| If you're thinking about making your own homemade | | | | the bottles and another so you can clean the carboy. |
| wine, here are some things you should know about the | | | | Some sort of cleaning agent and also a sanitizer will |
| equipment required to get you started. | | | | be included. Cleaning and sanitizing is a crucial step |
| First and foremost, we need to talk about cost. You | | | | when making wine. A length of plastic tubing will be |
| could visit online merchants here, there and | | | | supplied, and a sometimes a device called a racking |
| everywhere to shop around for the best prices on | | | | tube which aids in transferring your wine from one |
| individual items you'll need to start making your own | | | | vessel to the other. Some kits also include a little |
| wine, but most sites that sell equipment offer some | | | | device to slip onto the plastic tube that allows you to |
| sort of beginning equipment kit that will have all the | | | | shut off the flow of wine when you're bottling. |
| items you need to get your wine making career | | | | Most kits include a hydrometer. This is a device that |
| started. This is absolutely the best way to go in my | | | | measures the specific gravity of the wine during |
| opinion. Kits will run anywhere from $80-$150. That's a | | | | various stages of development. You can also use it to |
| lot of money, but this equipment can be used over and | | | | measure the potential alcohol of your wine. Corks are |
| ever and thus will eventually pay for itself. | | | | also in most equipment kits, as is some sort of corker |
| So what's included in a kit, anyway? For starters you'll | | | | to insert the corks. |
| get a plastic primary fermentation bucket, usually | | | | This is the minimum list of items, and you'll find some |
| around 8 gallons. After primary fermentation you'll need | | | | kits that include much more. What is generally NOT |
| something to transfer your wine into for secondary | | | | included is an ingredient kit, although some sellers will |
| fermentation. This is usually a 5 or 6 gallon glass bottle, | | | | allow you to add one to your package for a reduced |
| called a carboy, although in some kits the secondary is | | | | price and if you can afford it, this is a good way to go. |
| plastic. | | | | Bottles are usually not included either, but are easy to |
| Also included will be some rubber stoppers that fit the | | | | collect from friends and family. |
| fermenting vessels, and an airlock, which is a device | | | | Consider getting started making your own homemade |
| used to let carbon dioxide out when your wine is | | | | wine today. It's a fun and fascinating hobby that you |
| fermenting while not allowing air and bacteria in. You | | | | can explore endlessly. |
| should also get a couple of brushes, one for cleaning | | | | |