A Guide to Making Wine

My friend Francesco makes homemade wine. He learned the process from his Italian father-in-law whose wine making tools came from generations of the best Italian wine makers who lived just north of Naples.

Francesco purchases wine making grapes from the same vendor that his father-in-law purchased them from and from those luscious wine making grapes, he makes some of the best red wine I have ever tasted!

For the beginner, a wine making starter kit will provide all of the information and equipment needed to begin a simple wine making process. Here are wine making guide basics:

The first step is to prepare the must. Must is the unfermented juice that will become the wine.

Besides water, the primary ingredient in wine is alcohol. Alcohol is the by-product of fermentation. During fermentation, yeast breaks down sugar into carbon dioxide and alcohol. Fermentation consists of two stages: primary fermentation and secondary fermentation.

During primary fermentation, yeast is added to the must. The must is bubbly and produces the carbon dioxide.

After a few days, the yeast begins to slow down as the alcohol content increases. That is when secondary fermentation begins. During this stage the wine is placed into a container to keep air and subsequent bacteria away. Secondary fermentation can last from several weeks to several months, depending upon the type of wine being made. During this stage the wine is very cloudy.

For simple wine making, the homemade wine maker's job is to monitor the process of fermentation and manage the balance between the yeast, sugar and alcohol to make sure that the acidity and clarity of the wine is maintained.

When the yeast has finished the fermentation process, it sinks to the bottom of the wine. The wine is then transferred to another container away from the yeast sediment in a process that is known as racking the wine. The wine may need to be racked several times until the liquid becomes clear.

Aging the wine is the last important step, allowing the wine to mellow and develop flavor.

Wine making tools include:

A primary fermenter used for containing the must during the first fermentation

A secondary fermenter (usually a glass jug) is used for the second fermentation

A hydrometer measures the amount of sugar in the must

A precise digital scale for exact measurements

An acid titration testing kit will provide a greater amount of control of acidity

A Ph testing kit which can help test the Ph balance in the wine

Fruit presses and crushers if you decide to make your own must

Some homemade wine makers prefer to use filters which helps to clear the wine

Other wine making tools include bottles, corks, a corker, a large funnel and wire brushes

Where to Buy Wine Making Starter Kits

There are numerous wine making starter kits online that are great for the beginner as they include just about everything needed for simple wine making.