Directions

• Sanitize Equipment. Make cleaning solution with 3 tsp. potassium metabisulfite + 3 tsp. citric acid or tartaric acid for every 1 gallon of water. Use solution to sanitize all equipment. Alternatively, you can clean and sanitize equipment using a cheap bottle of vodka.
• Source Grapes. If you grow your own grapes, great! Otherwise, you'll need to source fresh organic winemaking grapes.
• Crush and De-stem Grapes. In small batches, begin de-stemming the grapes either by hand or by grinding the grapes through the bottom of a milk crate container, while leaving the stems behind. Be sure to crush and de-stem grapes into a sanitized food grade container. Note: If you're feeling adventurous, you can also stomp on the grapes with your feet at this time. This process is known as grape-treading or grape-stomping, and it's really fun!
• Cold Soak. Add 1/4 tsp. potassium metabisulfite for every 5 gallons of must (optional). Place frozen water jugs directly inside the container with must to keep temperature down. Change out frozen water jugs a few times a day to keep things at a constant temperature of around 35-45℉ for two days.
• ‼️TEST MUST WITH HYDROMETER FOR ALCOHOL LEVEL NOW‼️ If you skip this step now, you will not be able to calculate your final alcohol content at the end of fermentation.
• Primary Fermentation. On the third day, bring the temperature of the must up to 70-75℉ by adding hot water buckets. Add GoFerm + Fermaid K (optional). Add Lalvin BM 4×4 yeast (around 1 package per 8 gallons). DO NOT STIR - you want to have the yeast close together at this stage.
• Conduct punch downs 3x a day (morning, dinner and prior to bed time) for ~5 days or until hydrometer reads close to 1. Hissing noises should stop.
  
• Press and Transfer Must to Carboys. Use your wine press to extract the juices into a food grade container or carboy to settle a bit. After about 24 hours, the lees will settle to the bottom of the vessel. Rack the must into a new carboy or fermenting vessel, being careful to leave the lees behind. Place the water airlock on the carboy and wait. Note: If you do not have a wine press, you can press the wine by hand using a muslin bag.
  
• Racking and Re-Racking. Rack every three months to a new container. Be careful when you are transferring liquid and do not disturb the lees on the bottom of the container. The All in One Wine Pump is a great tool for home winemakers looking to rack with relative ease. But, if you don't have one you can use good old fashioned tubes and gravity to transfer the must from one carboy to a new carboy.
  
  Every time you rack, taste your wine! Re-rack until the wine is as clear as you'd like and tastes just right (about a year).
• Filtering (optional). Again, the All in One Wine Pump is a great tool to help home winemakers filter their wines in a quick and efficient manner. But, you could also filter the wine by pouring it through a coffee filter or fine mesh strainer.
• Bottling. The All in One Wine Pump also helps you bottle your wines. But, if you don't have one you can use tubes and gravity to pull the wine from the carboy into your wine bottles. You'll need to cork the bottle, which can be done with a hand wine bottle corker like this one.
• Slap a label on your finished product. And enjoy your homemade wine!