Date: Dec 15-Jan 16
Top 100 Wine Kits 2015
MEMBERS ONLYThis past April, 50 experienced judges evaluated a total of 1,224 wine kit entries as part of the overall 2015 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition. This large collection of kit entries was sent into the competition from across North America. The 1,224 wine kit entries were entered into over 30 different categories and represented a
Savoring Wine: Dry Finish
FREEThere are many wines in Greece, but only one way to drink it. That, in any event, is what I was told on my first visit. Athens was chaotic and noisy, but
Build Your Own Basket Press
MEMBERS ONLYBuild this basket press using HDPE plastic.
Making Maple Wine
MEMBERS ONLYMaple sap is a great source of natural sugar and certainly qualifies as home winemaking material. What is less certain, as you have found out, is how much of those subtle maple aromas and flavors will stick around in a finished wine. I’m glad you’re experimenting with adding acid. Like you’ve discovered, maple syrup just
Color Loss in Candy Cane Wine, 23-year-old Concord, Deprived Vines, and Maple Wine
MEMBERS ONLYBecause of their chemical composition under wine pH (acidity) and fermentation conditions it’s quite possible these color compounds won’t stay red, or in solution, very long.
Deprived Vines
MEMBERS ONLYIt sounds to me like you possibly have a heat and/or overexposure problem there with your vines. I’ll share a little personal anecdote with you about a similar situation that I have some experience with in hopes that it relates to your own situation and helps you out. I have a Malbec grapevine in a
Choosing and Using a Wine Pump
MEMBERS ONLYMany a home winery gets by just fine with no pump at all. If your hobby grows, though, you may find that many routine tasks are made simpler with the help of a wine pump. Some home winemaking jobs, like filtration or removing wine from barrels, may be virtually impossible without a pump. In commercial
2016 Label Contest Winners
FREEHere’s the winners of the 2016 WineMaker label contest.
Build Your Own Destemmer-Crusher
FREEDon’t want to fork over the money it costs to buy a destemmer-crusher? Good with your hands? Try building this!
Color Loss in Candy Cane Wine
MEMBERS ONLYWell, well, well. Candy cane wine is one I have never heard of! However, as one of my winemaking professors always said, you can ferment just about anything as long as you can find the right microbe to do it! Candy canes certainly have a sugar source (sucrose), so wine yeast will definitely chew through
Pairing Wine and Food: Tips from the Pros
MEMBERS ONLYThere are many views on how to properly pair your wine and food for the most enjoyable dining experience. Three experts illustrate this while offering advice. Chef: Mark Molinaro, Northern Arizona University at the W. A. Franke College of Business’ School of Hotel and Restaurant Management professor The most basic principle in wine pairing is
Post-Harvest Cleanup
MEMBERS ONLYDon’t neglect your vineyard just because the grapes have been harvested. Here’s the cleanup that needs to take place.
Sémillon
MEMBERS ONLYAmerican wine consumers tend to believe if a white wine has been bottled then it is ready to drink. But not all white wines are meant to only be enjoyed young. Let us introduce you to Sémillon.
Clearing A 23-Year-Old Concord Wine
MEMBERS ONLYSince 1992 (over 20 years) is quite a long time to store bottled wine. If you go to a supermarket or liquor store, you’ll notice that most red wines currently on the shelf date from 2013, 2012 or at the very oldest 2011. Yes, it’s true that American wine consumers don’t tend to age their
Award-Winning Kit Winemakers Roundtable
MEMBERS ONLYHow do you make the best possible homemade wine from a kit? You know, something truly great that can stand out in a crowded competition and go toe-to-toe with a fresh grape wine? I reached out to four kit winemakers who all won multiple medals in the 2015 WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition for their