The process of making wine can seem... tedious. Right?
From white wine, red wine, roses, fruit wine, meads, herbal wines, organic wine, natural wine... I mean, c'mon, it can get intricate!
Does the wine making process have to be intricate, though?
When you search the internet, or ask friends, about the process of making wine what response do you get? Maybe some, "I am not 100% sure" or some information that totally does not get to the point.
Well, here, we will get to the point!
I will show you the step-by-step process of making wine so you can be ready to start winemaking by morning.
(I'm not kidding, but also depends how fast you receive shipments wink wink)
We will dive into winemaking equipment, wine making kits, best books, and the best wine tips for beginners.
This post is all about the process of making wine.
Ultimate Guide to the Process of Making Wine
This wine making process guide will give you the basic overview of how to make wine at home. To get more intricate, you can take this guide and expand through books and other wine education!
But, we want to keep things simple here...
So, let's jump into the steps to start the winemaking process!
When I was working in a California winery, I saw it ALL! The process of making wine between red, white, and rose is honestly so wild.
So, let's disclose something here...
Grape wine, in a fancy winery, is all. about. the. grape.
Literally, professional winemakers give the red-carpet treatment to these tiny little fruits from the time the vine starts growing...
But, here's why: Everything depends on the fruit. It needs to be perfectly balanced between tannins, acids, and sugars. The fruit needs to be PERFECT!
Let's be real, that's why wine is so dang delicious.
Though, when we are talking about the process of making wine at home, it can be more relaxed and can have some more room for creativity (and errors!).
Ok ok... enough chat, let's dive into the wine making process:
But, first, books!
You will be way ahead of the game by getting books first. I am a HUGE proponent of books!
Books help you decide what style of winemaker you want to be: herbal wine, classic red and white wines, natural wine, etc.
And, of course, they allow you to get a different perspective on wine and winemaking.
Plus, these books will look suuuuper cute on your book shelf or home wine bar (wink wink).
First we have From Vine to Wine. A classic book for any aspiring winemaker or anyone interested in the craft. He teaches how to grow vines and then turn them into, well, wines.
Pretty self explanatory!
Next we have (my favorite) Wildcrafting Brewer! Oh my goddess, you will absolutely die from this book. A shout out to all my nature-loving yogi ladies out there!
The photos alone make it a MUST read. Baudar teaches how to make wild crafted wines, beers, ciders, and more from your very own backyard using natural yeasts.
Again, a MUST!
So, now you have books, let's dive into the process you can expect to make wine at home.
Steps to Making Wine
This entire process can take anywhere from 2 months to 2 years! Depends how long you want to age it and how long you want to keep in secondary fermentation.
1. Prepare Fruits or Fruit Juice
Preparing fruits can be juicing, pureeing, mashing, using frozen fruits, or simply using fruit juice from the store.
When I made plum wine recently I mashed them with my fingers, put them through the blender, then strained through a cheesecloth!
Arguably, using already made fruit juice is waaaay easier!
2. Sterilize the Juice
In Wildcrafting Brewer, he teaches to leave the "wine must" on the counter covered for about 24-48 hours. This settles the juices and allows time for camden tablets to work (if you decide to use these)!
Camden tablets sterilize the juice, but you need to keep on the counter for about 24-48 hours to kill all the bad bugs (like acetobacter, a bacteria that can turn your wine into vinegar).
RELATED POST: 15 Powerful Winemaking at Home Tips & Tricks to Make Unbeatable Wine
3. Add Yeast
Adding yeast is pretty self explanatory... Though, there are two ways to go about this.
- Add dried yeast from a packet
- Add wild yeast
If you're feelin' experimental and ready to work with nature's abundance of yeast, then using a wild yeast starter is a really rad way to ferment wine!
Otherwise, a regular dried yeast packet will get the job done perfectly. In fact a dried yeast will result in more "balanced" wines because of its resiliency during fermentation.
4. Primary Fermentation
The primary fermentation lasts about 7-14 days.
My absolute FAVORITE part is watching the bubbling of the airlock. It's *literally* watching nature... You might also become obsessed after watching it bubble.
5. Secondary Fermentation
Now, you siphon your wine into a secondary fermenter (or clean the first one and re-use it like I do!).
You can keep your wines in secondary for weeks or months. Then, you can taste and decide if you want to keep in secondary, add some more acidity, tannins, sugar etc.
Check out my detailed reference to secondary fermentation here!
6. Bottle
The final step in the labor portion of winemaking: bottling.
Again, using your siphon, you will transfer the fully fermented wine into bottles to be labeled, aged, and enjoyed.
(Hint hint: Get the bottles that have the cork bottle caps. They are a two-in-one!)
7. Age
Aging, also known as bottle conditioning. You will condition your wines in bottles and allow to age for an extended period of time.
The antagonizing wait begins! Hang in there, sister.
Now, YOU are the winemaker, you get to decide how long to age wine! Though, there are some things to look out for when aging wine depending on your wine style and your overall preference.
RELATED POST: How to Age Your Wine in a Primitive Underground Wine Cellar
Winemaking Equipment
The necessary equipment to winemaking can depend on how much wine you are trying to make!
Either way, the equipment is essential (uh, obviously!).
The basics are:
- One to five gallon fermenter
- Airlock
- Siphon hose
- Hydrometer
- Scale
- Wine bottles
- & more!
On-Demand Winemaking Equipment List
Get everything you need in one-click!
Winemaking equipment made easy with my on-demand equipment list. Get everything you need in one click so you can be ready to rock and roll.
But wait, it gets even better...
Wine Making Kits
I have some GREAT news for you:
The process of making wine at home can *actually* be simplified. I know, I know, it is undeniably great news.
Wine making kits help you bypass the first few steps in the process of making wine. You don't have to source your own fruits, process them, sterilize the juice, etc.
Wine making kits help you start fun, not frazzled, so you can actually enjoy the process of making wine at home!
Best Wine Making Kits for Beginners to Start Fun, Not Frazzled
Everything you need for kit-mania
Action Steps
I made a promise that you will be able to start winemaking by morning, so if you've made it this far, good on you. You are ready to start the process of making wine!
Here are the action steps you need to take:
- Get a book or two to familiarize yourself with winemaking (and get some unbeatable tips and tricks)
- Order your on-demand winemaking equipment list! It takes you through everything you need. Choose what you want to satisfy your style.
- Decide between a wine kit or fruit wine. If you decide a fruit wine, use the books and this abundance of recipes to help you!
- Wait for everything to arrive (if ordering off Amazon it might be a bit quicker!), then you are ready to begin the process of making wine at home.
Phew, we have made it to the other side in the process of making wine! Now, it is a lot easier (and less stressful) to be making wine in your own home rather than a winery...
That's why these tips, tricks, kits, and lists are perfect for an easy winemaking experience for beginners.
This post was all about the process of making wine.