Homemade wine does not have to be made with elaborate ingredients or equipment. Most of the equipment you will need is already in your kitchen. Other than wine yeast, the rest of the ingredients can be purchased at your local grocery store. Wine yeast can be purchased at a local brew shop or online, if your city does not have a store specializing in beer and wine brewing.
Equipment Needed
To make simple wine, you will need a 12-quart stainless steel stockpot with lid, a four-foot length of food-grade plastic tubing and a square of cheesecloth or thin cotton that will cover the top of the stockpot. You will also need a long-handled stainless steel or wooden spoon to stir the wine during initial preparation and bottles with screw-on lids to store the wine. Empty, clean soda bottles work well for this.
Making the Wine
In the stockpot, combine four 12-ounce cans of thawed 100 percent grape juice concentrate with 2 1/2 quarts of water. Add in one package of red wine yeast and stir to distribute. Cover the stockpot with cheesecloth or thin cotton. Place the lid of the stockpot on the pot, slightly ajar to allow the wine to breathe. Place the pot in a warm area where it will not be disturbed for four weeks.
Bottle the Wine
Siphon the wine from the stockpot into bottles using the food-grade tubing. Take care to keep the end of the tubing off the bottom of the stockpot in order to keep any of the wine "must" or sediment from entering the tubing. Cap the bottles and store in a cool, dark place. For best taste, drink the wine within two to three months, served chilled.
Variations
You can also use 100 percent white grape juice concentrate to create a homemade white wine. Substitute white wine or champagne yeast for the red wine yeast when using white grape juice. Any 100 percent fruit juice can be used also. Apple juice will make a tasty apple jack wine. If the juice is light colored, use a white wine yeast. If the juice is dark, use a red wine yeast.
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