Making wine from home can sometimes be a costly process to start and it may take quite a bit of your time and effort to make a decent batch. Understanding the proper procedure and what to expect along the way can help you start the process off correctly and save you a lot of trial and error.

Equipment

Get everything you’re going to need before you begin to avoid having to halt your wine making process and search for an additional piece of equipment you may have forgotten. To begin the process you’ll need a fermenting vat to ferment your grapes in. You’ll need to have bottles, corks, and labels ready once your wine is complete in order to prepare it for storage.

Depending on the process you’ll be using you may need oak casks for aging, glass jugs, a hydrometer, a fermentation lock, crushing gates, and an acid titration kit. Wine kits can be purchased that will provide everything you’ll need including chemicals and additional supplies. Some companies will even provide instructions or lessons on the wine making process if you need it.

Ingredients

The main thing you’re going to need for making wine is the grapes or any other fruits you plan on using. It takes about 70 pounds of grapes to make 6 gallons of wine, and you’ll want to make sure you know what type of wine you can make out of the grape varietal you chose. Fruit concentrates can also be used which may be easier than crushing your own grapes, but you may have less control over the end product with this option. If you have the proper space and live in an appropriate region, you may choose to even grow your own grapes.

Sugar, yeast, and additional chemicals will also be required for the process. You’ll need Campden tablets, which are a sulphur-based brewing product, to add to your wine while it is being made. These tablets kill certain bacteria and prevent the growth of wild yeast.

Procedure

The grapes are crushed to form a must for red wines, or the juice is extracted from t he skins and seeds to use for whites. The must or grape juice is fermented in a vat for usually around a week or two then racked to remove sediment. The racking process may be repeated a multiple times depending on the amount of sediment left behind or the type of wine you’re making.

Once the wine is siphoned out of the vat and the additional sediment is left behind it can be bottled and will be ready for storage. Knowing how long you’ll be aging the wine you’ve produced will allow you to prepare an appropriate storage area in advance. Some types may be ready for consumption immediately while others may require months or years of aging.

For any new wine makers, errors can be expected regardless of how prepared you are. Once you’ve made a few batches you’ll likely begin to better understand the process and be more confident in your brewing abilities. For anyone with a love of wine this can be a fun and rewarding hobby and for some it can even turn into a lucrative business.

Type of Material

The type of glass your wine glasses are made from can greatly impact your enjoyment of the wine. For some, seeing the hue and clarity of their wine is unimportant and they may prefer a more visually appealing frosted or coloured type of glass.

For wine tastings or wine connoisseurs, a clear, clean glass should be used so you can properly see the brightness, hue, and density of your wine. Some wines may be cloudy while other can be an intense purple or sparkling white. Clear glasses will allow you to fully enjoy the visual aspect of wine drinking.

Stem Length

Stemless wine glasses are available to purchase, but if you’d like to avoid warming your wine with the heat from your hand or leaving oily fingerprints on the bowl, you’ll want to choose a glass that has adequate stem length. Holding your glass by the stem can keep your wine cool while allowing you to get a proper visual experience through a clean, unobstructed bowl.

Wine Glass Shape

For different types of wine, different glass shapes may be necessary to fully enjoy the bouquet of that particular wine. Small glasses are perfect for dessert wines since they are usually heavy, sweet, quite rich and are best enjoyed in smaller amounts. Tall and thin wine flutes and good for Champagne and sparkling wines to ensure they retain their carbonation for as long as possible.

Complex red wines should be enjoyed from glasses with large bowls for maximum swirling and to allow the intense bouquet to fully breathe. A smaller, rounded glass can be used for white wines to direct their more subtle aromas straight into your nose and palate.

The proper wine glass can maximize the flavour of your wine. What may seem like a minor difference from one glass to another can have a substantial impact on the enjoyment you’ll get from your next glass of wine. Having a collection of glasses for all occasions or just the right set for the type of wine you drink most often with allow you to get the most from your favourite flavours, aromas, and bouquets.

A Casual Gift of Wine

If you’re unsure of the type of wine your gift recipient enjoys, sticking to a white variety will be your safest choice. Because white wines are usually sweeter and lighter they are usually enjoyed more often by those who may not drink wine regularly. Examples of popular wines that are smooth and easy to drink would be White Zinfandel, Riesling, or Sauvignon Blanc. Chardonnay is a bit drier but may be a good choice if you have an idea of your gift recipient’s tastes to some degree.

Buying For a Wine Enthusiast

For those who drink wine more often and can appreciate a more complex or bitter flavour, a decent bottle of red wine can make an excellent gift. Merlots are usually on the sweeter side for a red wine while a Pinot Noir will be more bitter and intense. Red wine has a higher tannin content which gives wine that mouth puckering sensation. Because of the unique flavours found in red wine, this type of wine is best given to an experienced wine drinker.

Give Them Something to Experience

You may intend to give your gift to an avid wine drinker, in which case you may want to impress them and find a wine they’ve never tried before. If it’s within your budget, looking for a rare vintage could make your gift a big hit. If you’re unsure about the different varieties of wine, be sure to buy your gift from a retailer that can provide expert feedback and advice.

Wine Gift Baskets

It’s hard to go wrong with a gift basket of any type, and a wine gift basket can be perfect for so many occasions. Because you’re giving multiple items at once, you can afford having a few hit and miss wines in the basket. Adding some cheese, crackers, or chocolates can be a nice touch and will be appreciated by everyone at the party if your recipient opens and shares their gift on the spot.

When you aren’t sure what to get, sticking to a white wine will be your safest option. For any celebratory types of occasions, a nice Champagne or sparkling wine can give a fun and exciting touch to your gift. Even if you buy something your recipient doesn’t normally drink, you may be introducing them to a new flavour they’ll come to love.

Wine and Food Pairing Basics

Generally speaking, it’s usually a safe bet to pair red wine with richer foods and white wines with lighter meals. You may also choose to use a wine from a certain region with foods that come from the same area. The right wine should prepare your palate for the meal you’re enjoying rather that clash with it, so choosing a wine that is less complex that your food can be a good start.

When to Use a Red Wine

On most occasions, a red wine can be served with red meats and red sauces. They can go well with beef, lamb, pasta, or anything rich and hearty. Some red wines are more bitter than others, so depending on your personal tastes and your own experiences, you may find a personal preference for which wine variety you like best with different types of meats.

White Wines with Your Meals

White wines are usually crisper and fruitier and can be paired best with lightly seasoned foods. Chicken, fish, pork, and foods with light sauces will usually taste best with a white wine. Sweeter whites can be served with fruits and salads while a drier type may taste best with something that has a bit more spice.

Getting More Information on Specific Wines

A certain degree of trial and error maybe required if you have a pickier palate, but starting with the basics will point you in the right direction. Tasting more wines can expand your knowledge base and being open to the suggestions of experienced sommeliers when dining out may introduce you to potentially new and delightful wine and food pairings.

The proper wine should add to the flavour of the meal rather than distract from it. If you’re serving a multi-course meal, it can be a good idea to offer a different type of wine for each course. Your own tastes will be the final deciding factor on which wines to serve with which meals, but additional tips and advice can be found on manufacturer’s websites, in-store from your wine retailer, or even by the suggestions of regular dinner party guests.

Environmental Factors

Keeping your wine in a cool, dark, and humid space will ensure its composition won’t be jeopardized. The temperature fluctuations should be kept to a minimum and should remain around 10-12 degrees Celsius. Changes in temperature may affect the pressure in your wine bottle which could loosen the cork. A loose cork will allow oxygen to enter the bottle and cause premature aging.

Storing your wine in a humid area will keep the cork moist and prevent it from shrinking, which would allow air into the bottle. 50-80% humidity is acceptable and 70% should be your target. Too much humidity may damage the label and could cause mold to form on the bottle so monitor your humidity levels carefully as well as the temperature.

UV light can react with the proteins in your wine so avoid storing it in direct sunlight. Some bottles are designed to block these rays anyways, but taking the extra step to store it in a dark space will give you optimum aging conditions.

Bottle Position

Wine should always be stored in a horizontal position to ensure the cork is always kept moist. For the same reason as keeping your wine in a humid location, a moist cork won’t shrink and you will prevent your wine from oxidizing.

Location

If you have a cellar, this is generally an ideal spot for storing wine. Keep your wine in an area with minimum vibrations and move it as little as possible. The spot you choose should be away from any strong odours as these can be absorbed by the cork and may seep into the wine, affecting any complex or subtle flavours.

Knowing in advance how long you plan on storing your wine can give you a better idea of where to store it and how adamant you will need to be in regards to the steps you take. If you plan on storing your wine for years, thorough maintenance and environmental upkeep on your storage space are very important to keep your wine tasting its best.

For anyone with even the humblest of wine collections, the proper wine furniture can add to the display of your collection and can assist you in storing your wine in the correct manner. Wine racks, cabinets, and shelves come in all shapes in sizes, so whatever your needs, finding the right furniture shouldn’t be too difficult.

Reasons for Using a Rack or Cabinet

The vast array of wine storing furniture available will help you in whatever needs you’d like to fulfill in regards to your wine collection. Some cabinets come with serving tables, drawers to store accessories, wheels to transport from room to room, and refrigeration to keep your wine chilled. You may choose a style which has room to allow for storage of wine glasses so all of your wine serving equipment can be accessed from one spot.

Simpler racks and shelves are available if you’re just looking for a place to safely store your wine while it ages or keep on display in an easy to access setup. The price range of these cabinets or racks can vary greatly depending on the extras you want your piece of furniture to come with.

Wine Furniture for Aesthetics

Some wine racks can come in very unique shapes and sizes. They can be made from luscious looking wood such as walnut, oak, cherry, and mahogany or may be designed with glass, steel or marble. Choosing a wine rack or cabinet that suits the decor of your home can be a beautiful addition while serving a useful purpose in storing your wine.

Making Your Own

Many wine rack kits are available if you choose to make your own and can often be quite simple to put together. It’s always a good idea to check the storage and weight capacity before purchasing to ensure it will suit your needs.

The proper wine rack or a decent wine cabinet can help you to store your wine in the right position while giving it an appealing display. Hanging and wall mounted racks can be great if you’re short on space while others may be designed more intricately to add a more elegant appearance to any room. Decide what your storage needs are before you begin shopping and you should be able to find the perfect rack to suit all your needs in no time.