Check the sugar content with a hydrometer and add extra sugar, if required, to obtain a start gravity of 1080-1085.It will often be easier if you freeze them first and then allow them to defrost. For small quantities, this can be done with a potato masher. Strip them off their stalks, wash them in clean water if necessary/desired and then crush and press them to extract the juice.Pick your grapes - you will need around 6-7kgs per gallon.Whilst requiring a bit more effort, you are more likely to obtain better results if you use the following method, though, if you have never made wine before, I would heartily recommend that you make up a wine kit first in order to learn the "processes" of fermentation, clarification and storage, before you embark on using your own ingredients. Using the method above gives you a 50/50 chance of obtaining fermentation and a less than 50% chance of obtaining anything that is either a) drinkable or b) repeatable. Whilst this is more or less accurate, not all grapes are actually suitable for wine making straight from the vine, not all have sufficient levels of sugar or acidity and, depending when you pick the grapes, you may or not have any natural yeast present to undertake the fermentation. Leave to clear and then bottle when fermentation has finished.Leave them to ferment using the natural yeast.
Unfortunately, many of them “over simplify” the process or take a “natural” approach, which is absolutely fine if you are prepared to gamble with the results, but not much use if you are hoping to produce consistent, repeatable, drinkable results.
Wild grape wine homebrew how to#
It is fairly straightforward to make wine from your own grapes and there are many online guides showing you how to do it.