Newbie Winemaker Advice

Probably a "starter kit", which contains all the basic equipment and some sort of "kit wine" with detailed step-by-step instructions.

But it's not that difficult to get a good, clean wine from fresh fruit or fruit juice. I made my first wine from table grapes and baker's yeast in a 1-gallon plastic pitcher.

Jack Keller has a gazillion recipes, as well as basic and advanced procedures and a wealth of other information at

Pick a recipe that sounds appealing to you, read through the procedure, obtain any equipment you need (or find a handy substitute), and give it a go.

You should try to obtain a hydrometer and acid test kit (both around $5), although if you use a recipe, you may be able to do without them. It is almost essential to use wine yeast. Baker's yeast does not ferment to more than 9% alcohol, which is too little, and it can make your wine taste "yeasty". You can use almost any plastic bucket for a primary, and you can use almost any plastic or glass bottles for secondaries, but you will probably want to purchase a few 1-gallon jugs and larger carboys. You will also need a piece of tubing for siphoning, and a "racking cane" will make things easier. So, a starter kit is a good idea, since it should contain all the essential items for less cost than purchasing them individually --- with instructions on how to use them.

You could get a small window air-conditioner at Home Depot or Walmart for under $100, but that wouldn't reduce the room temperature below

65º. Or you could get an old refrigerator, but they don't hold that much, there is too much vibration from the motor, and you have to change the thermostat to obtain the proper "cellar" temperature. 75F is actually a fairly good temperature for fermenting reds, although it is a little high for whites. For storage, 55-58F is ideal, but a stable 75F is better than a cooler room where the temperature fluctuates. So, even though your environment isn't ideal, you can still make and store wine there.

Definitely I would suggest a wine kit. As a beginner you need quick feedback. Most wines made from scratch take a year to be ready. You will need to obtain the basic equipment and the easiest way is a starter kit as suggested above. Then I get a GOOD kit wine. They usually run US$60-90. I would suggest a white as the will be ready very young and will give you quick feedback. If you want a specific suggestion, I like the Spagnol's Cellar Craft Gewürztraminer. A very nice semi-sweet wine that everyone seems to like. Really good with spicy food. I like it very young (6-8 weeks). For a dry white, try a Johannesburg Riesling. It will be ready to enjoy in 2 to 3 months.

Ray