making wine

Here at d.i. WINE and dine, we finally got around to buying and brewing wine from a kit. Years ago we made a pretty basic tasting wine from grocery store grape juice. This time we sprung for a wine kit from the local homebrew store. The kit cost $95 and should produce about 30 bottles of wine. That means that each bottle will have cost us about $3. Not a bad deal at all.  And as you'll see below, it was super easy to do - easier than mead or beer making.

First step (optional but highly recommended) invite your friends over! 

(that's our friend Peter)

Then sterilize your brewing equipment,

add warm water to your brewing bucket, 

and add packet of bentonite.

(bentonite!? weird)

Pour the grape juice into the bucket.

And try not to spill.

Otherwise your dog will try to help you clean up.

Add a bag of oak chips.

Add a bag of grape skins.

Then measure the specific gravity. Pitch the yeast. Put the cover and airlock on the brewing bucket. Wait a week for further instructions.