Category Archives: Wine Making Guide

Wine Making Techniques (Red vs White)

If you were to look at the free-run juice from red and white grapes you wouldn’t see much difference.  In both cases the free-run juice would be similar in color and consistency.  Red wine is …Read More

Pressing Wine Grapes

Pressing grapes is not the same as crushing grapes.  Pressing grapes extracts the juice from the grape.  Pressing grapes has an influence on the color of the wine you make.  Therefore, when making red or …Read More

Crushing Wine Grapes

Crushing your grapes before you press them purposefully bursts the skin of each individual grape.  That way the juice is released from the pulp and your resulting wine can reach its full potential.  Once your …Read More

How To Sanitize Wine Making Equipment

Have you ever produced wine that you refused to drink?  The good news is that your not alone.  The bad news is that it is most likely your fault.  The most common problem in poor …Read More

How to Rack Your Wine

There is often confusion around “what is” and “what isn’t” racking.  Racking “is” the process by which you move wine must from one carboy to another in order to leave the sediment behind.  The sole …Read More

How to Bottle Your Wine

Now that your wine has fermented and is clear of sediment (racked) it’s time for the final step; bottling!  Your first task is to find the type of bottle that will best suit your wine.  …Read More

Cleaning and Sanitizing Carboys

Carboys, also called demijohns, are the primary tool for the first stage of fermentation.  Sometimes a secondary carboy can be employed for conditioning but usually the wine is transferred directly into clean bottles for final …Read More

Cleaning and Sanitizing Wine Bottles

From start to finish every piece of equipment used in the wine making process needs to be cleaned and sanitized.  Regardless of the type of bottle you use there is no exception for skipping this …Read More

Cleaning and Sanitizing Barrels

If your barrel is clean does that means it’s sanitary?  Unfortunately, no.  Clean only means free of visible grit, grease and grime.  Sanitary speaks to a microscopic level of clean.  Sanitary means free from bacteria. …Read More

Alaska Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Alaska laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect …Read More

Hawaii Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Hawaii law regarding homemade wine amends federal law.  The state of Hawaii permits 200 gallons or less in one calendar year for the head of household (married or …Read More

Idaho Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Idaho laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law (provided only native grown products are used) which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt …Read More

Nevada Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Nevada laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law (with the addition of the application for a license) which states the following: The aggregate amount of …Read More

Utah Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Utah laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect …Read More

Arizona Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Arizona laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect …Read More

New Mexico Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine New Mexico laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with …Read More

Colorado Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Colorado laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect …Read More

Wyoming Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Wyoming laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect …Read More

Montana Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Montana laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect …Read More

North Dakota Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine North Dakota laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with …Read More

South Dakota Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine South Dakota law regarding homemade wine amends federal law.  The state of South Dakota permits 200 gallons or less in one calendar year for the head of household …Read More

Nebraska Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Nebraska laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect …Read More

Kansas Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Kansas laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect …Read More

Oklahoma Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Oklahoma laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect …Read More

Louisiana Home Wine Making Laws

State Law: Legal Amounts of Homemade Wine Louisiana laws regarding homemade wine are pursuant to the federal law which states the following: The aggregate amount of wine exempt from tax under this subsection with respect …Read More