Drinking wine dates back to the age of the Egyptians. Wine preservation was popular with religious groups, such as Christians and ancient Greeks, as far back as 4000 B.C.
Are you interested in experimenting with the winemaking process yourself? If so, tap into your inner vintner and create a special vintage all on your own with these 7 tips to remember when using a wine kit at home.
- Read All the Instructions
One of the best tips to make your own wine from a kit is to follow all of the instructions. Some people forget to complete all of the steps which means their wine may turn out funky.
Not all wine making kits are made the same. Your wine kit will vary depending on the type of wine you desire to make on your own.
- Keep It Clean
Similar to brewing beer, it is vital that you keep everything clean. Sanitize the area where you will prepare your wine to maintain sanitary environment to ultimately bottle it up.
Making wine can be messy and it is a detailed step-by-step operation. Having the necessary equipment and supplies to continue the winemaking process will have you feeling confident throughout your at-home production.
- Store Wine Fruits in Freezer
Fruits that are frozen for at least two days can be easy to ferment when you are ready to get started using your wine equipment kit. Freezing the fruits will also allow you to make a larger batch of wine at one time and cut down on prep time.
You will have a tastier and more flavorful wine because the cells in the fruit will be ruptured and release flavor and sugar more easily. It’s important to drain the fruit out entirely before transferring it into a plastic bag to store in the freezer.
- Just Keep Stirring the Water and Yeast
Do not alter the instructions for the mixing and stirring of your recipe. Stirring the fermented wine once you add in the yeast ensures the pulp will not dry out and infuses oxygen which aids the yeast in growth and fermentation.
Avoid pitfalls by pouring in the right amount of clean potable water. Too much water can dilute the must and result in a lower ABV in the finished wine. Too little liquid and too much sugar and the yeast will die.
On the first day, the mixture must be stirred vigorously, to impart oxygen to aid the yeast in growth and then in fermentation. In a Wine Expert ingredient kit driving off the CO2 will stabilize the wine and aid in the clearing process. The recipe or kit instructions will tell you when and how much to stir the wine.
- Take Hydrometer Readings
Another tool to use is a hydrometer. This device will allow you to test your wine must to determine the amount of sugar present that can be converted to alcohol. A thermometer is valuable to maintain the fermentation temperature in the optimum range.
A hydrometer will be highly beneficial to your winemaking process because it gives you the most accurate reading of the fermentation, which takes the guesswork out of the entire process. It will also approximate the overall alcohol content of your finished wine. The formula to calculate ABV is starting gravity minus final gravity multiplied by 0.129 = approximate alcohol percentage in the finished wine.
- Sweeten the Wine with Honey
After stabilizing your with metabisulfite and potassium sorbate choose an alternative sweetener such as honey to enhance the flavor of your wine. Honey adds natural sweetness to your wine. Combining honey into your wine is also no different than adding regular sugar.
- Have Patience with Your Wine Kit
Taste your wine every few weeks to see if it’s ready to be served. Patience ensures a great result.
Are you Looking for More Wine-making Equipment?
These are just a few important tips to remember as you embark on your journey to create the best tasting wine for you and your family to drink together.
Be sure to shop our online store to stock up on the best equipment to utilize your wine kit without any problems.
