Date: Feb-Mar 2020
Live Chat with Christina Musto
MEMBERS ONLYLive Chat with Christina Musto, which took place on March 28, 2020.
Oxygen Management for Home Winemakers
MEMBERS ONLYOxidation is one of the most common faults among home (and pro) winemakers. Learn how to protect your wine against the detrimental effects of oxygen.
Live Chat With Jason Phelps
MEMBERS ONLYLive Chat with Jason Phelps, which took place on February 19, 2020.
Story Behind The Label
FREEFeatured in the February-March 2023 issue: Kent Nienaber • Ham Lake, Minnesota Our Love Sick Marquette label was born out of a difficult situation that arose during COVID. In early September of 2021,
2020 Backyard Vine Directory
FREEGrow your own grapes? Thinking of starting a backyard vineyard? Now is the time to plan your spring. Here is a list of suppliers where you can purchase grapevines and/or supplies for your home vineyard…
Upping Your Kit Game: Making the most of your wine kit
FREERight out of the gate, winemakers are instructed to “follow the directions” when it comes to kit wines. But once you get comfortable with the process there are plenty of options to tweak. Bob Peak details some of those adjustment opportunities.
2020 Label Contest Winners
FREEThey say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover or a wine by its label. That said, we all know presentation is important and when looking at a bottle of wine
Blending with Malbec: Tips from the Pros
MEMBERS ONLYMalbec makes great varietal wines (check out the feature on page 40 for advice on this approach), but is also commonly used as a blending component, specifically for Bordeaux-style blends. In Bordeaux, Malbec is often a smaller component of wines that rely heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and sometimes used in conjunction with the
Oxygen Management for Home Winemakers
MEMBERS ONLYOxidation and oxidatively-driven degradation have been a constant plague on winemakers since time immemorial. Even today, with advancements in science and production, it continues to haunt producers of all sizes and styles. Oxygen exposure is the driving force behind volatile acid production, mycoderma formation (film yeasts), acetaldehyde production, depletion of free sulfur dioxide (SO2), browning,
Malbecs Around the Globe
FREE25 years ago, Argentina’s leading red grape, Malbec, was relatively unknown to Americans. Some wine lovers probably knew the grape from Bordeaux blends. A few aficionados may have tried an inky black
Fruit Port From Puree
MEMBERS ONLYDessert wine paired with a sweet pie, savory cheese, or fine cigar is one of the best ways to finish off an excellent meal. Home winemakers have a variety of dessert wine styles to choose from when venturing down this path, ranging from low-alcohol sweet options such as Muscat wines, to naturally enriched icewines to
Conference Comrades: Chance meeting leads to a lasting friendship
FREEWhen hundreds of people with a similar passion converge in one place, it’s not surprising that new friendships are forged. Such was the case with several winemakers finding each other at the annual WineMaker Conference.
Vineyard Challenges: A new decade, a new vintage!
MEMBERS ONLYAs we move into a new decade, Wes Hagen thought it prudent to lay out some of the latest and greatest gadgets and technology for viticulturists. He also answers some reader questions.
Baco Noir: The emigration of a French hybrid
MEMBERS ONLYOriginally bred in southwestern France, Baco Noir is a French-American hybrid whose acreage has declined in its native country, but has since emigrated to American soil. Learn about this grape that has found success in some cooler-climate North American vineyards.
What Could Lead To A Stalled MLF
MEMBERS ONLYMalolactic fermentations tend to stall, or not catch on at all, due to these seven most common factors: High alcohol: Over 14.5% and most strains will go through slowly. Over 15.5% and most strains will completely balk at the prospect. You don’t seem to have this problem.Low pH: Below 3.3 and strains will slow down
Evaluating Wine “Numbers”
FREESo, stick with me for a little bit as I get a little philosophical for this one as the answer isn’t straightforward but necessitates a little rambling. My frequent readers will know
The Oak Necessities, Wine “Numbers,” and Stalled MLF
MEMBERS ONLYJust like many aspects of winemaking, decisions need to be made about how much you’re willing to invest and oak barrels are one of the biggest ticket items. The Wizard has some advice for oak alternatives, as well as feedback on “wine numbers” and when your MLF stalls.
The Oak Necessities
MEMBERS ONLYThere are a lot of benefits to aging wines in oak barrels . . . but the costs of buying one is not on that list. Luckily there are alternatives. Photo courtesy of MoreWine! I hear you about not wanting to drop that kind of cash for a new barrel, especially as a new hobbyist.
Grape Expectations
FREEHaving trouble trying to commit to starting into the hobby world, or looking for next steps in your journey into winemaker. We’ve got a few suggestions for those folks.