Feb-Mar 2024
Home Winery Design
A lot of thought and planning should be done before you begin designing a home winery. Whether building a new space or refurbishing an existing area, you want to make the winery as conducive to your needs as possible. From accessibility to temperature control, we lay out what you need to know.
Tips For a Successful Malolactic Fermentation
I’m glad you’re using an ML nutrient (Opti’Malo Plus™ — made by Lallemand and sold through various outlets like Scott Labs and many home winemaking stores), which makes for the most predictable
Thoughts For Underripe Red Grapes
I don’t know how many cases of rosé wine are consumed in the United States each year, but I know it’s a heck of a lot. Pooh-poohed in the past as cheap
Tips For a Complete Fermentation
I’m sorry to hear about your fermentation troubles! Indeed, it’s one of the most important aspects of winemaking to master since sluggish and incomplete fermentations can ruin a batch. Here are some
Paths to Pinot Noir
It’s a legendary grape with a storied history and one of the most revered in the wine world. But it is also a cantankerous grape to grow and make wine with. Chik Brenneman shares some best practices for handling Pinot Noir in the winery.
Underripe Red Grapes, Malolactic Tips, and General Fermentation Guidelines
In the face of a cool growing season, contending with underripe grapes can be a challenge. The Wiz has some ideas for one grape grower who just couldn’t get their Syrah to full maturity. Also, get some pointers for a healthy malolactic fermentation and alcoholic fermentation.
Winter Chills
When a harsh cold snap occurs in the middle of winter, there is little a grape grower can do in the moment . . . it’s all about being prepared ahead of time. Make sure you are making smart decisions before and after the chill.
Cellaring Bottled Wine for Beginners
Aging bottled wine properly is key to let certain wine styles to fully develop. Make sure the conditions you are providing are right.
It Takes a Village
A New York City gentleman who recently retired found himself the owner of a country home in Italy with hundreds of Moscato grape vines. Having never made wine before, the learning curve was steep. But after several harvests and tons of research, he’s making a splash in the local scene.
2024 WineMaker Label Contest Winners
We share our favorite labels from the hundreds of entries submitted in the annual WineMaker Label Contest.
Making Wine with Mahogany
A home winemaker and woodworker got the idea that mahogany may lend itself nicely to wine in place of oak. This simple idea led him on a years-long string of experiments. Now, he’s ready to share the results, which may surprise you.
Maximizing Cellar Space
Get the most from your wine cellar by maximizing the space you have. Two keys to this are leveraging vertical space and mobility.
Expressing Terroir in Red Wine
Over the last decade or so, the word “terroir” has become the buzz word not just among wine lovers, but the greater agricultural world. Bob Peak walks us through several real-world examples of expressing terroir when making a red wine.
