-
Is My Wine's Acidity too High? Potassium Bicarbonate Is an Easy Fix for Sour Wine(Post)
Your wine is fermented and you are excited to sample it. As you take your first sip, your face spontaneously contorts, your mouth tightens and your hopes drop. It's sour. You often read about th ...
Should You Check your PH before Fermenting?(Post)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.
TA and pH: Taste and Environment — The Two Pillars of Balance in Wine and Beer(Post)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 ...
Struggling with Fruit Wines from Fresh Fruit?(Post)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 ...
The Hidden Dangers of Recipes in Winemaking: A Comprehensive Guide(Post)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, ...
What Are the Advantages of Wine Bases?(Post)Vintner's Best: A Practical Approach to Homemade Wine.Vintner's Best Wine Bases are a practical and cost-effective solution to your home winemaking aspirations. The wines they produce are very respec ...
How to Avoid Stuck Fermentation(Post)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 ...
The Art of Blackberry Wine: A Symphony of Science and Senses(Post)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 ...
The Great Divide: Why Home Winemakers Should Separate Equipment for Malolactic Fermentation(Post)There is a lot of debate and mystique surrounding Malolactic Fermentation, AKA MLF. The allure of creamier mouthfeel and more rounded acidity are almost irresistible intrigues. However, if you have t ...
Mastering Must Preparation for Apples, Stone Fruits, and Berries(Post)A Practical Guide for Late Summer and Early Fall Harvests As the late-summer harvest arrives, many home winemakers look beyond grapes to apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, and berries. While th ...
The Magic of the Oak Barrel: a Genie in a Bottle or a Witches Cauldron?(Post)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 ...
Why Add Hops Late in the Boil?(Post)Adding hops late in the boil—or at flame‑out, whirlpool, or even during fermentation—does far more than preserve aroma; it plays a crucial role in shaping your beer’s bitterness cha ...
Editorial: Why Science, Additives and Equipment Matter(Post)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 ...
Stuck Fermentation or Infected Wine? Fortification Turns a Setback Into Art(Post)You open your fermenter and something feels wrong. The airlock has gone quiet too soon. Your gravity has stalled at 1.028 and refuses to move. Or worse, a thin pellicle has formed across the surface.
Love Pinot Noir But Struggle Making It?(Post)There's a reason Pinot Noir is known as the heartbreak grape. This finicky grape is notoriously difficult to grow and even more difficult to produce into a high-quality wine. But when done right, Pin ...
Don't Use Specialized Cleaners? It Might Explain the Off Flavors in Your Beer and Wine(Post)You’ve got all the best ingredients to make your wine and beer, but there's one thing you might be overlooking - the cleaners specifically designed for your beer and winemaking equipment.
How Are Hop Pellets Made?(Post)From Field to Froth: Unraveling the Journey of Hops to Hop PelletsLet’s talk about hop pellets, those little nuggets that give your beer its signature bitterness and aroma and start with a histo ...
Making Dry Reds? You Want RC-212 Lalvin Wine Yeast on your Team(Post)The secret to crafting a truly unique and enjoyable wine often lies in the heart of the fermentation process - the yeast. Today, let's take a closer look at RC-212 Lalvin Wine Yeast, a reliable and v ...