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How to get starting winemaking?

For some time now I've thought about making my own wine, possibly having a small winery someday.

How does one get started in this?

I see 3 tracks:

1. Go buy a set of home winemaking equipment and a book and try it yourself.
2. Get lucky and have an winemaker mentor you in winemaking skill and theory.
3. Enroll in one of several enology certificate programs (WSU, Seattle CC, Walla Walla CC, UC Davis, etc.)
4. Have a mid-life crisis in Tuscany for a couple of years living off odd vineyard & winery jobs while winning the heart of an Italian winemakers daughter...

#1 is easy enough to do, but there's still a large gap between home winemaking using boxes grape juice and making good wine from real Washington grapes.

#2 sounds great, but frankly, isn't there a lot of basic theory that would be helpful to have BEFORE wasting a winemakers time?

#3 sounds so academic. Any know what the winemaking industry thinks of these certificate programs?

My wife wouldn't approve of #4, so one of the first three ideas need to work!

What's your experience and recommendations for getting into winemaking?

By keithwebb at Mar 22 2008 - 3:33am | General wine discussion | previous forum topic | next forum topic | 951 reads

RE: How to get starting winemaking?

Micah,

Thanks for telling your "story". It's inspiring to me to see how to start small and move up.

Congratulations on the bronze!

Keith

By keithwebb at Mon, 04/21/2008 - 6:39pm | login or register to post comments

making wine

I'd be happy to help and learn a bit. I'm a very good taster.

By wineO at Tue, 04/08/2008 - 4:10pm | login or register to post comments

RE: How to get starting winemaking?

Greetings,

This is my first post, so be kind.

I think getting started in fermentation sciences ( beer, wine, cheese, kraut, etc ) can be frustrating, but very rewarding. It does take practice and I recommened a lot of education. Here is a little story of how I have come up to speed in wine and beer making.

So that being said, I will start with Q. #3 above.

I graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. in Food Science and Technology ( 1990-1995 ). I started making beer in 1990 with/when my father gave the hobby a try. After he had several failed batches of beer he gave up (that is the frustrating part)..I gleaned more of his equipment and continued the hobby. I entered my first competition in 1993 winning 3rd place for entry. I participated on Beer Sensory panels for Anheuser-Busch as well. I worked as a professional in a brewery and I have passed the B.J.C.P test.

So..if you want to be serious about winemaking get educated. Get the books and read the tutorials..it all helps.

Q #2. You do not have to be lucky to get mentored. You can join a homebrew club. I belong to a club ( although I have not been going lately..note to self ). You can get some mentoring as well as education from fellow members.

Q #1. Ok..now you mentioned the gap from box wine to real grapes.. here is where I will talk about my wine making experince. I started making wine only 5 years ago. I really wanted to expand my fermentation knowledge and as I have gotten older, I drink more scotch and wine than beer.

I started with a kit wine to get my sea legs. It was as a malbec and I think I have one bottle left..it is probably bad. I gave every bottle away..for I brewed it for my wedding party. I then did a kit wine with skins to move up in flavor profile the following year. The year after I tried 100 lbs Cab Sauv and 100 lbs of Syrah grapes from a Benton City vinyard. The year after that I did the same thing again, but bought some 5 gal oak barrels. I then entered my very first competition, winning bronze (http://www.cellarmastersla.org/comp_34th_results.htm )..I noticed I was the only Washigntonian who placed...hmmm.
I have upped my grapes to 500 lbs total and I have some 10 and 13 gal oak barrels now.

I have made some mistakes, but practice, practice, practice.

I could go on and on and on...but I think anyone reading this is thinking..geeze dude.

Hope this helps.

Micah Nasarow

By MicahN at Tue, 04/08/2008 - 3:48pm | login or register to post comments

wine making supplies

Hi Micah,

Thanks for sharing the info and your story! Question for you - where do you get your barrels and wine making equipment? I have checked in to getting the grapes, and have found sources for that. I have also found barrels on-line, as well as some equipment. Are there any local (eastern Washington) stores that have a decent selection of presses, fermenting tanks, barrels and carboys, chemicals, testing equipment, etc?? Any help you can offer would be great! I am hoping to have my first vintage in the barrel this fall, and I have volunteered during this years crush at a local winery to start to learn more about the process.

Thanks!
Tim

By timinspokane at Mon, 04/21/2008 - 7:06pm | login or register to post comments

Re: Wine making supplies

Tim,

I get my equipment from really only three places.
1. Mountain Homebrew in Kirkland, WA. visiting in person ( this is the shop that brokers my grapes every year ).
2. Northern Brewer in Minnesota visiting online ( this is where I have gotten both my 5/7gal barrels )
3. The Barrel Mill in Minnesota visiting online ( this is where I got my big Amercan oak barrels ).

so bottom line, if there is not a shop in your area..then the internet is your friend.

Thanx for the kind words about my posting.

Micah

By MicahN at Fri, 05/09/2008 - 3:40pm | login or register to post comments

Wine making supplies

Hi Micha,

Thanks for the reply and the info! I will be sure to check out your suppliers. You mentioned that Mountain Homebrew brokers your fruit. Do they have access to some pretty good vineyards and growers? What are the odds of getting 500 or 1000 pounds of fruit from one of the better growers? I would prefer not to get some fruit that came in at 4 tons per acre! Any info you can give is appreciated.

Cheers,
Tim

By timinspokane at Fri, 05/09/2008 - 7:09pm | login or register to post comments

Ice Harbor winemaking supplies

The next time you're wine tasting in the Tri-Cities area, stop by Ice Harbor Brewery in Kennewick, or check out their wine making supplies at http://www.iceharbor.com/store/#2

By andyplymale at Sat, 05/10/2008 - 7:18am | login or register to post comments

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