wine:winemaking

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wine:winemaking [2025/12/24 19:05] – Dave Darbywine:winemaking [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Winemaking+This topic is part of [[gt:food|Food & drink]]. 
 +====== Winemaking ======
  
  
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-## What is winemaking?+===== What is winemaking? =====
  
 Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fruit or plant material via a process of fermentation (conversion of sugar to alcohol). Shop-bought wines are usually made from grapes, but 'country wines' can be made from any fruit, flower, herb or vegetable (or honey, in the case of mead). Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fruit or plant material via a process of fermentation (conversion of sugar to alcohol). Shop-bought wines are usually made from grapes, but 'country wines' can be made from any fruit, flower, herb or vegetable (or honey, in the case of mead).
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-### History+==== History ====
  
 Winemaking started around 7-8000 years ago, in the Caucasus region, between the Caspian and Black seas. The Egyptians were keen on winemaking, but it really took off with the Greeks, and then the Romans, who spread it around their empire, including Britain, which apparently produced especially fine wines. Winemaking started around 7-8000 years ago, in the Caucasus region, between the Caspian and Black seas. The Egyptians were keen on winemaking, but it really took off with the Greeks, and then the Romans, who spread it around their empire, including Britain, which apparently produced especially fine wines.
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-## What are the benefits of winemaking?+===== What are the benefits of winemaking? =====
  
-### Self-provisioning / personal+==== Self-provisioning / personal ====
  
 Alcohol isn't a necessity, like food, water and shelter, it isn't for everybody, and some religions proscribe it. But if you've decided that you're going to drink wine, then there are benefits to doing it yourself. Alcohol isn't a necessity, like food, water and shelter, it isn't for everybody, and some religions proscribe it. But if you've decided that you're going to drink wine, then there are benefits to doing it yourself.
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-### Decentralising power away from corporations+==== Decentralising power away from corporations ====
  
 Making your own wine means nothing for supermarkets. Providing things for ourselves in communities helps prevent extraction, decentralises power away from corporates (which helps prevent the corruption of democracy) and democratises work. Making your own wine means nothing for supermarkets. Providing things for ourselves in communities helps prevent extraction, decentralises power away from corporates (which helps prevent the corruption of democracy) and democratises work.
  
-### Building community and preparing for any potential collapse scenarios+==== Building community and preparing for any potential collapse scenarios ====
  
 In case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people with useful skills the better. In case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people with useful skills the better.
  
-### Environmental+==== Environmental ====
  
 Winemaking can make use of a local resource, with short supply chains, and you have control over the way it's produced – i.e. organically, with very little waste. You'll be reducing the distance that wines have to travel to get to you - buying Australian or South African wine doesn't make environmental (or taste) sense in the UK, when we're surrounded by the world's greatest wine-producing regions; and if you re-use your bottles, you'll extend their life and reduce the amount of energy required to make or recycle them. Winemaking can make use of a local resource, with short supply chains, and you have control over the way it's produced – i.e. organically, with very little waste. You'll be reducing the distance that wines have to travel to get to you - buying Australian or South African wine doesn't make environmental (or taste) sense in the UK, when we're surrounded by the world's greatest wine-producing regions; and if you re-use your bottles, you'll extend their life and reduce the amount of energy required to make or recycle them.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 Just have a go. You may want to start by using grape concentrate or a wine kit - just so that you get the hang of the processes involved, with less chance of producing something undrinkable with your early attempts. If this is heresy to you, just launch into making country wines from the fruit or plant matter available to you. Don't worry that your attempt at home winemaking is going to make anyone ill. Wines tend to have an alcohol content of over 10%, and no human pathogen can survive that. Just have a go. You may want to start by using grape concentrate or a wine kit - just so that you get the hang of the processes involved, with less chance of producing something undrinkable with your early attempts. If this is heresy to you, just launch into making country wines from the fruit or plant matter available to you. Don't worry that your attempt at home winemaking is going to make anyone ill. Wines tend to have an alcohol content of over 10%, and no human pathogen can survive that.
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-### 1. prepare the fruit+==== 1. prepare the fruit ====
  
 - Wash your ripe fruit and remove any rotten bits, stalks, leaves etc. Leave the skins on as they will improve the flavour and colour. - Wash your ripe fruit and remove any rotten bits, stalks, leaves etc. Leave the skins on as they will improve the flavour and colour.
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-### 2. primary fermentation in the bucket+==== 2. primary fermentation in the bucket ====
  
 - Add sugar to the must and stir. - Add sugar to the must and stir.
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-### 3. secondary fermentation in demijohns+==== 3. secondary fermentation in demijohns ====
  
 - Pour the liquid into sterilised demijohns using a funnel with a muslin cloth to filter out the pulp. - Pour the liquid into sterilised demijohns using a funnel with a muslin cloth to filter out the pulp.
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-### 4. bottling & ageing+==== 4. bottling & ageing ====
  
 - Siphon the wine into sterilised bottles. Seal the bottles (with cork or screw-top), label, with date, and store in a cool, dark place to age. - Siphon the wine into sterilised bottles. Seal the bottles (with cork or screw-top), label, with date, and store in a cool, dark place to age.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum =====
  
-- If you produce or intend to produce wine for sale, you must hold an [alcoholic products producer approval (APPA)](https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/starting-a-uk-wine-production-business).+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:food|Food & drink]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/food). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources ===== 
 + 
 +- [Food Standards Agency](https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/starting-a-uk-wine-production-business) - starting a UK wine production business
 - [National Association of Wine and Beer Makers](https://nawb.org.uk/) (amateur) - lots of useful info. - [National Association of Wine and Beer Makers](https://nawb.org.uk/) (amateur) - lots of useful info.
 - [Wine Society](https://www.thewinesociety.com/) - co-op supplying wine direct from growers, at a reasonable price. - [Wine Society](https://www.thewinesociety.com/) - co-op supplying wine direct from growers, at a reasonable price.
 - [Wine Making Guides](http://www.wine-making-guides.com/wine_recipes.html) - lots of recipes - [Wine Making Guides](http://www.wine-making-guides.com/wine_recipes.html) - lots of recipes
 +- [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winemaking) - winemaking
 +- [Wine Society](https://www.thewinesociety.com/discover/explore/regional-guides/winemaking-ultimate-guide/) - ultimate guide to winemaking
 +
 +===== Related topics =====
  
 +- [[lifo:food|Low-impact food & drink]]
 +- [[soft:soft_fruit|Soft fruit]]
 +- [[frui:fruit_trees|Fruit trees & orchards]]
 +- [[beer:beer|Beer brewing]]
 +- [[cidr:cider|Cider, perry & juices]]
 +- [[pres:preserving_food|Preserving food]]
 +- [[vegg:vegetable_growing|Vegetable growing]] 
  
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • wine/winemaking.1766603123.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/24 19:05
  • by Dave Darby