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Step 1
Determine how much wine you are going to make. You will need one packet of wine yeast for every 5 gallons of wine you make. As a rough guideline, every gallon of wine will need, at the minimum, 2 lb. of grapes. Wine recipes vary. Determine what type of wine you will be making: white, red or champagne.
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Step 2
Contact your local brew shop. These shops can be found in the yellow pages under Beer Supplies, Brewing Supplies or Wine-Making Supplies. Ask what yeast they recommend for the type of wine you plan to make. Find out if they have the yeast in stock, and compare prices.
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Step 3
Check online vendors that sell wine-making yeast. Often, their stock is fresher than that found in brew shops. The price can also be less than at local shops.
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Step 4
Purchase the amount of wine yeast you will need within the next few months. Like bread yeast, the yeast culture that ferments wine can die over an extended period of time. Individual packets of wine yeast will have an expiration date that's longer than bulk yeast because it remains sealed until needed.
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Step 5
Store wine yeast packets in the refrigerator until needed. This helps to extend the life of the culture. If you purchase bulk yeast, store the opened package in the freezer to extend its life. Allow the yeast to come to room temperature before using.
