About Homemade Wine

Homemade wine offers a flavorful, distinct taste that is unlike that of store-bought wines. Homemade varieties can be custom-made with added ingredients per the wine maker's taste. There are several different methods of making homemade wine. Many people replicate famous wine recipes, while others experiment from milk jugs. Depending on how the wine is made, some homemade varieties can be ready to drink in 2 weeks.

Function

Most homemade wines are drunk casually and shared freely among family and friends. Homemade wine can be paired with a meal, cheese or dessert, or used for cooking or drunk by the glass. Most wines take months or even years to ferment and be readied for a taste test. Most homemade wine cannot be sold or exchanged for money, as it contains alcohol, and alcoholic beverages are regulated by state and local authorities. An application for a permit can be obtained through the FDA and the state. The winemaker will also have to be bonded, submit to a background check and be fingerprinted.

Types

Most homemade wines are made from pure fruit-juice concentrates. Brewer's yeast and sugar are also active ingredients in wine. Some of the most popular flavors are grape, apple, strawberry and peach. Fruits that are not from concentrate--such as seedless grapes, cherries, watermelon, blackberry and elderberry--must go through a straining process before fermentation can begin. Other popular homemade wines are rhubarb and dandelion. These are specialty beverages made for those who require a sweet and pungent taste from their wines. Commercial wines generally fall under the categories of white, red or port. While many homemade wines are similar to commercial wines, they don't always fall under a particular category, due to the manner in which they are made.

Time Frame

All wine gets better as it ages: The alcohol content is greater and the flavor is more full-bodied. Some wine kits that can be bought in a store allow winemakers to produce a bottle of wine in just a few days. There are usually two fermenting processes involved in wine making. The first prepares the fruit to be bottled; the fruit must be screened and then fermented again before the bottling process takes place. Bottled wines can take anywhere from 2 months to 2 years before they are ready for use.

Considerations

First decide what type of container to make the wine in, and whether to buy a kit or make from scratch. Glass containers for preparing the fruit and for holding the fermenting wine should be kept separate, except for short wine recipes. A carboy or large wine bottle will suffice for preparation. Some people choose to age their homemade wine in wooden wine barrels due to the added wood flavor. Barrels can be purchased for around $150 to $200 for a 5-gallon barrel. Make sure you have the right supplies on hand, such as two 5- to 10-gallon fermenters or carboys, wine bottles, corks, locks or stoppers, straining bags, mesh cloth, a siphon, a hydrometer, a corking device, cleaning brushes, spoons, a wine rack, a thermometer and a funnel. It is also a good idea to have both powdered sodium bisulfate and a sulfate solution mixed into the bottle to sanitize the wine.

Effects

Making homemade wine allows you to become involved with a scientific process and relish the rewards of all of the hard work. Different wines can be created to suit different occasions and tastes. To make stronger wines, such as dark reds or burgundies, grapes will need to ferment longer. Light, fruity wines made from concentrate juices or sweet berries can be fermented in less time, due to the sugar content. Most homemade wines are slightly sweeter than most store-bought varieties. Homemade wines pair up nicely with a light dessert like a cheesecake or chocolate truffle.

Resources

• Homemade Wine Supplies
• Homemade Wine Labels