10 elements to consider BEFORE deciding to become a Winemaker

1. 1. You have to buy a deluxe kit- that includes everything you need- except for the rest of the things that you need.

   2. You will read through the directions and have a clear idea of the steps, equipment and processes- because you googled each word you didn’t know within the steps, a picture to go along with the name of each piece of equipment and what exactly the directions meant for each process.
   3. You will have to return to the brewing store- several times.
   4. You will test and monitor the temperature of the room you now refer to as your laboratory- morning, noon and night- for weeks in anticipation of thinking of considering to maybe think about considering starting your first batch of wine.
   5. You will make a plan and read the instructions, then reread the instructions, and read them over a final time- as while in the process you can ONLY touch things that have been sanitized. This means if you are doing this yourself or don’t know the next step- you have to start ALL OVER. Leading me to sanitation..
   6. IF YOU DON’T SANITIZE EVERYTHING TO THE EXACT DETAIL AND SPECIFICATION -all of your time, energy and money will go down the drain with your yucky wine.
   7. Sanitation is the most important part of this process and you need to be sure that everything is properly cleaned and then sanitized. Each piece of equipment, including the bucket and carboy, need to be fully submersed within the the sanitizing solution for no less than 2 minutes. Disclaimer- several pieces of equipment float…
   8. And last but not least in regards to sanitation- the bucket and carboy, both of which are 6 gallons need to be fully filled with sanitation solution as to be correctly sanitized- and the “Easy Clean” solution included in your kit is a mere 8 oz. For each gallon of STORE BOUGHT OR SPRING FRESH water, you need a tablespoon of solution. Therefore- the amount of cleaner in your kit is not enough to see you through primary fermentation, much less secondary fermentation, stabilizing and clearing or bottling of your wine.
   9. Plan to spend several hundred on the equipment and the kit and the extras (that you don’t need because everything you need is in your deluxe kit).
   10. Lastly, PRAY that the time and effort and money invested into your new passion were not squandered within the first step of this process- due to improper sanitation.