How to Make Wine at Home Easily

A bottle of grape juice produces an easy wine at home.

Wine is an ancient beverage around which a rich culture has developed. Individuals discuss the characteristics and pairings of various wines, and they critique the quality of wines according to region, age and varietal. However, at its most basic level, wine is the combination of grape juice and yeast to produce an alcoholic drink. For those wishing to bypass the trappings of wine culture by making a simple, easy-to-produce wine, commercial grape juice is the key.

Things You'll Need

• Bottle of grape juice
• Drill
• Plastic wrap
• Dish soap
• Yeast
• Bung
• Airlock
• Pitcher

Instructions

1. Drill a 1/2-inch hole into the cap after you've removed it from the grape juice bottle. Cover the top of the bottle with plastic wrap.

2. Wash the cap in dish soap.

3. Remove the plastic wrap from the bottle. Add the yeast to the grape juice.

4. Screw the cap on the bottle and add the bung and airlock to the top of the bottle.

5. Ferment the juice in a dark space that is 70- to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In fermentation, the yeast metabolizes sugar in the juice, creating alcohol and carbon dioxide. Fermentation is a naturally occurring process, and you do not need to augment the process in any way. After seven days, pour the fermenting juice into a pitcher, ensuring the bottom sediment does not pour into the pitcher. Wash out the sediment in the juice bottle and carefully pour the fermenting juice back into the bottle. Replace the cap, bung and airlock.

6. Ferment the juice for another 14 days in a dark space that is 70- to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour the wine into a pitcher, again ensuring the sediment does not pour with the wine. Wash out the sediment in the bottle and pour the wine back into the bottle. Replace the cap, bung and airlock.

7. Place the bottle of juice in the refrigerator to kill the yeast. Allow the bottle to chill to 35- to 45 degrees over 24 hours. Remove the bottle from the refrigerator if the wine is made from red grape juice. Taste the wine. Different brands, such as Welch's, Old Orchard Brands and Ocean Spray, and types of grape juice, such as Concord, Niagara and Sultana, have different amounts of sugar, which determines the amount of alcohol in the wine. Depending on the brand and type of grape juice used, the alcohol content will be between 8 percent and 12 percent by volume.

Tips & Warnings

• Organic grape juices are better to create wine, and many organic juices will produce a higher alcohol content wine than the traditional, commercial grape juices.

• Do not use baker's yeast. Instead, purchase brewer's yeast from your local home-brew shop.

• Ensure all materials and surfaces are sanitized to avoid infection or introduction of other yeasts or molds.

References

• "From Vines to Wines"; Jeff Cox; 1999.