I’ve always had an interest in wines; the various flavors and attributes, the ingredients that make them up, and the process by which they are made and aged. So, this year, I’ve decided to take my curiosity to the next level and start trying to make wine from home. I knew nothing about wines before I started my education and experimentation, other than the varieties that I like to drink. I definitely lean toward red wines, though I am regularly surprised by some whites…and some fruits. I would have to say, that at the moment, Australian Shiraz is at the top of my list.
Of course, my first step about learning how to make wines, was to read up on the process. I found several different websites that quickly brought me from ignorant to understanding. What I’ve taken away from my reading is that winemaking is equally a science and an art. The method by which juice is fermented and alcohol is created is a controlled scientific process. Yet the experimentation with various products, flavors, and combinations are more like cooking and baking. If you like a particular wine, then it is a good wine. If you don’t like a wine…well, then it is not. Like art, winemaking is completely subjective, making it a fascinating and irresistable, fun hobby of mine.
To date, I have bottled around 150 bottles of wines, including a Shiraz, Pinto Gris, Merlot, Apple, and Cabernet Sauvignon. I’m currently working on a Strawberry, a Blueberry, a Watermellon, a Chardonnay, and now a Peach/Raisin wine. I’ve tried them all along the way, and I’m anxious for them to age. I can honestly say that my first batch was the worst, and my last one to bottle was the best. Clearly, I’ve refined my skills with each batch, and I am even experimenting now with different flavor combinations.
I’m keeping regular logs of the process for each wine that I make, not necessarily because you will find it interesting, but more because it is just as easy to keep them online than in a book. You can check out the progress on all of my wines by visiting the winemaking category.
If you like to drink wine and have an interest in how wines are made, I strongly urge you to give making some at home a try. I have found the process to be relaxing and fun. Most importantly, I get to drink and share the wines I’ve made…all for a fraction of the cost of buying wine from the store. 
Wine List ~ Read more about the various wines and the process of making them