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Discovering Muscadine Wine in Tennessee
One of America's oldest native grapes is full of surprises
2025 In Review: The Ups and Downs of Hobby Winemaking
Every year is different. The types of wine I make, how much I end up with, and even what fruit is available. None of it is ever predictable.
Can You Reuse Empty Wine Bottles?
What do you do with a wine bottle when it's empty? Most people toss them or recycle them. But as a hobby winemaker, I have another option.
Exploring NA Options: What I Love and Don't Love About Alcohol Alternatives
As February approaches, the chatter around Dry January will undoubtedly fill the air—stories of triumph, struggle, and discovery. But this isn’t one of those stories.
Wine Equipment You Didn't Know You Needed for Under $30
Every winemaker has carboys, siphons and hoses, a hydrometer or something to measure sugar content, and a good corker. But there are a few other handy pieces of equipment that you may not know you need.
4 Types of Wine Ingredients and How to Use Them
Here are 4 types of wine ingredients that most hobby winemakers have access to, along with some tips for working with each different type.
What to do with Really Bad Wine
If you're making wine as a hobby and experimenting with weird and wild combinations, you'll inevitably end up with a few bad results. But then what?
3 Common Mistakes New Winemakers Should (and can!) Avoid
Exploring three common mistakes that new winemakers often make
The Mysteriously Unstable Mulberry (How to Handle a Re-fermentation)
There are a finite number of things that can go wrong in winemaking. One of them is re-fermentation.
3 Reasons Why Recipe Kit Instructions are Wrong
I love recipe kits, but the instructions that come with them are too generic.
It's Berry Season
Wild berries are perfect for making a good country wine, and they're free!
Why I Love Cotes de Blanc
Cote de Blanc has been one of the most predictable yeasts strains for fermenting wine.
Holiday Wines - 2019
In 2019 I started a rewarding, new hobby that's brought me many hours of enjoyment (and wine!).
My First Explosion
Everyone said it would happen. And it did. Fortunately for me, it was less of an explosion and more of a spill.
The Truth About Corkers
What you expect to be the most exciting part of your winemaking adventure may instead be a frustrating mess.
Getting Started with Wine Equipment Kits
Starting a new hobby can be intimidating, especially if you're making something your friends will eat or drink.