A Beginner’s Guide Wine to Ktheit toolsUse and Function of Your Wine Kit Tools

Making wine can be an intimidating process to the uninitiated. Through this brief guide we hope to de-mystify home brewing through its tools and show how simple, approachable and fun wine-making can be!

Two Gallon Bucket/Fermenter– The fermenter is the foundation of any home brewing and it is where most of your ingredients will be joined together to begin fermentation. Once you’ve pitched (added) your yeast you will seal the bucket with the lid, add the airlock (see below) and let the yeast work its magic by converting sugar into alcohol.

Grommeted Bucket Lid- The bucket lid is indispensable to the home brew process as it seals your wine away from outside contamination. After sealing your fermenter for the first time, tear off the finger tab on the lid to open the bucket when the recipe requires. Don’t worry, you can continue using the bucket and lid with no problems! Insert the airlock (see below) securely into the grommeted hole in order to complete the seal of your fermenter.

1 Gallon Glass Jug/Carboy- After the fermentation is complete, you will need to transfer your wine into the carboy. This is done to help clarify your wine (you will be leaving all of the trub behind) and to allow your wine to condition within the carboy.

Triple-Scale Hydrometer- The hydrometer utilizes the changing buoyancy of your wine as it converts sugar into alcohol to let you know the current and potential alcohol content of your home brew. Certain recipes require action when the fermentation reaches particular levels so it is important to take hydrometer readings throughout the process. Use the provided tube for samples and reading and follow the instructions provided with the hydrometer.

Cane Siphon with Filter Cap and Tubing- Your basic siphoning equipment; use it when transferring or bottling your wine. Attach one end of your hose to the curved end of your siphon and insert the straight end of the siphon into your wine. Make sure to leave any trub behind when you are siphoning; the siphon filter cap attached to the end of the cane will help you with this!

Stopper- Use this to help seal off your glass carboy by inserting snugly into the mouth opening. As long as there is a snug seal between the carboy and stopper you are good to go.

Airlock- Used to allow the escape of fermentation gases while preventing outside contamination. Fill the airlock to the fill line with prepared sanitizer solution and plug securely into either the grommeted lid or the stopper depending on whether you are using the fermenter or the carboy.

Steeping Bags- Place any fruits and spices into a steeping bag before adding to your wine, this will help with the clarification of your wine.