If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

I’ve received numerous requests from people asking to explain what the main ingredients/chemicals used in wine making are and why they’re used.

Here’s a quick video I shot today that will give you some good insight into why we use things like:

• Bentonite
• Potassium Metabisulphite
• Potassium Sorbate
• Isinglass
• Yeast Nutrient
• Pectic Enzyme
• Acid Blend
• Campden Tablets
• Sanitol

So if you’ve always wanted to know what each was used for check out the video below!

- Scott “The Wine Making Guy”

With a number of batches of wine under my belt I subconciously must have felt that I could “sense” how my current batch of wine was progressing. I quickly found out that this was unfortunately not the case and here’s why!

I started working on a batch of white wine back in November and I made the mistake of rushing through the preparation so that I could just get it done versus enjoying the moment.

The one thing I didn’t cut corners on though was cleaning the equipment, which I had soaking in a pink solution overnight so I was good there.

I added all of the ingredients as I should except for the yeast …

The package suggested that I hydrate the yeast first but I felt it would be fine if I just sprinkled it onto the wine must (as other kits I had done said to do that so I figured I was good to go). 

I tested the S.G. and temperature and everything looked good.

I then added a brew belt to the primary and let things begin.

Now I typically judge how things are progressing with my wine by the yeast smell and the bubbling in the airlock and while there was definitely a yeasty smell after a few days I didn’t see much in the way of bubbling action going on. This was concerning!

I decided to leave the brew belt on for a few more days (due to the lower temperature in my basement) to see if that would help and it didn’t seem to.

Convinced that the fermentation was stuck I went to the local wine making supply store and bought more yeast in anticipation of having to start over again.

The guy at the store suggested that the wine was starved of oxygen so leave the lid on the primary unsealed to let oxygen in - this should help with the fermentation. He also clarified that you typically don’t have to rehydrate dry yeast with kits but you would have to with fruit wine since the since the juice wasn’t balanced for things like sugar levels or acid levels and therefore need a bit of a “kit start”. Thought that was interesting!

When I got home I decided to test the SG before I added more yeast fully expecting it to only have moved a little but was absolutely shocked to find out that the fermentation was completely finished! That’s right, it had feremented from 1.08 all the way down to 0.998 but had done it really “discretely”.

I absolutely couldn’t believe it! So just when you think you can sense how well your wine is doing, it’s best to get the real picture of what’s going on by double checking with some simple measurements like SG.

Certainly a lesson learned for me!

On a side note:

I had left the yeast packet in my jacket pocket and only realized this after I had put my jacket into the washing machine that was set to use warm water. Luckily I remembered this early on in the washing process and I can only imagine how my clothees would have smelt after being washed in warm water and yeast after 30 minutes …

I have a wine making friend and colleague (Greg) who I know through a local business group. He owns a local environmental company (Douglas Environmental Solutions) and he specializes in mold remediation as well as water quality.

At one of our meetings we discussed the use of reverse osmossis (RO) water for wine making as he makes wine himself and has access to this kind of water.

I’ve heard a lot of different opinions on water but here’s the general consensus. You could use tap water with wine kits but you risk having a chlorine taste in your wine. One thing you could do is let your water sit for 24 hours so the chlorine evaporates but then again you need to leave this open to the air so bugs could get in it. You could also filter your water but that’s a pain in the butt too. The best type of water to use is clean spring water as it has just enough trace elements in it that the yeast can use them as food.

The problem with RO treated water is that it’s “dead” so the yeast won’t have access to some minerals to act as food. I recently read that if you used RO or distilled water you could bolster the water with yeast nutrient so technically could use it.

You could use RO water to rinse your equipment (if you wanted to find a good use for the water) as RO limits adding bacteria or germs to the equipment after you’ve cleaned and sterilized it.

Here’s a good article that I found for you that can explain it in further details:

http://www.grapestompers.com/articles/winemaking_water.htm

Greg asked the author of the above article at GrapeStompers.com to clarify his position on water used in wine making and here’s what he said:

Using RO or distilled water to dilute a concentrate makes real sense to me as you are replacing what was removed. I don’t recall ever saying to add minerals to wine must as a general practice. I suspect the effect of using tap water is small unless your water is heavily mineralized with calcium.

Calcium can precipitate out tannins affecting taste and color. For example, if calcium carbonate is used to remove acid in grape must or wine, a lot of color and other flavors go down with the precipitate.  This is just like that soap scum you get around bathtubs in hard water areas and with real soap. Using un mineralized water makes sense, but I wouldn’t pay the shipping costs, just go to your local supermarket and get ozonized RO. I don’t know if chlorine (or now chloramines) will have any effect, as there is so much else that is oxidizable in the must, it will probably not affect the yeast.

BTW the best way to reduce acid and not affect the wine is to use potassium bicarbonate and then chill the wine to remove the potassium bitartrate as crystals (wine stone).

There are plenty of minerals (potassium, etc) in the grape juice to supply the yeast and the weak acids (tartaric and malic) buffer the pH, so the yeast stay within their desired pH range for fermentation.

With meads, these minerals are not present and pH control becomes more difficult as there are no weak acids in sugar or honey and leads often to stuck fermentations as the pH drops out of the operating range.  In this case, adding potassium or (less desirable) sodium carbonate  periodically during the fermentation to maintain a pH around 4 or above will cause the fermentation to finish in the same time range as wine. Beer also benefits from minerals as this can affect the after taste (dry, bitter, round, etc), but there are plenty of weak acids in most beer worts.

So I guess using RO water is that bad after all …

What type of water do you use in your wine making and what’s your opinion on the subject?

Leave your comments below!

- Scott “The Wine Making Guy”

The selection of appropriate food and wine pairings was at one point an art practiced only by the gourmand, the Maitre d’ or the sommelier at your favorite expensive restaurant. Today the choices of wine in the grocery and wine stores across the world are incredible. It is in fact possible to make food and wine pairings using almost any good quality wine and well prepared food. However, many folks still regard it as important to only combine appropriate wines with certain foods.

Food Selections With Red Wine

Red Fruit Wines is said to enhance the flavors of the food and in most cases provide a set of supporting not overpowering tastes to your meal. Red wines are described in terms of body, depth of color, smoothness and mix of tastes and tannins. Cabernets and merlots are red wines that should not bite when they go down and should be soothing to the palette. It is for these reasons that the traditionalists favored food and wine pairings that combined these red wines with red meats such as beef, and exotics such as ostrich and emus. Other red wines that are usually paired in this way are varietals from Spain, such as the Rioja and the red Bordeaux’s from France and some of the Tignanellos from the Tuscany region in Italy. Of course not all red wines should be thought of in this way.

There are many red wines today that are more sweet or lighter in nature. Food and wine pairings for Texas red, Beaujolais Nouveau or a Valpolicella can be extended to almost anything you eat. These wines are often drunk a little chilled and can add to any meal. Roses can also be included in this category and outstanding food and wine pairings with a good Rose are easy.

The other most frequently drunk red Fruit Wine in Italy is the Chianti. It has been said that the right Chianti can be paired with almost any food and it is truly hard to argue that there is food and wine pairing that is wrong for good Chianti. However, there should be a warning on the label, bad Chianti ranks among the worst things anyone can imbibe. If you are serving up a grand meal make sure that you choose a good Chianti or the occasion will be a real disaster.

Food Selections With White Wine

Food and wine pairings for white wines and Liqueurs are traditionally very broad. Often lighter and crisper in taste many white wines can be used at all stages of a meal, depending on your palette and taste. Common main course food and wine pairings for white wine include Chardonnays with fish, poultry and roast pork. As deserts are offered sweeter desert wines such as a Sauterne may be offered. In fact, as with red wines there are perhaps no food and wine pairings that are bad if good choices are made. Wines such as Fume Blanc, or Cabernet Blanc or even a good Chablis or German wine can be served with any food. Who is to say what is right and wrong, as long as the particular food and wine pairing provides a pleasant eating experience.

You do not have to be a sommelier in order to know something about Fruit Wines. You can always tout yourself as an expert even though you are trusting your mouth to tell you what actually tastes good to you. Therefore, you can host your very own wine tasting party if you would like to do so. This should not be something that causes you to panic or get uptight. You are suppose to relax, enjoy yourself and have a little fun whenever you are hosting such an event.

How To Host A Wine Tasting Party

If you did not know this before, there is a little secret you should know before you host your party. There are actually wine tasting party kits that you can not only purchase online but also from various local shops. Of course, there is no rule stating that you have to purchase a kit, but if you want to make sure that things go smoothly, there are some things that you are going to need to have on hand for your event.

Of course, any good party is going to need some guests. You should take some time to think about who you know that likes and drinks wine. Make sure that you do not invite a lot of people though as this should be a small, intimate affair.

You are also going to need to purchase a few bottles of Citrus Wine that you think you might enjoy. More than likely you will not need more than 2 bottles of each red and white wine that you purchase. Of course, you can also ask your guests to bring their favorites with them. However, you will need to know what they plan to bring ahead of time so that you can print up cards that tell you what each type of wine is.

It is also a good idea to have some pens or pencils for guests to write with; 2 wine glasses per person; some plain saltine or oyster crackers and plain water for guests to use in order to cleanse their palates; and some nice, soft music. You can also introduce wine charms to people for them to choose from for on their glasses. These are fun things to attach to your glass.

If you would like to throw a twist into things you can serve champagnes instead. If you choose to do this, you should have cava, prosecco, sparkling wine and champagne available for sampling.

Above all else, make sure that you drink responsibly.

The simple truth about calories in wine is that, yes there are calories in Fruit Wines. Indeed, unless the product you are eating is almost entirely made up of water or man-made chemicals there are indeed calories in all the foods and drinks that we consume. It is fair to assume that however the world got here it was designed that way. Without calories one cannot survive and it has been proved that one can most certainly not survive on love alone. There are many who have died of a broken heart proving that point without question. So given that you must consume calories to survive, it is good thing that there are calories in wine, otherwise there would be many winos and other wine enthusiasts who would not be here today. However, for those trying to lose some of their extra weight, perhaps there should be some consideration of the amount of calories in wine.

Wine As A Fuel Source

There is typically about 60-80 calories in an average glass of wine. In a regular bottle there are perhaps five to six glasses of wine at most, depending on the size of the glass. Some of today’s red wine glasses can in fact hold almost a complete bottle. So, therefore, in a typical bottle of wine there is typically anything from 300 to 500 calories for the sweeter reds and whites. The existence of calories in wine is a fact, but compared with other things we eat it is perhaps a minimal consideration. A hamburger can have up to one thousand calories in it, and if you add bacon, almost as much fat as your body needs in a month. There is not a lot of fat in wine, if any at all. There is sugar and some small amount of carbohydrates, but even the amount of carbohydrates is relatively small compared to a slice of bread. Hence, one should consider wine as a good source of calories and with an appropriate choice of varietals, a worthwhile human fuel source.

An additional benefit to wine is the general feeling of wellness it provides to the digestive system and brain, this can not be overlooked when considering the amount of calories in wine as part of dieting plan.

The Benefits Of Drinking Wine

Regardless of the fact that calories exist in wine and Liqueurs, wine may benefit you, and should, therefore, be considered as part of a normal person’s diet. Wines in general, aid in digestion, enhance the food we eat, and certain red wines may even provide enough antioxidants and other goodies that the issue of calories in wine should be a second tier discussion.

With so much conflicting information, it’s hard to know what you should or shouldn’t be eating and drinking to stay healthy. While there is no firm medical proof, most studies point to health benefits from drinking red wine.

What Can Red Wine Do?

While red wine and Fruit Wine isn’t considered a cure all (and certainly not a substitute for visiting your doctor), there are some widely agreed upon benefits to drinking red wine. The most promising benefit is that red wine is believed to protect against certain forms of cancer & heart disease. In fact, some studies show up to a 30%-50% reduction in heart disease of those who consumed a glass of red wine each night. It also appears to have a positive effect on cholesterol & blood pressure. And finally, drinking red wine has been shown to lower the risk of heart attacks in middle-aged (30-50 years old) adults.

Why Red Wine?

Experts started to study the benefits of red wine and Liqueurs when they started to notice a correlation between populations who drank red wine regularly and lower incidences of disease. This was especially evident in the Mediterranean region, where red wine is plentiful. They also studied the so-called “French Paradox,” where the French have a lower rate of heart disease and obesity even though they consume a higher-fat diet. Most of the benefits of red wine come from the antioxidants present in it. Studies show that red wine has a high concentration of antioxidants, which are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The antioxidants have been found to increase HDL cholesterol (the good kind of cholesterol) and help prevent blood clots and plaque from forming on arteries.

How Much Should I Drink to See the Health Benefits of Red Wine?

Most experts believe that it takes very little to see the health benefits of red wine and Homemade Wine Recipes. Moderation is truly the key – one glass of wine per day for women and one or two glasses for men. Keep in mind, as well, that a glass of wine is considered to be four ounces. This isn’t to say that you should be drinking a bottle of red wine each night. In fact, most experts believe that the health benefits of red wine are lost if wine is consumed to excess. There is also the concern that those who have a family history of alcoholism or other pre-existing health conditions should not be drinking red wine. In these cases, the benefits do not outweigh the risks.

If it’s fine wines and great food that you live for, then it’s all about Food and Wine Magazine. This magazine has dedicated itself to the individual who cannot eat his food without the taste of a good wine and making wine. Here you can find the best unknown restaurants across America. There are recipes galore and the latest in the newest grape. Food and Wine Magazine also has numerous auctions to benefit charities and group trips to benefit the select palate. If your hobby is wine or if your hobby is food, or if you genuinely enjoy both, than Food and Wine Magazine will become your periodical of choice.

Sponsor of Top Chef

One of the most popular reality shows on television for Wine Making Recipes is Top Chef. The show, with its cutthroat cooking competitions to find America’s next Top Chef, has become number one in the ratings and is being sponsored by Food and Wine Magazine. This reality show has brought culinary skills to the forefront of the public. For the past 25 years Food and Wine Magazine has held a Food and Wine Fest in Aspen, Colorado. Securing tickets to this festival is now becoming rare as many people keep their tickets within their families. The festival is one of the most popular food and wine events of the year. The newest chefs are highlighted at the festival, as well as America’s newest Top Chef.

Food and Wine Magazine now reviews the latest videos of the country’s most popular chefs preparing certain recipes and recommends the best of these videos for Wine Making Guide. The top ten recipes of the month are also reviewed, as well as the top ten wine picks of the month. Wineries are very often reviewed with their picks of the recipes which would most benefit from their wines. All current wine, cocktail and food fests are always listed in Food and Wine Magazine. Of course there are many highlights of the latest appliances and the future in kitchens. There are also many articles written on what you already have in your kitchen and how that valuable appliance or utensil has been used for over a century. Food and Wine Magazine relays the latest cooking techniques and short-cuts to cooking your favorite meals and all the latest in seasonal entertainment. If you want to understand why certain wine glasses are better than others for a particular wine, then Food and Wine Magazine has your answer. For the culinary minded or if you would like to become culinary minded, then Food and Wine Magazine is your answer.

Box wine is Fruit Wine that is packaged in a bag, which is typically made of aluminum, and which is protected by a box, which is usually made of standard corrugated cardboard. There are many advantages to box wine, such as the fact that it the packaging method itself is arguably superior to other methods.

Therefore not only is the box wine easier and safer to transport around, but as well it preserves the wine better and thus allows it to age to perfection, without any unnecessary oxygen being able to seep in and tamper with the flavor of the wine.

As well there is the fact that box wine is not subject to cork taint or spoilage, even after you have actually opened the wine. There is also a much greater efficiency of storage and in particular an elimination of the risk of breakage incurred by transporting wine in bottles.

Just as there are advantages to the box Citrus Wine however there are disadvantages as well, such as the fact that the bag used in this method is not hermetically sealed, and so because of this it has an unopened shelf life that is much shorter than most other types of wines. The box wines are also labeled by many wine connoisseurs as being ‘cheap’ wines, as they claim that the wine simply does not have the authentically aged taste and depth that other wines do.

Where to buy

If you are interested in purchasing box Fruit Wines, you can generally find at least a remote selection at any wine or liquor store near you, however if you have no luck here then you are going to want to locate a specialty wine store in your localized area. There are also various companies available online that you can order from, and because the box wines are easy to transport, you are really able to order wine from anywhere in the world.

The best idea is to have a selection of both box and bottle wines, so that you can have more of a variety, but you do have to remember that because box wines have a shorter life span they are going to need to be opened and drank before the others. As long as you do not drink these wines after the due date specified then you will be fine.

You also want to remember that your options are much more limited when it comes to the boxed wines, because they are fermented and stored differently than bottled wines and so there is not as much variety to choose from.

Going on a making wine tour can be a truly fun, enjoyable and learning experience. There are many locations across the world that offer a wine tour, however you will obviously find more options in a locale which is more prone and popular in the matter of wine growing.

Niagara, for example, is a location where there are plenty of different types of offerings in regards to wine tours. This is because Niagara is not only an area that is rich in tourism, but it is also an area that is prominent in the growing, storing, and preserving of all different sorts of wines, which explains a lot as to the wine tour popularity in this area.

Who Offers a Wine Tour in Niagara?

Grape and Wine Tours is a wine tour company that is located in the Niagara region, and they offer an escape to the wonderful and magnificent Niagara wine country. Here you will be able to discover some of the most incredible wines and stroll through gorgeous grape vineyards. You can even enjoy multi-course meals here, with an entire group of your friends and family, and enjoy the sights of beautiful courtyard settings, bistros with expansive vineyard views, or exceptional award winning winery restaurants.

Some of their most popular liqueurs tours include that of: Afternoon Delight Tour, which includes an extensive winery tour at one winery, and then wine tasting at three other wineries, and you are even allowed to meet the winemaker if one is so available; Lunch Fiesta Tour, which allows you to enjoy private wine tasting at four separate wineries, as you stop and shop at the winery boutiques of your choice.

This particular tour includes several definitive components, which are: a professional tour guide, pick up at your accommodation, a tour of one winery, a three course gourmet lunch inside of a fine dining or winery restaurant, and wine tasting at all four wineries.

There is also the Best Kept Secret Dinner Tour, which involves wine tasting using wine glass at three boutique wineries, an extensive tour of which during you learn about the history of wine and a gourmet three course dinner; or, there is also always the option of choosing the gourmet picnic experience, where you can spend a day traveling through wine country with your significant other, and of which there are numerous different options you can choose from, in order to make the experience personalized, and so that you are ensured that you will have the best and most enjoyable time you possibly can.