Basic Wine Making Information

Humans have been fermenting stuff into alcoholic beverages for thousands of years, it is not rocket science, but, of course great wine is! With a little bit of basic wine knowledge, you can learn how to make wine that you and your friends can enjoy.

Some things you need to think about.




"Good quality water” means either well water or spring water and this is what you want to make your wine with. If neither is available, you can use tap water but it will be necessary to allow the chlorine to dissipate first. Letting water stand over night and boiling for 10 to 15 minutes should do it. If you can taste or smell the chlorine in your water it will affect the flavor of the wine. Water purchased from machines in supermarkets comes from the same source as your municipal tap water. Don’t buy this thinking it will be chlorine-free.

There are a lot of special ingredients for changing the character and flavor notes of your wine. As you develop expertise as a vintner, you will learn how and when to use oak chips or add different types of acid to change the flavor notes. There are several other strains of yeast available to amateur vintners, also. Never be afraid to experiment. Always keep notes of what you do when putting together your wine. There is nothing more frustrating than producing an exquisite wine and being unable to remember exactly how you did it a year later.

Relax, wine making is a great way to spend your time!