Wine-wizard

I’ve read you can use bananas to give body to thin wines. Can you please explain why this works and any impact on flavor?

Wine-wizard

Is it better to separate free-run wine from the pressed wine during fermentation and should they be blended before bottling if you are making Zinfandel?

Our Zinfandel wine is now in secondary fermenters, with free-run wine separate from the pressed. Do you have advice on allowing the free and

Wine-wizard

What can cause homemade wine to have a slight “vinegar” taste?

Article

An Inside Look at Competition

How will your wine stack up in competition? And what should you know before entering? Lear the ins and outs of amateur wine competitions.

Article

Blending to Improve Wines

Blending, in itself, is a physically simple task. You take one wine and stir it with another, and the result is a wine that tastes a little

Even More Practical Wine Terms

Article

Making Cabernet Franc: Tips from the Pros

Derek Wilber, Anthony Road Wine Co., Penn Yan, NY on making Cabernet Franc wines and the importance of quality juice.

Article

Making Flavorful Vinegar

As a home winemaker you are in a great position to make vinegar with deep, rich flavors that far surpass most of what’s available on the m

Article

Mastering Merlot

Merlot has become an important winemaking grape throughout the world.

Technique

The Art of Winemaking

Wine-wizard

I did not rehydrate my yeast before I pitched it. How do I do this and what happens if I don’t?

Wine-wizard

What does toasting add to oak flavor? Can I use a blowtorch on an oak plank to toast it, cut it in thin strips and add to my wine?

Article

Adding Oak: Tips from the Pros

Winemaker John Fletcher of Hillside Estate Winery in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada offers his thoughts on adding oak to yo

Build Your Own Garage Wine Cellar

Create Your Own Great Labels

Article

Flavors That Make Cabernet Great

A longtime pro winemaker shares his advice on evaluating Cabernet, with advice on crafting your own great Cab.

Article

Mead: Nectar of the Gods

Step by step instructions to making mead, including various versions and recipes with spices, fruits, and juices.

Article

Sparkling Wine, Step-by-Step

Anyone who can make a clean white wine and knows a bit about secondary fermentation can whip up a killer Champagne-style sparkling wine.

Article

The Sweet Rewards of Dessert Wines

A good dessert wine has its place on the table and can be just as rewarding as a good Cabernet or Chardonnay. Learn to make a sweet wine.

Troubleshoot a Stuck Fermentation

Wine-wizard

How many pounds of grapes will make five gallons (19 L) of wine? Are there guidelines for reds and whites and varieties within each of those groups?

Wine-wizard

I’ve heard homemade wines go bad after two years. What causes that and how can I prevent it?

Wine-wizard

There is a yellow ring around the top of the wine in my carboy, but the wine tastes and smells fine. What’s with the yellow ring?

Article

Build Your Own Crusher

Plans to build your own grape crusher.

Growing Grapes in Cold Climates