| You'd like to make your own wine at home, BUT, | | | | The next part is throwing in the yeast (30 seconds). |
| you just don't have the time for it... | | | | And then fermenting the wine. Again, YOU don't do |
| Think again! | | | | anything here - the wine basically makes itself. |
| While the winemaking process, as a whole, can take | | | | Once the fermenting is done (about a week), then |
| anywhere from a few months to a few years, there | | | | you'll have to siphon the wine from the bucket it's in |
| is actually very little time required of the winemaker. | | | | into another clean container. If you are making 5 |
| So, let's see how much of YOUR time it really takes. | | | | gallons, you need to set aside about 30 minutes for |
| Let's assume you have the basic equipment: a | | | | this. That 30 minutes includes cleaning your siphoning |
| fermentation vessel (a bucket), some plastic tubing, | | | | tube, cleaning the second bucket, and then siphoning |
| some yeast, and some empty bottles. We won't | | | | over and cleaning out the first bucket. Again, not a |
| figure in any time for these because once you have | | | | long process but still about 30 minutes. |
| them on hand, you can use them over and over. But, | | | | Now comes the hard part... You have to wait about 2 |
| you will need some kind of fruit juice, grape or | | | | more months. But, again, YOU don't do anything. The |
| otherwise, to ferment and turn into wine. | | | | wine will take care of itself. Zero time here. |
| Getting the grape juice or fruit juice may take you a | | | | After the "long wait", you'll be ready to bottle that |
| bit of time. You could gather it yourself (hours), or | | | | good wholesome stuff. Figuring 25 bottles for 5 |
| you could just order the juice online from a California | | | | gallons, this could take you an hour. That would |
| vineyard (5 minutes). It's your choice. | | | | include the corking, too. If you want to label the |
| The next part is cleaning your equipment and putting | | | | bottles with your own label, then add in another hour |
| the juice in the fermenting bucket. Depending on how | | | | to design and print and apply the labels. |
| dirty everything is (hopefully - NOT too dirty), this | | | | So - how long does it take to make 25 bottles of |
| should take you a whopping 15 minutes from start to | | | | your own wine? 2 hours and 55 minutes (that |
| finish. Then all you have to do is pour in your juice | | | | includes an hour to play with labels!) |
| and add some sulfites (again - a 5 minute operation). | | | | If you've ever thought of making your own wine at |
| Now you have to wait 24 hours for the sulfites to | | | | home but thought it took too long - now you know |
| sterilize your juice. We could say that this took you | | | | how much of YOUR time it really takes. About 2 |
| 24 hours BUT during the 24 hours YOU aren't doing | | | | hours for 25 bottles. So what are you waiting for? |
| anything so we won't allocate any time for this. | | | | |