Tips & Links
Tips & Links: (to list your tip or suggestion just email the details to info@ValleyVintner.com)
Free Stuff ! Lum Eisenmans' Home Wine Makers Manual (179 pages)
Click to download .pdf
7 Things you can do to improve your home winemaking!
Analysis: Analysis kits for the home and professional vintner.
Accuvin Test Kits: Exceptional quick test kits for measuring Free S02, M/L, RS, and TA in your wine.
Acid Adjustment Bench Trials: Step by step guidance to set up a bench trial to determine acid adjustments in high pH wines.
Alcohol Inexpensive method for measuring alcohol for the home vintner. This method measures the alcohol content by volume of any wine, spirit, or beer, uses no instruments except the hydrometer, and is as accurate as the ebullioscope.
Malolactic Analysis via paper chromatography. (Note: We highly recommend using the Accuvin Malo Test Kits. Paper Chromatography is hazardous and less accurate then the Accuvin kits.)
pH Meters - Calibration, Use and Storage of pH Meters. Specific instructions for our bench top model however the information is applicable to all pH Meters.
pH Electrode- Care and Troubleshooting Guide. How to test your electrode to see if it's functioning properly.
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S02 - Measuring S02 with our aeration-oxidative test kit. |
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TA Analysis - Using a pH Meter to measure TA.
Barrels:
Barrel Care: - Information on barrel swelling, prep, and maintenance.
Barrel Specs: - Barrel sizes and capacities.
Enzymes:
A short review on the different types of commercial enzymes available and their applications
Fermentation:
Using Oak Powder (Chips) During Primary Fermentation:
Removal of Vegetal Aromas from Red Wine by Toasted Oak Powder During Fermentation
Using a Refractometer in place of Hydrometer to manage fermentation.
Provides the formula and supporting data to use a refractometer in place of a hydrometer during fermentation. Saves wine, risk of contaminants, breakage, and mess. We've converted from Hydro's to Refrac's completely.
Refractometer:
Comparison of several different refractometer.
Using a Refractometer in place of Hydrometer to manage fermentation.
Provides the formula and supporting data to use a refractometer in place of a hydrometer during fermentation. Saves wine, risk of contaminants, breakage, and mess. We've converted from Hydro's to Refrac's completely.
Software (free helpful tools):
Fermsoft.com: (Exceptional Online Wine Makers Software)
Molecular SO2 Calculator - Total free SO2 levels in wine are easily measured by the winemaker. However, molecular SO2 levels are more difficult to measure directly. It is the molecular SO2 that is responsible for protecting wine against spoilage. This calculator will determine the molecular SO2 level of wine based on the measured free SO2 level and pH.
Sulphite Calculator Online - Sulphite Calculator can assist the winemaker in calculating the correct amount of sulphite to add in order to achieve desired SO2 levels in wine. Many tables have been devised for this purpose, however these tables are relatively inflexible in that each table is normally designed for particular sulphite forms (e.g. 10% potassium metabisulphite solution). These tables may or may not correspond to the practices of the individual winemaker. With Sulphite Calculator, the winemaker can precisely define the sulphite source, sulphite form, and batch size. The software can then calculate the exact amount of sulphite required in order to obtain desired SO2 levels.
Sulphite Table Generator - Tables are often used as a reference when adding sulphite to wine. However, existing tables are static and may not meet the preferences and precision desired by the winemaker. This table generator allows the winemaker to enter his or her preferences in order to generate a custom table. The table can then be printed and used as a reference.
Conversion Software:(http://www.joshmadison.com) Excellent tool for quick conversions of grams to oz, temperatures, liquids, distance, mass, etc.
Pearson's Square Application - MSN excel file with formula for determining blending ratios.
Vacuum Pumps (Stop lifting carboys!)
Vacuum Pumps: Rack and transfer wine without lifting carboys (or barrels). Uses Vacuum to prevent oxidation. Evacuates air from your vessel than gently pulls wine to your carboy.
Enolmatic - Bottle and rack wine from/to bottles, carboys, barrels.
Enolmatic Trouble Shooting - The Enolmatic bottler filler is a simple machine. Only a couple things short of acutal brakage can effect it's opperation. Here's a quick guide to use if your bottle fillers performance starts to degrade.
Forums:
Winepress.us: Beautiful and detailed sight for boutique wine makers. Complete with a discussion forum!
