Winemaking For The Home Enthusiast : The History

by Alden Smith

The art of winemaking goes back centuries. Pottery found in Persia in 5500 B.C. showed evidence of grapes being used to make wine. In China, jars from Jiahu contained wine made from wild grapes dating back to 6000 and 7000 B.C. People from all walks of life have enjoyed wine, and probably the most satisfying aspect of the wine experience is making your own. In this 3 part series, we discuss the art of winemaking.

Winemaking - The Basics

Winemaking in its most simple form is merely the fermenting of different fruits and other organic material that produces an alcoholic based drink. I had to laugh while researching this article. On a website on winemaking, it read “if it doesn't move, ferment it.” There is a grain of truth to that. Many vegetable and fruits beside grapes are used in winemaking.

We will focus on making wines with grapes. The grape of course is the most important ingredient, and it cannot be stressed enough that only the best available be used. Vintners, or grape growers, are very talented and knowledgeable in the growth of a good wine grape. It is important to remember that just because a grape is good to eat does not mean it will make a good wine. The grape must be grown under certain conditions - usually in poor sandy soil, to produce a good wine grape.

The Basic List

You can make a very acceptable wine from easily obtained materials, and if a handyman, can make a lot of them. Look at it from this point of view - if good wine could be made 7,000 years ago, then with today's materials and technology it will be a snap. Here is the basic equipment:

A crusher or press
A primary fermenter
A secondary fermenter
Air locks
A carboy (large glass container) of appropriate measure
Carboy stoppers
Plastic funnels (large).
Racking hose and clamps
Hydrometer
Wine thief
Brushes for cleaning carboys
Wooden dowels for stirring
Pipettes

You can save yourself a great deal of money by using concentrates and juices, as the crusher is the most expensive item needed. You could also look in the want ads in metropolitan areas for a good used one. These items do not wear out, so a good deal can usually be had.

In winemaking, the key to a good fermentation is temperature control. Wine should be fermented at a controlled temperature - 70-85 degrees F. for reds and lower for whites. If you do one thing only in following the process, it is to regulate the temperature to extract the very best flavor from the grape. If you are concerned about controlling this temperature, there are heat blankets available that maintain the proper temperature.

With these items in hand, we proceed in the next part of this series to begin the process of winemaking. This process is easy if you follow certain rules.

Alden Smith is an award winning author and regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. He writes on a variety of subjects and excels in research.