Tips for Better Home Winemaking

I often get wine samples in the mail or from friends desperately seeking an opinion or assessment on what could possibly have gone wrong in their home winemaking. Perhaps that full-bodied Cab tastes nothing close to what was expected, or maybe the wine has a strong off-odor, the result of some form of spoilage, or the wine unexpectedly turned cloudy. Whatever the reason, it can be disconcerting to any winemaker—beginner or seasoned.

Given the complex biochemistry and microbiology of wine, there are countless transformations continuously occurring in wine and which are affected by myriad of environmental factors, winemaking techniques, and wine chemistry, just to name a few. And so winemaking is not simply about fermenting juice and then bottling wine. It is not a difficult making wine; however, you must be disciplined.

So here are some tips and recommendations to help you reduce the risk of unwanted results or spoilage and how to improve your wines.

· If you make wine from kits, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. Kits are designed to produce expected results, but only if processed according to instructions.

· Be patient. Winemaking involves a lot of patience, and you simply cannot (and should not) rush the process. Time will reward your patience.

· Monitor your winemaking. Making wine involves constantly checking progress and measuring important parameters; if something should go wrong, you will be right on top of it and be able to correct the problem. Invest in basic winemaking test kits.

· Protect your wine. Don’t overly expose wine to air and make sure it is always protected with the minimum recommended sulfite level. Use the Sulfite Calculator to help you guide your sulfite additions.

· Taste, taste, taste. Regularly taste your wine as part of your monitoring routine and make adjustments as required. And taste again BEFORE bottling—that’s your last chance to make any adjustments. Don’t bottle until you are completely satisfied with the results.

· Ask for advice. There are many sources of information: the internet, books, and your local winemaking supply store. If you run into a problem, consult a reliable source and get expert advice before that problem turns your wine into vinegar.

· Age your wine. All too often wine is drunk much too young, well before it reaches its peak, and therefore you do not get to appreciate the wine as it was intended to be. With experience, you will become better at evaluating the aging potential of wine and determining when best to drink it.

Stay tuned as we will build on this list and get you on your way to making award-winning wines.