Getting Started

The first decision you need to make is whether you are going to process fresh or frozen grapes, or purchase juice or concentrate. If you decide to start with grapes, you will need more equipment and space. If you are not growing the grapes yourself, you need to locate a source of fresh or frozen grapes. You need about 15 pounds of grapes to yield 1 gallon of juice.

The second decision you need to make is how much wine to make. It is legal for a two-adult household to make up to 200 gallons of wine. If you begin with grapes, you will need an outdoor or indoor area to process them. You will also need an area to handle and store 3 to 5 gallon containers of wine during the winemaking process as well as a place to store the bottles of finished wine. The beginning winemaker is best advised to make from 5 to 20 gallons of wine and then expand from that point if desired.

Once all of the initial decisions are made, you can begin locating sources, ordering supplies, and finalizing your home winemaking plans.