August-September 2024
Master the Backyard Harvest
Wes Hagen lays out last-minute advice to maximize this make-or-break day as home viticulturists gear up for harvest.
Sourcing Grapes from Grape Suppliers
Buying grapes from a supplier allows access to varieties from regions of the world that would otherwise be inaccessible to home winemakers. We lay out seven critical points to consider before making your purchase.
Sourcing Grapes Directly from Vineyards
Going directly to the source to buy your grapes from local vineyards allows home winemakers to work with grapes harvested the same day, though it requires a lot of legwork at the quantities amateurs are after. Get advice to make the task easier.
Easy-Drinking Fermented Beverages
Interested in trying a new type of fermentation? Try your hand at three easy-drinking, low-alcohol drinks that hit the spot in the summer sun or after a long day of harvesting: Tepache, ginger beer, and kefir soda.
2024 WineMaker Magazine Conference
Local wine professionals, industry experts, and top winemaking hobbyists gathered in the birthplace of American wine — Charlottesville, Virginia — to lead days of seminars and events at the 2024 WineMaker Magazine Conference.
Browning in Red Wines, MLF Test Strips, & Maple Wine
The Wine Wizard fields questions on eliminating (and avoiding) browning in red wines, malolactic fermentation test strips, and techniques for making wine from maple sap.
Black Muscat
Black Muscat first gained popularity in France and is gaining steam in California due to its great aromatics and versatility. Whether turning it into a red table wine, dry rosé, dessert wine, or even grappa, Black Muscat is a unique grape to consider.
Wine-Infused Coffee
Wine and coffee have a lot in common. Variety, growing conditions, terroir, and technique in the process of turning the raw material into the beverages we start our mornings with or end our evenings with play a huge role in the final outcome. Brothers who make wine and roast their own coffee found a unique way to combine the two with wine-infused coffee.
School of Thought
With so many wine certification programs available, how do you know which may be the best fit for you? We break down some of the differences in four of the most popular.
Using Dry Ice
Dry ice has numerous applications for the home winemaker who needs to chill their must or juice without watering it down. Learn more about the many uses and safety precautions when dealing with carbon dioxide in its frozen form.
Get the Most From Harvest Numbers
While taste should drive many decisions, the numbers can’t be ignored. Chik Brenneman shares the ideal statistics he looks for at harvest and what numbers outside of this range mean when the grapes enter the winery.
Browning in Red Wines
There’s the old saw about the sow’s ear and the silk purse. It reminds me of my old adage of “never blend a loser,” which admonishes readers against blending bad wine into
MLF Test Strips
You are right, at WineMaker magazine we typically don’t want to advertise one product over another. That being said, we are always open to new advances and products that help our readers.
Maple Wine
Maple sap is a great source of natural sugar and certainly qualifies as home winemaking material. What is less certain, as you’ve found out, is how much of those subtle maple aromas
