Pride in Every Pour: Make Great Wine at Home with These Essential Items & Tips
As you serve dinner, someone asks, “What will pair well with this?” With an eager smile, you excuse yourself and retrieve a bottle of your handcrafted wine. As you hold the bottle in your hand, the weight of it feels as heavy as your expectations of what it holds. As you open the bottle, you feel the anticipation in the room heighten. Your guests eagerly hold out their glasses, and you fill them with a deep, ruby-red vintage. They comment on the wine’s rich color and bring their noses closer to breathe in its bouquet. You raise your glass, and they do too. With that first sip, their eyes widen as a beautiful blend of flavors dance on their palates. They nod admiringly and comment on the complex flavors, the result of months of careful tending. You beam with pride.
Crafters don’t just crave a taste—they crave a moment. But nothing spoils the taste of a wine, or the moment, faster than discovering something went wrong during fermentation, bottling, or both. So, what’s the difference between “Oh… You made this wine…” and “OH! You made this wine?!” Talent, dedication, reliable containers and closures, and the right people in your corner. Read on for essential items and tips to ensure that you—and your wine—get a chance to shine.
Store & Ferment Your Wine in Style
You’ll need something to store and ferment your wine in, and there are many ways to do that. You could use a plastic bucket, for instance. Technically, it wouldn’t affect the flavor of your wine. But you’re not running an assembly line—you’re creating something more refined. Besides, when your friends ask to see your winemaking process, would you rather show them plastic buckets or beautiful jugs and carboys made from American and Italian glass? With a beauty that harkens back to the roots of winemaking, glass jugs and carboys offer you volumes of opportunity for short-term and long-term storage, test batches, and secondary fermentation.
Select a Reliable Bottle
Without the right bottle, you’ll have nothing to pour your heart and soul, and wine, into. But every seasoned vintner knows that the bottle isn’t just for storing wine. From cellar to table, the bottle’s distinct shape, color, and label are the first elements that catch the eye, setting the stage for what lies within. Additionally, if you wish to seal your wine with a cork, the bottle you choose should make it easy for you to do that, without the need for pricey equipment. With its classic silhouette, versatile design, and unique color options, the W5 Cork bottle is a classic choice for home winemakers.
Keep Your Wine Fresh for Longer
Many wine lovers enjoy every bottle to the last drop. But some may wish to savor the flavors over multiple occasions or share their wine with friends and family at different times. If that describes you, a hand-applied screw cap is an essential item in your home winemaking toolkit. With the convenience they offer, you can reseal your wine and keep it fresh for up to five days. So you can extend the life of your wine—and the cherished memories it holds—for longer.
Choose Your Cork Wisely
While some home winemakers prefer the convenience of a resealable cap, others want to hear that pleasing pop as they uncork a red or white. But not all corks were created equal—some can be downright difficult to work with. You got into winemaking to feel a sense of pride and joy. And nothing steals that joy faster than cursing as you jam a cork into a bottle that just won’t cooperate. Corks with chamfered edges fit into the wine bottle with more ease, so you can achieve that tight seal effortlessly. Enhance your craft and simplify your process with corks that are easily compressible and compatible with floor and hand-corkers.
Buy from a Reputable Distributor
To make great wine, you need to time harvesting and fermentation just right. That’s one reason it’s important to buy from a reputable stocking distributor. Look for a distributor with a range of products who is ready to ship on your schedule, not theirs. Because if you’re forced to wait eons for your containers and closures to arrive, you risk killing the momentum of your winemaking process—and the taste of your wine. Finally, find a distributor that helps both big wineries and home winemakers, with real people ready to answer your questions.
Final Notes
You’re not just creating wine; you’re creating experiences. But without the right containers and closures, those experiences—and your wine—can quickly sour. Ensure the longevity of your creations by choosing a trustworthy distributor and reliable containers and closures. Your palate—and your guests—will appreciate the attention to detail.