159 results for 'sulfites'

The use of sulfites is one of the hottest debates in winemaking. It is such an important topic, it will be addressed in two separate blog posts. Part two will be in your next newsletter. First let’s ...

In previous discussions, we've delved into the potential downsides of using sulfites during the beer-making process. However, upon further examination, we've discovered that using sulfites as a sanit ...

Have you ever used potassium sorbate by itself and were disappointed by the banana off-flavors in our wine? To protect against infection or oxidation, sulfites can be a lone wolf. Potassium sorbate h ...

Part two of our article on Sulfites will discuss the history of its use in winemaking, its benefits and the pitfalls of omitting them. Part one was premised by a notion of purism in winemaking as a r ...

Ah, sulfites! Those little chemical wonders that have been saving wines from spoilage for ages. But what happens when these tiny preservative powerhouses make their way into your beer? Well, my frien ...

You might have been making wine from grapes and fresh juices for years. You might even be a multigenerational winemaker. Maybe you have sworn off sulfiting your must before pitching your yeast under ...

Last year, The Guardian, New York Times, and New York Post were all yammering about a study that might finally explain why that bottle of red you love so much sometimes leaves you clutching your temp ...

Most people consume more sulfites before dinner than they will ever get from drinking wine. If you are avoiding sulfites in wine, it is worth taking a closer look at where sulfites actually appear in ...

Is there really a difference between Sodium and Potassium Metabisulfite? The short answer is yes. You have probably encountered numerous social media debates comparing them. Unfortunately, they ...

If you are a homebrewer, you are likely using tap water. If you have had results with plastic, medicinal or band aid off flavors and aromas, chlorine and chloramine are the causes. While brewers can ...

Are you ready to elevate your winemaking game? Let's talk about a little secret weapon that you’ve probably never investigated and can make a big difference in preserving your wine: ascorbic acid. Yo ...

To Soak or Not to Soak: That Is the Question?Should you soak your corks before bottling? Cork prep is one of those topics where you can ask ten different winemakers and get ten different answers. Let ...

You've just bottled your wine. You're excited about the prospect of savoring it in the future, but you're also aware that how you store it will significantly impact its taste. The key player in this ...

Deep in the heart of every wine lover, there is a hidden desire to make your own vintage entirely from scratch. For many, making wine means more than just getting drunk. It’s a labor of love that req ...

Today, we're delving into the intriguing process of malolactic fermentation (MLF.) It can be a key player in the winemaking process, but there are instances where it should be avoided. Since it is ha ...

Ever have a cork blow out of a bottle or wine that was carbonated? If you have, you were not happy about it and either scenario can and should be avoided. The solution is an inexpensive and simple fi ...

Spontaneous fermentation, a process that relies on the natural yeasts present on grapes, can yield uniquely complex flavors in winemaking. However, this method also exposes your wine to potential ris ...

The original predecessor of the modern wine kit did not come with juice or any of the additives available today. The instructions also had to be disguised as a warning. If you’re not familiar, meet t ...

The journey from raw ingredients to the final product is a complex ballet of molecular transformation. It involves trillions of cells, invisible to the naked eye, yet their collective work is what gi ...

Preparing your bottles is not on the list of fun tasks for the wine and beer maker. You do it because you must, but it’s not exactly as gratifying as punching down your must cap or watching your wort ...

If you get that signature throbbing in your head when you drink alcohol, and it is not from sulfites or amines, there might just be an even simpler explanation: you’re dehydrated! Of course, it is co ...

Stuck fermentation is a common issue in the world of brewing and winemaking, but it's one that can and should be avoided with the right knowledge and techniques. This article will guide you through t ...

Hello, you budding Bacchus! Let's talk about crafting the perfect blackberry wine. It's a bit like conducting a symphony, where every note (or in this case, every berry) matters.Before we get into th ...

If you are haunted by the seductive siren of barrel aging, you are not alone. They are sexy and romantic so what’s not to like? Well, if you do not want to be under their spell like the great Ulysses ...

If you are making fruit wines from fresh fruit, hats off to you! They are more difficult than wines made from grapes with a much larger margin of error. Grapes are the closest thing to being rea ...

If you think you’ve taken every precaution, yet you are still getting stuck fermentation and/or spoilage, your problem is probably low acidity. Unlike sugar measurement, acidity is often overlooked.

I've always been hesitant to write from a personal perspective, preferring to remain objective and unbiased in my blog posts. However, today is an exception. I feel compelled to address a s ...

Comparisons to fine wine abound when it comes to aging gracefully, but is the analogy justified? Do all wines age well? Does aging potential come from the wine, the storage or both? In this article, ...

As a home winemaker, you may have come across social media posts showcasing neatly sliced fruits in water, poised for fermentation. While aesthetically pleasing, this method doesn't quite hit the mar ...

If you’re interested in making beer and wine, but you’re worried about how to start, you’re not alone. From the outside, it can seem very daunting. You might follow social media pages or forums and f ...

Though you pay attention to even the smallest details, like carefully sanitizing your equipment and taking diligent OSG measurements, have you also considered the water? Let’s explore why distilled w ...

What if you no longer had to move full carboys, position them on tables for gravity siphoning or lift them off the floor when they are full? Better yet, what if you could do this without the need for ...

One of the most persistent misunderstandings in home winemaking is the belief that it should behave like baking. Follow a recipe. Measure carefully. Repeat the steps. Expect the same result every tim ...

Today, we're going to delve into a topic that's as vital as it is often neglected: burning your brewing equipment after crafting a sour beer. You might be wondering, "Why in the world would I need to ...

You face the ongoing and invisible battle against bacteria that can grow in your clear hoses. In this article, we will explore the various types of bacteria that can infiltrate your hoses, techniques ...

Professor Dumbledore taught Harry Potter that dark magic leaves traces. Don't let your previous batch haunt your new one with a dirty airlock. You might take many steps to ensure good resul ...

Introduction: Why Every Maker Should Care About Acidity If you’ve ever crafted a batch of wine or beer that tasted wonderful at bottling but somehow lost its spark a few months later—turn ...

Advanced Airlock Management for Serious Home Winemakers Bulk Aging Demands a Stable Airlock When you decide to bulk age a wine for six, nine, or twelve months, you are choosing a chemical process tha ...

If you’ve ever started a batch and found the airlock filled with wine the next day, you know how much of a mess it can cause. The use of airlocks during primary fermentation for wine is a ...

If you're a homebrewer or a winemaker, you've probably heard of the dreaded pellicle infection. It's the stuff of nightmares, right? Well, let's cut through the hype and get down to the nitty-gritty.

So, you've got your fruit, your yeast, your carboy, and a recipe you found online that promises to deliver the perfect bottle of homemade vino. But before you start crushing those grapes (or apples, ...

Let's dive into the fascinating role individual powdered acids can play in your winemaking process. Acidity is the structural foundation in your favorite bottle of wine, providing balance, enhancing ...

As a home winemaker, so many of the processes you use have ancient origins, but there is one that is a very recent innovation. Though it lacks the historicity of processes like using sulfites, which ...

If you've found your way here, you're probably looking for some inside scoop on the enigmatic glass carboy, that bulbous, necked vessel that's as integral to the home beer and winemaking process as f ...

Tannins can be scary. When overpowering, they can leave you feeling like Wiley Coyote after a dose of Acme alum. But when they are right, tannins can be intrinsic to red wine. They add a lot of flavo ...

Every harvest is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you're gonna get. Even grapes from the same vineyard can surprise you year after year. Weather cycles, temperatures, and a myriad of othe ...