DIY Winemaking - Cheap, Easy, and Delicious!

• Plastic bucket
• Large fine mesh straining bag
• Wine thief
• Test jar
• Titration kit
• Hydrometer and Thermometer (a Hydrometer/Thermometer Combo is even better!)
• Racking cane or about 6 feet of clear 1/2" plastic tubing
• Large mixing spoon
• Glass carboys
• Bungs
• Airlocks
• Wine bottles (about 5 bottles per gallon) and corks
• Hand corker

You will also need the following ingredients:

• Wine grapes. 1kg yields about 1 liter of juice, so we recommend using about 19 kg for a 5 gallon batch. When selecting your grapes, make sure to toss any rotten looking grapes and remove the stems as they can make your wine bitter. You can lightly rinse your grapes if you wish, but this is not usually necessary as any bacteria will be killed off later in the process.
• Campden tablets (potassium or sodium metabisulphite)
• Tartaric acid
• Granulated sugar
• Filtered water
• Wine yeast
• You may also need a clarifier like bentonite or isinglass

PRIMARY FERMENTATION

1. In a plastic bucket, crush your grapes to release the juice, called "must".
2. If you are making white wine, you will need to strain the juice through a straining bag to remove the skins. If you are making red wine, leave the skins in the juice, as this is what gives red wine its deep color.
3. Add one crushed Campden tablet per gallon of juice and stir. Cover with a clean cloth and leave for at least 24 hours to allow the tablets to kill off any bacteria or wild yeast.
4. Use a wine thief to collect samples in a test jar for testing. Make sure to only collect the juice and not any of the skins, as they can throw off your measurements.
5. Use a titration kit to measure the acidity of the must. The ideal acid level is 6-7 grams per liter for dry reds and 6.5 to 7.5 grams per liter for dry whites. Add tartaric acid in 1/8 teaspoon intervals, measuring after every addition, until you have reached the desired acid level.
6. Use a hydrometer to take a reading of the must. If it is less than 24 Brix sugar density, you may need to add sugar to boost the alcohol levels.
7. When adding sugar, dissolve granulated sugar in a minimal amount of filtered water, add to the must, and stir. Make sure not to add too much water, as this can dilute the juice.

After at least 24 hours

8. After at least 24 hours have passed, it is time to add the wine yeast. You can sprinkle the yeast onto the must straight from the packet, but for best results, we recommend first reconstituting the yeast to ensure that the yeast is healthy and strong. Pour the yeast into about a cup of 103° water, then allow it to sit for about 15 minutes until it begins foaming. Then, slowly add a little must to it at a time until the temperature drops to within 10° of the large batch of must. You can then add the yeast mixture to the rest of the must, gently stir, and cover with a clean cloth.
9. After about a day, the mixture should begin fizzing and frothing. Leave for 7-10 days in a relatively cool location (about 65-72° Fahrenheit or 18-22° Celsius) that is well ventilated. Do not ferment in small spaces like closets, as the process gives off carbon dioxide that can be dangerous in enclosed spaces. Backyards can be a great option if you have a cool, shaded area.
10. Make sure to regularly monitor the progress of the fermentation, paying careful attention to the temperature to ensure that it does not get over 85°. You may need to cool your fermenting wine in a refrigerator if it is getting too warm.
11. If you are making red wine, you will need to use a large spoon to push down the "cap" of skin twice daily.

FINISHING FERMENTATION

1. After about a week, the primary fermentation period will have ended and a sediment will have formed. You can now strain the skin from the red wine and transfer the liquid into clean glass carboys.
2. For white wine, use a plastic tube or a racking cane to siphon the liquid into clean glass carboys, making sure not to disturb the sediment or siphon it up along with the wine.
3. Try to fill the carboys to the top to reduce the amount of air your wine is being exposed to. Add a bung and an airlock, and half fill the airlock with water.

RACKING

1. Once this stage of fermentation has ended and the liquid is no longer fizzing or bubbling, it is now time to "rack", or transfer, the wine.
2. Use plastic tubing or a racking cane to siphon the liquid into clean glass carboys, making sure not to disturb the sediment or siphon it up along with the wine. Continue fermenting for 2-3 months.
3. After this time, a second sediment will have formed. Siphon the wine from the sediment until it is running clear. If you have white wine that is not clearing over time, you may need to filter it or add a clarifier like bentonite or isinglass.

BOTTLING

1. Once the liquid has cleared, taste your wine before bottling to decide if you would like it sweeter. If you do, make sure to add sweetener slowly and re-taste frequently to avoid over-sweetening.
2. Add additional campden tablets to your wine before bottling to ensure that fermentation does not begin again.
3. Use plastic tubing or a racking cane to fill the sterilized bottles with wine, leaving about 1/2" to ¾" of headspace below the rim for the cork.
4. Insert sanitized corks using a hand corker, and leave upright for 2 hours.
5. After 2 hours, you can now store the bottles upside down or on their sides to ensure that the corks do not dry out, which would allow oxygen to enter the bottles and spoil your wine. Wine racks are a great way to properly store your new homemade wine collection!
6. In general, you can age your homemade wine 3-6 months for white wine or 6 months to a year for red wine, but the best indicator of when to drink your wine is your own taste buds!

Once you've unlocked the basics of winemaking, the possibilities are endless! You can try making wine from other fruits, such as plums or strawberries, or try experimenting with additives like oak and elderberries to bring out even more flavors. We'll leave you with one final warning: once your friends and family hear about your new hobby, you may need to start hiding a few bottles to keep for yourself!