AN
OVERVIEW OF THE WINEMAKING PROCESS
SELECT YOUR WINE KIT
– Choose from our wide
array of reds, whites, blushes and fruit wines from the most
famous wine regions of the world. We have a selection sure
to satisfy any taste and occasion.
PREPARATION:
Here you will assemble the
small amount of equipment necessary to start your wine. Clean
and sanitize the equipment, open the wine kit, review the
instructions and get started! A basic and easy to use home
winemaking setup should cost in the neighborhood of $75 and
include the following items:
Fermenter
– One 7-8 gallon food grade plastic fermentation bucket
with an airtight lid, drilled for an airlock.
Airlock
– A small plastic water valve which permits CO2 gas
produced by fermentation to escape, while protecting the fermenting
wine from air borne contamination.
Spoon
or Paddle – For mixing the wine and additives.
Hydrometer – For checking specific gravity.
Carboy
– A six gallon glass or food grade plastic container with a drilled rubber
stopper and airlock to fit in the neck of the carboy.
Siphon
Equipment – Including a racking cane, tubing and a
bottle filler.
Bottles
– 30 750ml wine bottles
Corks
and a Corker
VISIT
OUR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY OVERVIEW PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS
FERMENTATION
– Quick and easy! You
will pour the grape juice/concentrate into your fermentation bucket,
then add water, yeast (included in the kit) and any additive
pack called for in the kit instructions. Place the lid on
the bucket, attach the airlock and your on your way.
TRANSFER
(Racking) – Over the next 2-3 weeks , the directions
will call for you to transfer the wine from the fermentation
bucket to a glass vessel (called a carboy), and add various
additive packs (for stabilizing and clarifying) supplied with
the wine ingredient kit.
DE-GASSING
– You will stir the wine repeatedly to release any carbon dioxide gas (CO2) suspended
in the wine. This is a simple yet VERY important step in the
aging process.
CLARIFYING
– The wine will sit quietly for the next 3 weeks as
it clarifies.
BOTTLING
– Week 6-8 bottling day! You will clean, sanitize, fill
and cork the bottles.
At this time you may apply labels, shrinks or bottle wax as
you see fit for your final presentation.
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