosen area for growing your grapes must have good air flow, the right type of soil, and good soil drainage.· Build a fence or trellis for the grapevines to climb for support. It is always a good idea to make these from Cedar wood as they are solid and will not easily rot.· Keep the grapevines well-pruned in order for them to grow better and healthier.· Prune the grapevines heavily in the first few years in order to encourage the main vine to grow. Pruning will encourage the grapevines to grow and attach to the fence or trellis as well as allow maximum airflow and sunlight.· You need to make sure that the planting area is not prone to accumulating water. When the grapevines are dormant, they can actually accept a certain amount of water; however, it shouldn't be encouraged for there is a slight chance for vine damage.· Grapes need soil composition that is low in toxins, rich in minerals and acidic. Have your soil tested by a professional or simply purchase soil tester kits that can aid you in determining correct soil for cultivating the grapes.· A slope is an ideal spot, especially if you live in an area with harsh winters. Planting on a slope will allow better air flow. If a slope is not an option, plant in an area that can shield your grapevines from the harsh cold, which could potentially cause considerable damage.· Grapevines need moist and well-drained soil. The ideal place for grape growing is one that features winters and summers that are not too harsh. If you don't live in such a climate, try creating one in a greenhouse. Always keep in mind that the roots shouldn't be too wet or too dry because they are vulnerable to fungus that usually causes root-rot.· When you start planting the grapes, make sure that you place them at least 7-10 feet apart from each other. The roots of one grapevine can stretch as far as 4 - 5 feet from the base of the plant.If you are thinking of growing grapevines in your garden or backyard at this moment, be sure that you consider the factors mentioned above before you actually start planting. Select your grape varieties based on their usage and how adaptable they are to the local growing conditions.

by Sarah Timberman · 0

Grape Vine Growing on a Trellis

Grape vine growing is not possible without support. In nature, trees, rocks, walls and other kind of structures help grape-vine growing. In fact structures are vitals for many reasons and a vineyard will use a trellis system that will act as a support for the vine. The vine cannot support itself.In the vineyard, a trellis system could be built in different ways. Some for functionality and others purely decorative.. Any kind of materials can be use such as iron, pretreated wood, stainless steel, PVC pipe, or aluminum and wires to accommodate any shapes or size.But for a productive vineyard, there are proven ways to do it. For example, colder climate will use a shorter trellis to give the vine a chance to survive the winter weather. A shorter trellis will make it easier for the grape grower to prepare the vineyard for the winter. And of course, a taller trellis can be built for moderate climate.A very important aspect to consider is the site and row orientation. Grape vines needs a lot of sun and a good air circulation. Sun and air play a very big role in ripening the grapes and controlling fungus and other diseases.The posts putted in the ground typically are three feet tall for cold region and up to eight tall for the moderate climate. For better longevity, a trellis system should be built sturdy enough to match the life time of the vine. If possible. Bear in mind that the vine will need a few years to produce grapes, so the trellis should still be there to support the harvest weight.Usually the posts that will support the trellis are cemented into the ground. Then catch wires are attached to brace the posts diagonally. Remember, this thing should last long. The posts should be set something like eight feet apart.Now it is time to tie galvanized or other non rusty wires horizontally between the posts. One row at about three inches from the ground and a second one at the top of the posts, all attached to the posts by stainless steel staples to fix them for life.Then the trellis being ready, it is time to put the vines into the ground and watch them growing. Not exactly, a good grape grower will train the vines to grow on the trellis and this is a many years job. The main shoot should first grow up and tied to the post or trellis with the help of rope or other soft materials. The idea is not to damage the shoot.Remember that the vine grows slowly. But eventually from dormant period to another, secondary shoots will appear and will have to be attached to the horizontal wires. And so on after 3 years, some juicy grapes will grow under the sun. The grape grower will then be very proud.

by Sarah Timberman · 0

Brewing Your Own Beer at Home - A Neat Hobby

The price of beer is getting more and more expensive and becoming even more difficult to be able afford luxurys such as beer this where the Coopers Microbrewery Kit comes in. It is one of the best known home beer brewing kits available on the market to date. If you're thinking of getting into home brewing and not exactly sure what and why you should get into it then this article should hopefully point you in the right direction.If you enjoy drinking the odd beer but getting a bit sick of paying the hefty prices at the bottle shop then now would be a perfect time to get into home brewing. Home brewing has been around for many years and has many enthusiasts. The ability to create your own beer to however you like is one of the biggest attractions to home brewing.The price of home brew is a good reason to get into brewing with the average price being approximately 25 cents a stubby you will be saving about four bucks a stubby. This also is brewed to the way you like your beer, extra bitter, sweet or non alcoholic it is all possible. The cost of a microbrewery kit will earn its money back in no time allowing you to start saving a ton of money.The time it takes to brew some beer depends how much time you put into it. The Coopers Microbrewery kit brews takes around 30 minute to prepare. Probably 1-2 hours for one batch for most people it is almost no time at all. If you apply a few changes to the recipes then it may take a little longer than that. In most cases you will probably spend more time driving to a bottle shop then you would producing 23 litres of quality brewed beer.It is known that there is some people complain the quality of brewed beer will never meet the good standards of commercial beer. This statement is in fact very wrong and probably find that their taste buds have adjusted to the lesser quality commercial beer. Most brews which has been made at home you will find is a lot better quality with less additives added into the mix and a much finer taste will make the home brew an enjoyable one.Overall if you are thinking of getting into home brewing the average time and dollar spent making a batch of home brew is well worth it. The brewing community also a friendly one so gather some mates and all get into home brewing start producing some really fine beers. Many people will tell you it is well worth getting into and will find yourself very happy with making the switch. Saving and getting some of the best brews ever produced is an awesome feeling to have.

by Sarah Timberman · 0

How to Grow Grapes - Backyard Grape Growing Secrets Revealed

Contrary to popular speculation or belief, growing grapes in your backyard is not as difficult as one may presume. When someone mentions the idea of starting a grape garden, one may immediately assume that without acres of free land at their disposal, it will be almost impossible to be successful. This is absolutely NOT true!As a matter of fact, there are many amateur grape growers today who are content with their small vine garden in their backyard. The grapes they produce are excellent for eating and making wine and the little effort put into it has a high return.As a full time grape farmer, I have learned the secrets of what it takes to grow the best tasting grapes for decades. As a child I would work with my father on his farm planting and pruning grapevines all day long and continued working with him as a teenager and even now as an adult and family man. I want to teach you how to grow grapes and share with you the secrets of keeping a successful grapevine garden so that you too can enjoy what these delicious fruits have to offer.First of all backyard grape growing does not require expensive fertilizers or manures. You can get some really good vines from ordinary soil. Another goodie is that you won't have to invest a lot of time in your garden because the roots themselves will seek out what they need. The only thing you need to concern yourself with is where to put the vine itself.It really is quite amazing how no matter where you plant your vines, all you have to do is train the vines around your house towards the well sun lit areas. If you have an open garden where the sun hits all day long, then that will work even better.The best time to plant your grapevines is during the fall. Do not let the vines fruit during the first season of planting. Instead, always remember to cut down your vines to about four buds. The reason for this is that those four buds will become the strongest points and will lead the rest of the vine up the wall where you planted them in. You want your grapevine to use all of its energy producing a strong wood for the next season because it is during the second season of growth that you get the best grapes.Remember that the wood that is born this year will lead to next year's fruits. So during the first year, clip away any flower buds that may form, thus making sure that the vine's energy is focused on producing wood.When pruning during the summer, you want to cut off all new growth while leaving the old wood to provide for future fruit. Only remove old growth when they become a straggling nuisance hanging all over your garden. When pruning in the fall or early winter, you should cut back the vines this time to about five to six buds only so that once again, the vines will use all their energy for producing strong wood during the winter.Most grape vines ripen during the late summer, early September. At this time you can enjoy the best tasting home grown grapes and continue preparing your vines for future growths.Wait! Don't go planting some grapevines you purchased at your local nursery and then wonder why you are getting poor results. Many of these vines come from other states and were cut from a healthy patch which will never have the strength to ripen once taken home. Learn the fundamental procedures of backyard grape growing first before making a mistake!

by Sarah Timberman · 0

Home Wine Making Made Easy With Wine Making Kits

If you have ever wished you could make your own wine but thought that the wine making supplies would be prohibitively expensive and take up far too much space, think again. Making your own wine from home is cheaper than buying wine from a store and it is an relatively easy process. You do not even have to press your own grapes - there are wine making kits in all sizes and styles which make it easy for any oenophile to make the transition from wine consumer to wine producer with ease.Wine EquipmentWhen you are just getting started, you will probably want to use a kit so that you can learn the essentials. Once you have learned the basics and want to explore the hobby in greater depth, you can easily pick up more advanced wine making supplies so that you can begin producing larger quantities and have more control over the process.The equipment you need to start creating wine is actually pretty minimal. You will need a container for the primary fermentation - a food grade plastic bucket works fine here. You will also have to get a carboy (a glass jug) with caps which can fit a siphon for your wine to undergo its second fermentation in. As you might have guessed, you will also need a siphon as well as an airlock. A clamp, strainer and (if you want to save yourself some time and effort later on) an automatic siphon are also wine equipment you should pick up ahead of time.Wine Making KitsHowever, there is no need to run around rounding up all of this gear piece by piece. Many of the higher quality wine making kits on the market contain all of the essential equipment and some of these kits even include the ingredients you will need for your first batch of wine. If not, then you will need to go buy the yeast and juice or concentrate to make your wine with - fresh fruit is always an option, but for your first batch of wine, this may be a little overcomplicated. It is better to start off using a packaged juice or concentrate instead to simplify things as you learn how to make wine at home.Shops that sell wine making equipment and supplies will usually sell the ingredients you need to make wine and many will carry a very wide variety of different juices from different wine grape varietals so that you can produce virtually any style of wine you like.If your kit happens to include yeast and juice concentrate, then you will probably want to keep things simple and just use what is included - after all, this is your first time making wine, so the satisfaction of having made your own wine will be enough, even if it is not your favorite kind. There is plenty of time to explore different wines and different flavors, even blending different wines to make your own creations; but we all need to start with a single step before running a marathon.

by Sarah Timberman · 0

Basics of the Wine Making Process

In this article you will be given a brief introduction to the wine making process and a summary of each step from harvesting to bottling. Wine making has been around for thousands of years and it is quite a natural process that requires very little human intervention. Every wine maker has their own special process which contributes to the uniqueness and diversity of wines, making life much more interesting. Although there are many different methods and variations involved in creating wine, there are five essential steps that must take place. These five steps include harvesting, crushing/pressing, fermentation, clarification, and aging or bottling.The first step of making wine is known as harvesting or picking of grapes. Grapes are the only fruit that can reliably produce the necessary amount of sugar on an annual basis to yield sufficient alcohol to preserve the wine. Tannins, esters, and acids are other factors of grapes that help provide consistency. Grapes must be harvested at exactly the right time, ideally when physiologically ripe. Modern wine makers rely on a combination of science and old-fashioned tasting to determine when to harvest their grapes. Usually outside consultants, vineyard managers, and proprietors all have a vote in the decision of when to harvest. Picking grapes can be done with the use of machines or it can be done by hand. Most wineries prefer the latter claiming that mechanical harvesters can be too rough on the grapes, vines, and land. After the harvest wine makers sort the grapes into bunches sifting out rotten and under ripe fruit before crushing.Crushing is the next step in the wine making process which is now done with mechanical presses. For thousands of years this step was done by men and women who performed the harvest dance in barrels and stomped on the grapes, turning them into must. Although machines have removed the romance and ritual of these traditions, there has been a huge gain in regards to sanitation. Mechanical crushing has improved the quality and longevity of wine while also reducing the need for preservatives. Keep in mind, not all grapes begin the transformation to wine in the crushing step. Some wine makers allow fermentation to begin with uncrushed grape clusters, allowing the weight of the grapes to burst the skins naturally before being sent to the presses. There is no difference in the process of wine making for reds and white until the crushing step. For a white wine, the maker will quickly press the must after crushing to separate the juice from the skins, seeds, and solids. This prevents color and tannins from getting into the white wine. Red wine on the other hand is left in contact with its skins to infuse color, flavor, and tannins into the wine.After the grapes have been crushed and pressed, the must is allowed to sit and will begin to ferment within 6-12 hours with the help of wild yeasts in the air. Some wineries welcome this natural fermentation while others will intervene and eliminate the natural, wild yeasts and add yeast that produces a more predictable end result. Once fermentation begins it will usually continue until all sugar is turned into alcohol leaving a dry wine. This can be a period of anywhere from 10 days to a month. Alcohol levels will vary from one wine to the next depending on the sugar amount in the initial must. Wines made in cool climates will generally produce an alcohol level of 10 percent and wines made in warmer climates can be up to 15 percent. For sweet wines, the fermentation is cut short to allow some of the sugar to be preserved. This is almost always intended by the wine maker for a specific style of wine.Once the fermentation is completed the clarification process begins. Wine makers can rack or siphon their wine from one tank to another to separate the wine from the precipitates and solids at the bottom of the first tank. Filtering is done with large filters that catch large solids and with sterile pads that strip all life from the wine. Fining happens when substances such as egg whites, clay, and compounds are added to the wine to clear them out. These substances will stick to the solids and push them to the bottom of the tank. The stripped wine will then be transferred to another vessel for aging and bottling.Finally, the wine is either bottled immediately or allowed to age. Aging can be done in a bottle, stainless steel or ceramic tanks, and large wooden barrels called barriques. This last stage leaves room for endless choices on behalf of the wine maker and has a defining impact on the final product. Hopefully this article has taught you the basics of the wine making process and a tiny bit of history. The next time you enjoy a bottle of wine you can reflect on everything that happened leading up to you sipping that wine from your glass!

by Sarah Timberman · 0

Home Beer Making - How To Brew A Higher Alcohol Content Beer At Home

Beer production has evolved enormously over the past decades. From ancient home beer making traditions, down to the most technological methods used by brewing moguls in Europe and in the United States, brewing has definitely gone through a wide range of alterations and advancements. But with all the changes instigated by both master home brewers and brewery magnates, one inherent process remains the same - fermentation.From a more scientific perspective, fermentation in the beer making process happens when the yeast content of the cereal grains converts glucose into alcohol and carbon dioxide. While most beers would have an alcohol content of four to six percent by volume, home brewers can always opt for stronger snifters. Brewing a flavorful beer with higher alcohol content can be achieved by considering a malt base with higher gravity, increasing the fermentation phase, and using yeasts that are more attenuative in character.The Base and the BasicsIncreasing the proportions of your malt base and your water content will equate to increased gravity levels. As a general rule, the higher the specific gravity, the higher the alcohol content. Pick rich grains and add the malt extracts prior to fermentation. A hydrometer may be used to measure the specific gravity of your homemade concoction. Reaching figures that are roughly around 1.07 to 1.08 are already ideal results. Denser wort equates to more sugars available for fermenting.The Fermentation ProcessThe lag phase in fermentation where the wort begins to assimilate to the new characteristics of its environment can last from one hour to several days. In this case, a little waiting will do your beer a lot of good. Remember that at this phase, the yeast is working extra hard to respirate the added amount of sugar in the form of richer grains; so give it time to finish all the chemical phases that it needs to undergo. Typical fermentation periods usually yield 35 grams of ethanol per liter of beer. Allowing longer fermentation will help increase the alcohol levels. Beers with alcohol contents of up to 12 percent or more by volume can take as much as 4 to 6 months to ferment.The Yeast FactorOn a general note, attenuative yeast selections usually continue to ferment to increased alcohol levels. Attenuation is the ability to transform sugar into alcohol. The brewers' yeast, scientifically known as Saccharomyces cervisiae, is just one of the roughly 500 yeast species known to man. This yeast specie is preferred by beer brewers because these specific strains are characterized by ideal attenuation, alcohol tolerance, flocculation (innate ability to bundle together), and zesty fermentation flavors. Yeasts also affect the taste profile of beer.In fact, the flavor wheel release by The American Society of Brewing Chemists evidently shows that 79% of the total taste or flavor of beers are attributed to actual yeast derivatives (by-products), or beer elements that are directly or indirectly affected by yeast. The way they absorb the iso-alpha-acids directly affects the bitterness of beer because these alpha compounds are actually responsible for the pungent taste that strong beers are known for. However, master brewers always emphasize that great brewers should know how to strengthen their beers without compromising the flavor. If you really want beers with high strength alcohol, opt for yeasts that can stand alcohol concentrations like the Wyeast 1056.These strains are known to put up with alcohol concentrations of up to 10 percent. Regardless of the strength, be sure that your homemade beer will not offset overall quality. While attempting to draft strong beers with a distinct, strong kick, be sure that you still consider what home beer making is really all about - the art of crafting your very own beverage to achieve optimum satisfaction and unparalleled quality that only hand crafted beers can offer. After all, more than the entire scientific process, home-brewed beer is genuinely a dexterous art.

by Sarah Timberman · 0

Grape Growing Information For The Home Grower

So you have thoughts about growing your own grapes, and ultimately make your own wine. Here is some good information, some helpful tips and some little secrets to clarify your mind. This article covers some of the most important steps in building a successful vineyard.First you must know that grape is the ideal fruit for wine making. Grapes contain the right properties to produce wine which include a naturally high content of ferment sugar, strong flavor and skin color.There are a few topics that are essential for growing grapes. Here are a few of them.The land is everythingThe greatest virtue of a vineyard is the land itself. The type of soil, mineral content, and the environmental conditions, all contribute in maintaining a healthy and fertile vineyard. Ensuring that the area has a adequate exposure to sunlight and adequate drainage is a must. Planting the vineyard on a hillside, will also supply the drainage desired to sustain the vines. A slope can also dampen the grapevine vulnerability to heat or coldness, depending on its inclination.The right soilGrowing vines in the appropriate soil is the most important aspect of grape growing. The type of soil, its mineral content and environmental factors, all appear to have a vital responsibility in health and fruitfulness of grape wine. Before you plant the vines you should have your soil analyzed. Adding up nutrients to the soil that is lacking is straightforward, but removing superfluous nutrients is somewhat impractical. Vine is fairly adaptable and don't demand much to feed on.Selecting the right grape varietyMore than five thousand different types of grape varieties exist counting hybrids. But it is the weather condition in your location that will basically establish the grapes varieties that you can grow effectively. You should start with a grape family that does specially well in your location.Now is the time to get to workThe hard work and crucial aspect of grapes growing is tending the vines. This will embrace soil preparation, water, sun, pruning, and pest containment. For lots of home grape growers, the crop and pest control may be the tedious tasks. Vines are big plants, and are incapable to withstand the weight of the grapes it produces. Wild vines are growing on structures such as poles and fences. And a trellis system must be built to accommodate the plant.Benefits.The amazing thing about grapes is that the land and the region whereas the grapes are grown, will have a decisive significance on the taste of the wine and makes it unique. So be the wine that you will produce.There is a lot more to learn about grape growing and a short article can not cover all the aspects. I hope that what we have talked about here will entice you to look further. Great resources exist and it is easy to find them out on the net.Good luck with your project.Chriss Redfield

by Sarah Timberman · 0

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