At E.C. Kraus, America’s finest in-home wine making company, we are dedicated to providing you, our customer, with the best wine, beer, liquor, and soda making supplies and information in the business. If you are an experienced wine maker you already know how enjoyable, rewarding, and economical this pastime can be. At E.C. Krause we have simplified the wine making process by providing informative articles, recipes, directions, and other useful information needed for making quality wine in your own home. Whether you are an experienced wine maker looking for some new ideas or if you’re a beginner interested in learning about in-home wine making, you will find what you need at E.C. Kraus. Learn to make wine in your own home. Learn about fermentation and how to stop fermentation. Learn about topping up, filtering, sampling, corking, racking, and properly storing your wines. You can also find new home wine making recipes, from sweet strawberry and apple wines to high alcohol wines. With our informative list of wine making articles you can also learn what it takes to develop your own wines. Come in and let us show you the art of home wine making.

LAST UPDATE: 4/21/2005

WINE MAKING ARTICLES TO GET YOU STARTED:

• How To Get Started Into Home Wine Making - Don't know where to start? This article will guide you through the basic wine making steps you can take to put you on the fast track to making wine at home. More >>>

• Where To Start: A Clear Guide For The Overwhelmed Beginner - Making your first batch of wine can be an intimidating experience. The article is designed to clear up matters and take the intimidation factor out of wine making at home. More >>>

• The 7 Easy Steps to Home Wine Making - A simplified overview of the wine making process. It breaks the wine making process down into 7 easy steps that anyone can follow. More >>>

• Home Wine Making With Fruits - A great read for anyone interested in making wine from fresh fruits. Tells how much fruit is needs, what other wine making ingredients should be used, and how to make small adjustments that will improve the wine's flavor. More >>>

• Five Fundamentals To Keep Your Wine Making On Track - Read about the five keys to successful wine making. Fundamentals that will keep the beginning winemaker focused on what matters most. More >>>

• Creating Your Own Wine Recipes - Ever wondered why certain ingredients are called for in a wine recipe? Why one recipe can vary so greatly from another? This article covers the in's and out's of a wine recipe, so that you can create your own. It dissects the wine recipe--piece by piece--in plain English. More >>>

• Taking The Mystery Out Of Home Wine Making - An informative article geared for the beginning winemaker. Gives a broad view of the home wine making process so that one can see what's involve in a nutshell. A must read for the first time winemaker. More >>>

• Home Wine Making FAQ - Learn the answer to some of the more frequently asked wine making questions beginners have about making their own wine at home. More >>>

• Hottest Selling Wine Making Juices Of 2004 - See what everyone else liked in 2004. This wine making article gives the number one best seller for each of the seven brands of packaged wine making juices we offer. Also, profiles their character. More >>>

THE FERMENTATION PROCESS:

• Fermentation 101 - A detailed look at the fermentation process. Takes a look at what is actually taking place during a wine fermentation. Also, covers the  various stages that a fermentation will go through when making wine. More >>>

• Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure - Listed in order from the most common to the least common reasons. Compiled from years of helping home winemakers and finding answers and solutions to their wine making problems. More >>>

• Why Should I Use Yeast? - A thorough explanation as to why using packaged wine making yeast is so important when making any wine at home, as opposed to relying on a fruit's natural yeast or bread yeast. More >>>

• Using Yeast Starters For Improved Fermentation - Describes what a yeast starter is and how it can improve a wine making fermentation. Also, shows how you can make and use your own wine making yeast starter. More >>>

• A Few Words About Yeast Nutrient - Covers the nutritional needs of a wine fermentation and why nutrition is important. Also, takes a look at the various wine making nutrients available to the home winemaker and when each wine making nutrient should be used. More >>>

• Getting A Handle On Acidity - This article explains how acidity effects a wine and how to control it. Shows how to take acidity readings and how to make adjustments to a wine's acidity level during the wine making process. More >>>

• Racking Your Wines - An overview of the racking process. Explains what racking means and why it is necessary when making wine. Tells you when the best times are to rack your wine and the best way to go about it. More >>>

• Topping Up Your Wines - Defines what "topping up" means in wine making and why it is important. Details when topping up should be done and what methods can be used to top up a wine in different wine making situations. More >>>

• Malolactic Fermentation: Is It Right For You and Your Wines? - Defines what a malolactic fermentation is exactly. Discusses the pros and cons of malolactic fermentation (MLF); what types of wines should be considered; how to induce MLF and what to do after and MLF is finished. More >>>

WINE CLARIFICATION:

• Using Bentonite As A Clarifier - Explains how Bentonite is used in wine making as a clarifier to drag suspended particles to the bottom of a fermentation vessel. Also, gives tips on how to make Bentonite more effective. More >>>

• Using Finings To Improve Your Wine - A complete look at the various fining agents available to the home wine making and how these fining agents can be incorporated in a wine for clarification, stabilization and to alter certain characteristics. More >>>

• Filtering Your Wines - Describes the role wine filters play in the wine making process and the manner in which they should be used. Covers the various styles of wine filters available and how to choose the wine filter that's right for you. More >>>

• Maintaining Stability In Your Wines - A detailed article about how to cold stabilize and heat stabilize any wine. Explains how doing so improves the wine and how to go about it. More >>>

BOTTLING AND AGING WINE:

• Corking Your Wine Bottles - A complete look at the wine bottling process. Explains how to choose the right wine bottle corker and corks. Gives insight into cork preparation and how to actually cork a wine bottle. More >>>

• An Overview Of Wine Bottling - Gives some insight on choosing the best wine bottles, wine corks and corker for bottling your wines. Also, talks about bottle decoration such as bottle labels and Heat Shrink Capsules. More >>>

• A Quick Way To Sanitize Wine Bottles - A quick article about how Bottle Trees and Sulphatizers can save you a lot of time when preparing your wine bottles for bottling when making wine at home. More >>>

• Wine Bottle Storage And Temperature - A brief look at the role temperature plays during wine bottle storage. Runs through the temperatures and why temperature fluctuation can be detrimental to the shelf-life of a wine. More >>>

• Using Oak Chips to Age Your Wine - A brief article on how to incorporate oak chips into the aging of your homemade wines. Talks about how to prepare the oak chips and when to add them during the wine making process. More >>>

• Adding Oak To Your Homemade Wines - A thorough look at how home winemakers can go about adding oak character to their wines. Also, talks about how oak effects a wine and when it is appropriate to use oak aging. More >>>

• Maintaining Stability In Your Wines - A detailed article about cold stabilizing and heat stabilizing your wines. Explains how doing so improves the wine and how to go about it. More >>>

• Blending to Improve Home Made Wines - Discusses how to use blending as a means of improving the bulk homemade wines you have in stock. Covers how to select two wines for blending and then shows the best way to blend them together. More >>>

VARIOUS WINE TYPES:

• Home Wine Making with Strawberries - Shows how to make strawberry wines from light, roses to heavy, country style. Gives you all the info you need to make a strawberry wine any way you want. More >>>

• Making Apple Wine - Gives some good ideas for using apples to make wine. Discusses apple selection, apple juices, the type of equipment you will need and a apple wine recipe with clear instructions. More >>>

• Making Applejack - An interesting article that shows how to take apple wine and turn it into something called Applejack through a freezing process known as "fractional crystallization." Very interesting article. More >>>

• Making Wine With Honey - A well rounded article about making Mead or honey wines of various types. Goes over the different meads one can make and then gives several mead recipes and directions for making them. More >>>

• Making High Alcohol Wines - Shows the best way to increase the alcohol level of a wine by feeding sugar to the must during fermentation. Also, explains how to keep the wine's flavor in balance when increasing the alcohol level. More >>>

• Making Sweet Wines - This article gives some valuable ideas on how to go about making a sweet wines. Shows how to make a wine with the exact sweetness you want. Also, explains how to avoid the pit-fall that some home winemakers fall into. More >>>

ABOUT WINE MAKING SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT:

• Getting to Know Your Hydrometer - A primer on hydrometer usage in home wine making. Shows how the hydrometer can help to track the progress of a fermentation and determine the alcohol level of a homemade wine. More >>>

• Hydrometer Scales And What They Mean - Covers in detail the different scales found on wine making hydrometers and shows what each one is used for throughout the wine making process. More >>>

• Air-Lock Basics - A quick look at the wine making air-lock and the role it plays in the wine making process. Explains what the wine making air-lock does and when it should be used during the fermentation. More >>>

• Using A Wine Press: The How's, When's & Why's - Spells out what part the wine press real plays for the home winemaker. Goes over the different types of presses; how and when to use them. Also, covers what types of wines can benefit from the use of a wine press. More >>>

• A Few Words About Yeast Nutrient - Covers the nutritional needs of a wine fermentation and explains why nutrition is important. Also, takes a look at the various nutrients available to the home winemaker. More >>>

• The Many Uses Of Sodium Bisulfite - A look at the various uses of Sodium Bisulfite in the wine making process. Shows how Sodium Bisulfite can be used to sanitize wine making equipment or how it is used to sterilize fresh wine making juices. More >>>

• Using Finings To Improve Your Wine - A complete look at the various fining agents available to the home wine making and how these fining agents can be incorporated in a wine for clarification, stabilization and to alter certain characteristics. More >>>

• Using Oak Chips to Age Your Wine - A brief article on how to incorporate oak chips into the aging of your wines. Talks about how to prepare the oak chips and when to add them to your wine. More >>>

MISCELLANEOUS WINE MAKING TOPICS:

• How Much Alcohol Do You Really Want? - An interesting spin on the production of  high alcohol wine. Details how high alcohol levels can effect a wine in negative ways and how to avoid these effects. More >>>

• Controlling Oxidation In Your Homemade Wines - Explains what oxidation means in wine making. Show how it effects a wine, and what one can do to reduce these effects in their wines. More >>>

• Taking Good Notes When Making Wine - Learn why taking notes while making wine can give you a big advantage. This article lists what pieces of information are most important and how to set up your own wine making log. More >>>

• There's Vinegar In My Wine! - A detailed look at the subtle role vinegar plays in the character and complexities of a wine. Also goes into what vinegar is; how it is produced and how to manage it to your advantage when making wine. More >>>

• Sample Your Wine As You Go - A run-through of the different flavors that come and go in your must throughout the wine making process. Explains how experiencing these different flavor can give you more insight into the complexities of various wines. More >>>

• Designing Your Own Wine - Shows how you can take any can of SunCal grape concentrate and add to it any can of Country Fair Fruit Bases to make medley of different wine blends. Gives exact wine recipe and method. More >>>

• How To Stop A Fermentation - A look at the various ways home winemakers might go about attempting to stop a fermentation to preserve its sweetness and why these methods seldom work. More >>>

WINE MAKING REFERENCES:

• Home Wine Making Glossary - Don't know what it means. Just use our Winemaker's Glossary to figure it out. Not only does the Winemaker's Glossary give definitions, but also links to other relating information. See Glossary >>>

Home Wine Making Product Directions:

• DIRECTIONS: SunCal Concentrate

• DIRECTIONS: California Connoisseur Ingredient Kits

• DIRECTIONS: Alexander Wine Concentrates

• DIRECTIONS: SunCal Necessities Box

• DIRECTIONS: California Connoisseur Necessities Box

• DIRECTIONS: Double Ratchet Fruit Press

• DIRECTIONS: 3 Spout Bottle Filler

• DIRECTIONS: Speedy Bentonite

• DIRECTIONS: Oak Chips

• DIRECTIONS: Barrel Sterilizing Kit

Newsletter Back-Issues:

2005

Issue 39: Making Wine Anytime You Like, Winemaker's Glossary: Wine Thief, Letter: There's A Funny Smell In My Wine,  Just For Grins, Top Teneasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 38: Taking Control Of Your Wines, A Faster Track To Making Wine, An Easy Way To Sanitize Your Wine Bottles, Winemaker's Glossary: Must, etter: A Stirring Question About Fermentation,  Just For Grins, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, ine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 37: What's The Scoop On Artificial Sweeteners?, Winemaker's Glossary: acking, Letter: How Do I Keep My Fermentations From Getting Too Cold?,  Just For Grins, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

2004

Issue 36: Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas, It's Still Not Too Late!, 21 Wine Making Quick Tips, Winemaker's Glossary: Lees, Letter: Help! here's A Metallic Taste In My Wine,  Just For Grins, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure.

Issue 35: Malolactic Fermentation: Is It Right For You And Your Wines? Maybe!, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Is My Wine Going To Be Too Dry?,  Just For Grins, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 34: Taking The Mystery Out Of Home Wine Making, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: My Wine Was Left On The Sediment Too Long!, Just For Grins, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 33: There's Vinegar In My Wine!, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Do I Need A Glass Carboy For Secondary Fermentation?, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 32: Where To Start: A Guide For The Overwhelmed Beginner, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Have Crushed Grapes! Now What?,  Just For Grins, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 31: Using A Wine Press: The How's When's & Why's, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: When Am I Suppose To Add Bentonite?, Wine Recipe Ideas: Strawberry-Rhubarb Wine, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 30: New Item: "Your Fruit" Winemaking Kit!, Creating Your Own Wine Recipes, Winemaker's Glossary, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 29: Using Finings To Improve Your Wine, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Are There Any Concentrates That Make A Sweeter Wine?, Wine Recipe Ideas: Eldercherry Noir, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 28: Adding Oak To Your Homemade Wines - Part II, New! - Wine Making Starter Kit, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Where Did All My Alcohol Go?, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 27: Adding Oak To Your Homemade Wines - Part I, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: When And How Do I Add Wine Conditioner To My Wine?, Wine Recipe Ideas: Strawberry Zinfandel, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 26: How Much Alcohol Do You Really Want?, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: What Are These Beady Little Crystals In My Wine?, Wine Recipe Ideas: Cherry Berry Wine, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

Issue 25: The Hottest Selling Wine Making Juices Of 2003, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Will My Cider Still Ferment With Preservatives?, Wine Recipe Ideas: Jelly Wine, Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Wine Making Quick Tip.

2003

Issue 24: Gift Giving Ideas, Topping Up Your Wines, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: How Can I Make A Wine Last 25 Years?, Wine Recipe Ideas: Country Fruit Noir, Top 10 Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Winemaking Quick Tip.

Issue 23: Racking Your Wines: The When's, Why's & How's, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: What's The Best Way To Sweeten My Wine?, Wine Recipe Ideas: Raspberry Merlot Wine, Top 10 Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Winemaking Quick Tip.

Issue 22: Corking Your Wines, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: How Much Yeast Do I Use?, Wine Recipe Ideas: Honey Pear Wine, Top 10 Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Winemaking Quick Tip.

Issue 21: Filtering Your Wine, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Great Anticipations, Wine Recipe Ideas: Apple Spice Wine, Top 10 Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Winemaking Quick Tip.

Issue 20: Getting A Handle On Acidity, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Head Space In Your Fermenter, Wine Recipe Ideas: Bananaberry Wine, Top 10 Reasons For Fermentation Failure, Winemaking Quick Tip.

Issue 19: New Winemaking Catalog Is In The Mail, Taking Control Of Your Wine. Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Fermentation Loses Gusto, Winemaking Quick Tip.

Issue 18: Taking Good Notes When Making Wine, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Pop Goes The Cork, Winemaking Quick Tip.

Issue 17: - Air-Lock Basics, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: My Wine's Still Cloudy, Winemaking Quick Tips.

Issue 16: - Spring Is Here!, Making Strawberry Wine, Wine Bottle Storage And Temperature, Winemaker's Glossary, Letter: Funny Smell In My Wine, Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 15: - Using Yeast Starters For Improved Fermentation, Winemaker's Glossary, A Stirring Question About Fermentation, A Safe Way To Sweeten Your Wine, Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 14: - Fermentation 101, Winemaker's Glossary, The Many Uses of Sodium Bisulfite, Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 13: - How To Stop A Fermentation, Winemaker's Glossary, Making The Right Choices When Bottling Your Wine, Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 12: - Five Fundamentals To Keep Your Wine Making On Track, Winemaker's Glossary, New Wine Making Catalog Is In The Mail Now, Wine Making Quick Tips.

2002

Issue 11: - Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas, It's Still Not Too Late, Winemaker's Glossary, 21 Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 10: - Sample Your Wine As You Go, Winemaker's Glossary, Making Your Own Cordial Drinks At Home, Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 9: - Designing Your Own Wine, Winemaker's Glossary, Special Announcement, Fast Track To Making Wine, Controlling Oxidation In Your Wines, Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 8: - Making Wine With Honey, Handy Little Gadget, Winemaker's Glossary, Make Wine Any Time You Like, Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 7: - Hydrometer Scales And What They  Mean, Handy Little Gadget, Winemaker's Glossary, Making Apple Jack, Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 6: - Making Apple Wine, Handy Little Gadget, Winemaker's Glossary, Maintaining Stability In Your Wine, Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 5: - Why Should I Use Yeast?, Handy Little Gadget, Winemaker's Glossary, A Quick Way To Sanitize Wine Bottles, Wine Making Quick-Tips.

Issue 4: - Producing High Alcohol Wines, Taking Hydrometer Samples, Winemakers Glossary, Using Oak Chips in Your Wine, Wine Making Quick-Tips.

Issue 3: - Making Sweet Wines, Using Bentonite As A Wine Clarifier, Modern Winemaking, Wine Making Quick Tips.

Issue 2: - Top Ten Reasons For Fermentation Failure, What Is A Refractometer?, A Few Words About Nutrients, Wine Making Quick-Tips.

Issue 1: - New Catalog Items, Tuff-Tanks Receive Thumbs-Up, Getting To Know Your Hydrometer, Wine Making With Fruits, Wine Making Quick-Tips.