Use a winemaking bottle filler based on the size of the siphoning equipment. Learn more about bottle fillers withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

Experienced vintners will often stress the importance of sanitizing equipment and work areas for wine production in making their wines and vintages. There is so much that the new vintner might be concerned about whether they have done a good enough job before starting their winemaking process. One must keep in mind that sterilization is not a necessary requirement, that is where every micro-organism is killed and nothing can live on the surfaces of our equipment and work areas.

Indeed, sterilization is impossible under normal circumstances and definitely undesirable when producing wine. Sanitization on the other hand is the process of making our equipment unfavorable to bacteria growth. Bacteria, as a rule, can be very harmful. The acid bacteria of the damaging kind will turn wine into vinegar, and that’s what we as wine growers don’t want.

In essence there are numerous kinds of products available to winemakers for sanitation purposes, one really needs to just keep things very simple and use only one product for sanitation. In doing so, becoming distracted about what products that are being used or use one when you really actually meant to use another can be tricky. Potassium metabisulfite is used to stabilize and protect wines as an additive. It can also be used to make a sanitizing solution with water. It works, so why purchase other ingredients to do exactly what potassium metabisulfite accomplishes.

To make things easy and fast for home winemaking, one must make up a complete solution in a one gallon jug that has a tight fitting top lid. The accepted ratio is 3 tablespoons of potassium metabisulfite to one gallon of water. You can usually make the solution somewhat stronger. If you use five tablespoons, this will do, because the solution gradually can lose some of it’s strength over time, especially when stored above 65 degrees.

One can also use a small spray bottle that you can fill with the solution of water and potassium metabisulfite. For sanitizing the surfaces of airlocks, bungs and the plastic spoons, you can simply spray those surfaces with the solution using the spray bottle. Rinse with water, and you are done. The spray bottle is also helpful in sanitizing work areas such as counter tops and work areas. Using these three tips will help you sanitize your equipment and work area fast and efficiently, moreso than if you didn’t have them.

Winemaking can be an extremely satisfying activity and hobby with a wonderful end result that also makes for wonderful gifts. If you have already experimented with brewing ales and beers you may already be familiar with many of the steps associated with the process of making wine. Winemaking is generally the next step for many home brewers. If you have already done some brewing at home, you probably already own much of the equipment that is required and are familiar with the patience and cleanliness that are required in the process.

If this is a completely new process to you; however, and you have not previously done any home brewing then it is important to make sure you understand the role of both patience and cleanliness in the process of successful winemaking.

Cleanliness is one of the most important steps of making wine. If your work area and equipment are not clean you will find that you encounter innumerable problems in the process and the end result will not be successful. One of the keys to producing good wine is to make sure that your equipment as well as your work area is kept very clean and sterile.

Before you begin any new batch of wine you will want to make sure that your equipment has been cleaned and sanitized thoroughly. The most common cause of homemade wine becoming contaminated is equipment that has been poorly cleaned. In fact, it has been estimated that as much as 90% of failures in winemaking can be attributed to poor sanitation.

To avoid this problem, make sure that you sanitize all of your equipment that will touch either the juice or the wine. This can be easily done by rinsing all equipment using a solution of MetaBisulfate. Potassium MetaBisulfate is an active ingredient that is used in Campden tablets; a compound that is frequently used for sanitizing brewing equipment.

Place 3 tablespoons of the compound into a 1-liter container of hot water. If the container is kept tightly sealed and stored at room temperature, the cleaning solution should last up to six months. Using the solution, make sure all equipment is rinsed thoroughly. Next, rinse all equipment with cold water.

Make sure you take the time to clean all equipment before you store it as well as before you take it out of storage before each use. This will help you to avoid any contamination problems and assure that your equipment lasts as long as possible.

In addition, patience is quite important as well. One of the most common mistakes of many new winemakers is a lack of patience. They want to rush through the steps and as a result discover that their wine is not all that it could be. Remember that just because wine is ready to bottle that does not necessarily mean that it is ready to drink. While it is common to be anxious to drink your homemade wine, waiting is well worth the effort. At a minimum, it is usually about a month from the time your wine is bottled before it will be ready to sample. Generally; however, you should wait at least six months before your wines will have developed sufficient character and be ready for drinking. For heavy reds, be prepared to wait at least a year for the wine to improve. While waiting may be difficult, you can be assured that it will be rewarded with a bouquet that is absolutely delicious.

When buying winemaking equipment, don’t forget a floor cork to seal a bottle of wine. Discover more about floor corks withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

A fermtech thief is used with other winemaking equipment to test a wine sample. Find out more about a fermtech thief withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

Basic winemaking equipment includes hydrometers, which tests the fermentation of the wine. Discover more about hydrometers withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

Winemaking equipment includes PVC shrinks, which make homemade wine look professional. Find out more about PVC shrinks withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

A aeration stopper allows the sanitizing solution to contact all interior surfaces of winemaking equipment. Learn more about sanitizing aeration stoppers withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

The types of wine corks vary with different kinds of wine. Learn more about wine corks withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

Carboy stopper equipment is an important part of the winemaking process. Find out more about carboy stoppers withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

The types of wine bottles used in winemaking vary with the kind of wine. Discover more about the types of wine bottles withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

Picking a wine label is a fun part of the homemade wine process. Find out about the types of wine labels withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

Using a bottling bucket, put fermented wine in bottles. Find out more about bottling wine with buckets withexpert tips from a wine maker in this free video about how to make wine. Expert: John Brack Contact: www.AustinHomebrew.com Bio: John Brack has been brewing his own beer and wine for more than 15 years, and has been on-staff with Homebrew Supply for more than 11 years. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA