While the yeast technically does all the work, a winemaker has a lot of influence in the success of their fermentations. Understanding best practices — from rehydrating dry yeast and measured nutrient additions — as well as options like co-inoculation and using non-Saccharomyces yeasts are important tools to influence the final outcome of your wine.

There is a reason so many of the pros use oak barrels. Learn about the benefits of a barrel, as well as how to choose the right barrel for you, prepare it for wine, and get the most return on your investment.

Backsweetening is most often done to add sweetness to a wine, but it can also help take the edge off a harsh vintage and is used in making traditional-method sparkling wines. Learn how to backsweeten and stabilize a wine prior to bottling.

Armed with a Super Soaker, WineMaker’s publisher learned quickly not to bring a wine-filled water gun to a Spanish wine fight (where the locals show up with full buckets). That didn’t spoil the experience at this year’s La Batalla del Vino.

Homemade liqueurs are both delicious and incredibly easy to make. Why spend top dollar for liqueurs from the store when you can make ones to your taste at home for a fraction of the cost? We share the techniques as well as six homemade liqueur recipes.

Winemaking clubs offer members opportunities to learn from others and share their passion for making wine with new friends. From feedback on your wines to shared equipment and access to grapes through bulk purchases otherwise out of reach, there is a lot of value in joining a winemaking club.

Fall is the most critical time in the vineyard. Preparing for and executing harvest are paramount. So is the cleanup and vineyard care afterwards. Wes Hagen lays out his advice for fall and winter care in a mature vineyard.

The Wizard offers advice on when and how to lower pH. She also suggests a remedy for thin country wines, explains why degree days are only part of the story when selecting grape varieties to grow, and whether chitosan is safe to use if one has a shellfish allergy.

If you don’t have a barrel to put your wine in, then put a barrel alternative in your wine. Two experts share advice for getting the most from chips, cubes, spirals, and other alternatives.

Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most popular white wines worldwide. Where it’s grown has a big influence on the resulting wine, but the winemaker also has a say in the final outcome based on the techniques used in the winery.

Get the latest winemaking news, products, and events happening in the hobby (& professional) world.

The world of wine grapes is expansive and continues to grow. Here are a select few profiles of lesser-known wine grape varieties.