For ages, people have enjoyed wine for a number of reasons. Many drink it just because they like the taste, but by no means is this the exclusive reason why the drink is so popular. In fact, it's been used in important religious ceremonies for thousands of years, and an entire culture has been built up around the beverage that has shaped thousands of lives across the world. Ultimately, those who love wine tend to take the drink very seriously and eventually end up wanting to make their own. If this describes you, don't be daunted; with this article, wine making is within your grasp!
While it's of course true that some wines are better than others and that the devil is always in the details, none of that really matters when you're starting out. Your main concern is just getting the wine made, and then time and experience will help iron out the wrinkles and help you improve upon things. For now, let's just focus on these four easy steps.
All wine starts from a base ingredient, usually grapes and other flavoring agents. When you hear wine lovers talk about "hints of cherry" and such in reference to their favorite wines, it usually means that such elements were used in this step. What you want to do is reduce your ingredients to their very essence; grapes become grape juice, vanilla becomes vanilla extract, and so on. Just focus on extracting your flavors into a base liquid primarily made of grape juice.
Now, here's the step that takes us from grape juice to wine: fermentation. With a simple mixture of acids, sugars, and yeast of some sort added to your original liquid, fermentation will begin. It's important to have a covered vessel for this to happen in, but it doesn't need to be airtight, yet.
Soon, you're going to end up with a highly separated product, with pulp and liquid distinctly separate like oil and vinegar. Now, your job is to strain the liquid off and be sure to get the remaining liquid out of the pulp. Once you do, add it to an airtight container and keep fermenting for a few more weeks. Be patient!
While you may have to repeat the above steps a few times, you'll eventually end up with a nice clear final product that is ready to be bottled and corked. Experts debate endlessly about how long wine should be aged but in general, whites should wait at least half a year, and reds a full year before sampling.
So there you have it. While wine making is an ancient tradition about which much has been said and written, there's no reason why the beginner can't jump in and try his or her hand. Just follow the steps in this article and you should be sampling your very first cask of vino in no time at all! - 31867
While it's of course true that some wines are better than others and that the devil is always in the details, none of that really matters when you're starting out. Your main concern is just getting the wine made, and then time and experience will help iron out the wrinkles and help you improve upon things. For now, let's just focus on these four easy steps.
All wine starts from a base ingredient, usually grapes and other flavoring agents. When you hear wine lovers talk about "hints of cherry" and such in reference to their favorite wines, it usually means that such elements were used in this step. What you want to do is reduce your ingredients to their very essence; grapes become grape juice, vanilla becomes vanilla extract, and so on. Just focus on extracting your flavors into a base liquid primarily made of grape juice.
Now, here's the step that takes us from grape juice to wine: fermentation. With a simple mixture of acids, sugars, and yeast of some sort added to your original liquid, fermentation will begin. It's important to have a covered vessel for this to happen in, but it doesn't need to be airtight, yet.
Soon, you're going to end up with a highly separated product, with pulp and liquid distinctly separate like oil and vinegar. Now, your job is to strain the liquid off and be sure to get the remaining liquid out of the pulp. Once you do, add it to an airtight container and keep fermenting for a few more weeks. Be patient!
While you may have to repeat the above steps a few times, you'll eventually end up with a nice clear final product that is ready to be bottled and corked. Experts debate endlessly about how long wine should be aged but in general, whites should wait at least half a year, and reds a full year before sampling.
So there you have it. While wine making is an ancient tradition about which much has been said and written, there's no reason why the beginner can't jump in and try his or her hand. Just follow the steps in this article and you should be sampling your very first cask of vino in no time at all! - 31867
About the Author:
Wine making is one of those true art forms that can change the way you look at the world and the people in it. To get started, you will need some home wine making equipment and a wine making recipe. For all the free information you'll need, please visit our website.
