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Versatile Vino: Using wine in other hobbies

There is so much more you can do with wine than simply drinking it. Bob Peak walks readers through several side projects winemakers can perf

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Going Pro: Is the time and money worth It?

In our annual Reader Survey, hobby winemakers looking to go pro usually account for about 1 in 5 readers. Here is the story of one couple wh

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Save The Wine! An endurance challenge

Winemakers are known to sacrifice a lot in their pursuit to craft a quality wine. One winemaker found herself faced with an endurance challe

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Rosehip Wine: My crown of thorns

A common sight in the coastal communities throughout the northeastern part of the U.S. and Canada, rugosa roses produce a rosehip that is co

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Master of Technology: Tips for taking your club virtual

Everyone misses in-person wine events and club meetings. However, the rise of virtual event and gathering platforms comes with some unique b

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The Cozzarelli Legacy: A family steeped in winemaking

Twenty years ago his dad was featured here in the pages of WineMaker magazine. But now that he has joined the ranks of home winemakers it’

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The Leaker: An old friend comes back

Port wines are famous for being able to last for decades, even centuries. But what about a failing country fruit wine that a winemaker tries

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Competitions Help Winemakers

Having your wines judged at a competition can provide meaningful feedback, although it may not always make you feel great about your skills

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Zoom, Zoom: Winemaking club meetings go virtual!

Shelter-in-place orders have been a challenge for many folks. But one winemaking club has found a way to keep their meetings going while bei

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Ferment It All! Attack of the Juicy Juice boxes

What would you do if your kids brought home Juicy Juice boxes every day, but never drank them? One man decided to ferment it all!

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The Forbidden Fruit: Making wine in Iran

Many of us in the Western Hemisphere can take wine and winemaking for granted. But for those folks living under extreme Islamic law, the con

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Story Behind The Label

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Conference Comrades: Chance meeting leads to a lasting friendship

When hundreds of people with a similar passion converge in one place, it’s not surprising that new friendships are forged. Such was the ca

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United We Wine: Generations connect though the grapevine

Winemaking roots can run deep in some families and those roots can often get intertwined. The Walker family from Connecticut shares their ap

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When Life Gives You Lemons: Making wine from an invasive plant

An invasive cactus plant native to the Americas has caused decades of massive economic hardships for many pastoralists of Kenya. Explore how

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Chateau Latif Vineyard: An oasis on Manhattan’s Upper East Side

A vineyard located in the middle of Manhattan? We had to investigate. Learn about Latif Jiji and the unique vineyard that he planted and has

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Everything Wine: Scavenging up a new hobby

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Complementing Food: Teaching winemaking to young chefs

The culinary world and hobby winemaking collide in an upstate New York college campus where one man’s mission is to introduce the winemaki

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The Winemakers’ Renaissance

Home winemakers are living in the golden age of the hobby. One reader sits down to reflect on the great resources that are available to thos

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The Magic of Crush Day: Because We Can

Crush day can be a roller-coaster ride of emotions: Excitement, anxiety, joy, frustration, and of course, exhaustion. A reader tells of his

Technique

Thinking Outside the Bottle: Presenting Your Homemade Wine

With the holiday season approaching, presenting your homemade wine to friends and family should be a point of pride. Bob Peak offers readers

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Doughboys Tribute Merlot

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Wine Cellar Build

A reader’s basement renovation takes shape.

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Meet the Blue Bulls Wine Co.

Meet the Blue Bulls Wine Company, a group of New Jersey-based career first responders who also like to dabble in the art of winemaking. If y

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Swamp Donkey Vineyards: Growing Grapes in New England

A reader starts a vineyard in New England. “It is great to wake up in the morning, make a cup of coffee and walk out to the vineyard to chec