Apr-May 2023
Live Chat with Pat Henderson
Live Chat with Pat Henderson that took place on May 26, 2023.
Live Chat with Wes Hagen
Live Chat with Wes Hagen that took place on April 26, 2023.
Winemaking in the country of Georgia
I am a viticulture student at an agrarian university located in Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia. Georgia is considered the cradle of wine, as archaeologists have traced the world’s first known wine
Co-Fermentation: Tips from the Pros
Wine blends are most often created after fermenting each variety
separately. However, that isn’t the only way to do it. Some wine-makers choose to co-ferment certain varieties together, believing this approach adds to the complexity of the resulting wine. Get tips on co-fermentation from three pros who endorse the benefits.
Rice, Rice, Baby
The ancient Japanese beverage sake has grown in popularity across North America in recent years thanks to craft sake producers. Making this unique beverage from rice is a really fun project for those who would like to expand their home fermentation hobby. Learn more about sake and the basic ingredients and steps to make your own.
Kegging Wine
In contemporary times beer and soft drinks have become the standard beverages to find on draft at bars and restaurants, but that is changing as wine-on-draft is a growing trend. Learn how you too can enjoy having both still and sparkling wines at home served on your own draft system.
Merlot Around the World
Though its reputation may have been tarnished by a certain movie after the turn of the century, Merlot continues to be one of the most popular wine grapes in the world. Winemakers from France, Italy, and the United States share advice on crafting a memorable Merlot at home.
Getting Crafty
Since the start of COVID-19, the interest in fermented foods seems to have only grown in popularity. Take a walk through some easily fermented foods you can make in your kitchen and what wines may pair nicely with them.
Red Hybrid Grape Winemaking
Making red wine from hybrid grapes can sometimes be a challenge, but the rewards are also tremendous. The first steps? Forget what you know about making wine from vinifera grapes and embrace the unique characteristics hybrids often have.
Aglianico
Hailing from the southern regions of Italy, Aglianico is revered as producing big and bold red varietal wines. It is finding its way across the sea and will need some taming in order to make the best from its clusters. Get the scoop.
Tips for Blending Wine
I think that’s a pretty cool idea! How many of us are lucky enough to hang out with such an obviously collaboratively minded group of folks? And, though it may seem daunting,
Making Wine With Smoke-Effected Grapes
Indeed, the last few years (2017 and 2020 especially) grape growing areas in Northern California and other parts of the state including the Central Coast have experienced historically large wildfires. If grapes
Blending Guidance and Smoke Taint Mitigation
Winemaking may be more a science, but blending is definitely an art. The Wizard has some tips for a rookie winemaker looking to possibly blend five different wines. Also, make sure you’re up on the latest knowledge and mitigation methods surrounding the phenomenon known as smoke taint.
Story Behind The Label
We saw a lot of cool looking amateur wine labels in our 2023 label contest but nothing quite as unique as these. Check out these labels from Chateau Hetsakais.
Keys to Making Red Wine
If you’re a beginner planning on making a batch of red wine, here are some keys components to hone in on before you dive in.
