This seven-minute video, shows a titration method of measuring TA in a wine but rather than using an indicator solution and a visual color change, we are using a pH meter to verify when enough NaOH has been added to reach a pH of 8.2. Once the amount of sodium hydroxide needed is known, a simple calculation can tell you the TA of your wine. This method is easy to do at home.
In this three-minute video, we discuss how to properly use a hydrometer, the science behind how it works, and what some of the common scales listed on the hydrometer are (Specific Gravity, Potential Alcohol, and the Brix scale).
If you are serious about winemaking, you will want to get serious about SO2 management. In this 17-minute video, we will be performing a Free SO2 testing on several wines. To make the test much easier, I am using the Vinmetrica SC-300, which also tests pH, TA as well as SO2.
Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a winemaking process involving a special bacterial strain that metabolizes the malic acid naturally found in grapes into lactic acid. Lactic acid is a weaker acid than malic acid so the effect of this conversion is a decrease in the wine’s acidity along with a corresponding raise in the wine’s pH. As an additional benefit, the bacteria also add mouthfeel and complexity to the wine.
Aging your wine is not the most exciting winemaking topic, but it is a critical topic. Aging wine is considered from the time after your fermentation is completed through the time spent in the bottle before consumption. The three basic goals of aging your wines are to assure stability, to correct a flaw or fault, and to evolve the wine style by increasing complexity, flavor, and aroma.
Deciding when to bottle your wine can be tricky. There is no one size fits all timeline, but there are some factors that should be taken into consideration. No matter what the wine type, it should appear crystal clear by the time of bottling. The wine should also be “stable” so that no unexpected processes occur inside the bottle.
So you are ready to bottle your wine? Great. Bottling wine is very easy to do, but there are a few things to know to make sure your wine will last for a long time. Sanitation always comes first! Second, here’s a list of everything you’ll need to bottle your wine:
Every bottle of wine needs some form of closure to keep oxygen out and your wine sealed inside. What you select to seal your bottles up with should be highly dependent upon your ultimate winemaking goals. But a few generalities should be followed:
With 1 billion gallons of wine consumed by U.S. wine drinkers in 2020 alone, the wine production industry is poised for exponential growth. Browse the shelves in any wine shop and you’re likely to see many different varieties of wines available. You’ll also notice the wide array of wine bottle shapes, colors, and sizes available. But what are these different bottle shapes and why are there so many variations?
Properly sealing up your wine is the last great task at hand before laying down bottles. Making informed decisions on what size and type of cork suits your needs best and using the right tool can make a world of difference in its age-ability. In the April-May 2020 issue of “Beginner’s Block,” we covered the various closure options that are available to most winemakers and special considerations for each.
Four-minute video exploring bottling with a wand and water-induced siphon.
Seven-minute video demonstrating an easy method of bottling and labeling wine at home. Quick, low-cost method explained. Review of equipment, techniques, and sterilization included.
