Home And Garden Articles

The Days When Home Winemakers Were Mere Amateurs Are Behind Us

Back in the days of the Roman Empire 'amateur' meant 'lover' and referred to an individual who engaged in something from a love of doing it, and not for any financial gain. These individuals were thought of as the highest of experts because they perfected their craft motivated by mere joy for their work.

Despite the fact that wine professionals continue to fill their work with skill and passion, amateurs, with the help of knowledge passed down over the centuries and modern technology, can frequently now produce similar results.

The chemistry of the fermentation process was not well understood until the start of the 20th century but, even so, the process of fermentation has been used for more than 5,000 years. Left unattended a wine grape will ripen happily until the skin splits and the juice naturally ferments by itself. Today, however, this process is guided with a mixture of art and science.

Harvested grapes are put into a press where they are turned into must which is a mixture of skin, pulp and juice. Natural yeast (which is found on the skin near the stem) and added yeast reacts with the sugars in the juice to produce alcohol (ethanol), carbon dioxide and heat. This process continues until the sugars are depleted or the yeast is killed off by the products of the reaction.

As a result of the work of Pasteur and others we can now tightly control the process so that we get just the result we wish for. For those people who are not fortunate enough to have their own vineyard close to hand, concentrated wine juice can now be purchased reasonably cheaply.

Just add sugar, acids, yeast and nutrients (to feed the yeast) to a container like a carboy or other jug and let the mixture sit for several at approximately 75 degrees fahrenheit (24 degrees centigrade). Specific recipes are generally provided with the concentrated wine juice giving specific amounts and details of how to ferment the wine.

After several days, strain the liquid off the pulp and let it ferment at about 65 degrees fahrenheit (18 degrees centigrade) for several weeks until gas production (bubbling) ceases. Then, siphon the wine off the sediments (lees) and store the bottles on their sides at 55 degrees fahrenheit (13 degrees centigrade) for six months in the case of white wine and up to a year for red wine before tasting.

Naturally, it sounds easier than it is but it is most certainly not beyond the dedicated amateur's ability. Nowadays, the process is monitored and sometimes adjusted on a daily basis and, thanks to cheap refractometers to measure the concentration of sugar, thermometers, hydrometers, temperature controlled cabinets and a range of other items the job is much simpler than once was.

Naturally things sometimes go wrong as nature takes its own course. Fermentation might not begin, it may begin and then mysteriously stop prematurely, the resulting wine may be excessively sweet or hazy or full of sediments. The wine may contain too much pectin, too many bacteria, taste flat or sulphurous or even moldy. Crystals can form if the temperature is not high enough or secondary fermentation can result from storing the wine at too high a temperature.

Nevertheless, in no small measure thanks to the Internet, today there are several websites which are devoted to helping the amateur winemaker to produce wines which can rival those produced by the wine masters. The only thing that it needs is a little bit of practice.

Visit GreatWineTastings.com for the perfect wine for that wine gift basket and to find a stunning accompanying wine country gift basket

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

In Bloom: Manbury Home and Garden Accessories Unearths Garden Delights for Gorgeous Homes
Manbury Home and Garden Accessories now features a variety of attractive, practical garden solutions at www.manbury.nl, where consumers can peruse and purchase a variety of garden tools and accessories.

Enhance Your Flower Garden With Garden Edging
So, you've got your flower garden set up You've planted the flowers, some perennials here, a few annuals there

5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden
When planting a garden there are many questions which you must ask yourself before you begin. Where are you going to plant it, do you have the garden equipment to do so and how big do you want your garden to be? When do flowers bloom and what are their heights? These are all very important questions, however they mean very little if you have not yet decided which types of flowers you want to plant.

Chocolate for the Home and Garden ~ Chocolate Flower Farm Launches New Candle Division
Chocolate Flower Farm, a specialty nursery featuring dark foliaged and flowering plants, launches a new candle division with the acquisition of the exclusive rights to a distinctively different "Essence of Chocolate" candle. The candles along with their popular series of Chocolate Garden Seed Kits will be offered to retailers worldwide.

Wild Flower Garden - Plan to Plant
In the previous article I discussed design for your new wild flower garden. The next stage is planning the planting.

Edible Flowers in Your Garden
Flowers can be an integral part of cooking. While most of us are aware that violets can be candied and nasturtiums can be eaten in salads, there's a bounty of flower varieties that are both edible and delicious.

Fall Garden Chores for Spring Flowering Bulbs
As the school busses begin to rumble down the road again we are reminded that the gardening season is drawing to a close. For the gardener with an eye toward next spring, however, the season still promises plenty to be done in preparation of a showy spring to come.

Wild Flower Garden - Yours to Design and Plan
To design a wild flower garden, you do not need to be a specialist or an artist, you just need to be observant and let your creative juices flow. Look around you, what is unique about your surroundings? Do you wish to enhance or compliment these things.

Add Rich Color To Your Garden With Blue Perennial Flowers
Blue flowers are some of the most striking plants around and can add a rich splash of color to any garden. Plant them in a cluster of all blue or mix them in with other flowers for a rainbow of color.

The Flower Garden in August
Our flower garden in August can be brimming with activities we can do at this time of year, as we can for most of the year. We have some flower gardening tips to give you and some experiments to try.

How to Choose the Right Bulbs for Your Spring Flower Garden
Choosing the right bulbs involves more than just selecting colors and cultivars. Timing, bulb size, and most importantly, bulb health are equally significant factors in designing your spring garden.

Flowers That Beautify Your Home and Garden
To help gardeners choose flowers, various systems for rating hardiness have been developed. A plant is considered hardy in a region if it can grow and thrive there without requiring special protective measures such as insulating with straw mulch.

Wild Flower Garden - Make Amends...Your Plants Will Love It
A wild flower garden, just like any garden you wish to plant, requires good quality soil that will meet the needs of the plants you put in it. That means that your garden soil may need some amendment.

Brighten Up The Garden With PVC Box Deck Flower Railings
Box deck flower railings can really brighten up any garden. The flowers create a homely, warm feel as well as adding a touch of elegance. Many people wonder how to improve the look of their deck and a flower box is by far one of the best ways to do it.