Wine Making Supplies

There are certain basic wine making supplies that you should have before you start making your own wine. These have been broadly outlined below. However, you may be able to use items that you have lying around the house as substitutes or secondhand items if you don't want to buy everything brand new.

At the beginning, it may not be a bad idea to try and find alternative or secondhand supplies rather than buying everything immediately.

Basic Tools and Equipment

Primary Fermentation Vessel. This is where the must is kept during fermentation in order to protect it from contamination due to insects and foreign matter. The ideal size is 6- or 7-gallons. Commonly found in stores are buckets made of food-grade plastic.

Secondary Fermentation Vessel. 3-5gallon glass carboys are considered the best sizes. Plastic carboys can be an alternative, however, some winemakers say that it may impart some plastic flavor to the wine as well.

Bung. Corks made of rubber with a hole drilled for the airlock to fit in; the bung fits the hole in the lid of the primary fermentation bucket and the mouth of the secondary fermentation carboy.

Airlock. A device used so air can go out but not in. Choose from two major types: two-piece or bubbler. It is filled with water to allow wine gases to escape yet prevents airborne contaminants to enter.

Siphon Hose (Racking Tube). ½ inch clear plastic tubing usually about 6 feet long.
Hydrometer and Test Jar .Used for measuring the specific gravity of wine as it ferments.

Acid Test Kit. Used for measuring total acidity (TA) through a process called titration.
pH Meter. Measures the ph level.

Wine Press. Used to extract the last of the wine from the grape skins after the first fermentation.

Nylon Mesh Straining Bag. Also called a grain bag; it is used when a wine press is not available.

Wine Bottles and Corks. An ideal size would be 750ml bottles. Red wine is sensitive to light so dark shaded glass bottles are a must. Size #9 corks fits most wine bottles.

Corker. Renting or borrowing a corker will do for occasional wine making. But for making wine on a regular basis, it's good to invest with a hand corker as a start.

Basic Ingredients

Wine Yeast. Turns sugar into alcohol

Campden Tablets. Keeps the wine fresh until the time of consumption.

Wine Tannin. Dry, powdery substance used in clearing the wine.

Acid Blend.Crystalline substance used to control the wine's sharpness in terms of taste.

Pectic Enzyme. Dry and powdered, aids in breaking down the fruit during fermentation and extracting more flavor. It also ensures successful clearing up of the wine.

Yeast Nutrient. Crystaline, provides energy for the yeast insuring that it will ferment and produce alcohol in adequate quantities.

Also don't forget to buy Sulphite Solution (Sodium or Potassium Metabisulfite). It is a crystalline sanitizing agent for cleaning and sterilizing tools equipment as well as all work surfaces in wine making. It's not really a tool or ingredient but it plays a very important part in wine making.