We make most of our wines from juice shipped in from California vineyards. We buy it from a local produce wholesaler. It is always clean, fresh and ready to use. Our favorite varieties are Red Zinfandel, Merlot Cabernet and Allacante. Of course, this juice is only available for a brief period after the grape harvest in the fall. You may also be able to buy some juice from local vineyards at this time of year if you prefer the types of grapes grown in this area
At other times of the year you can start your wine from concentrates that may be purchased at your local winemaker's shop. This is not as good a fresh juice, but it can still make a very drinkable wine.
Of course, you can also make wine from other fruits. We especially like to use strawberries, raspberries, black cherries and peaches. The best way to work with fresh fruit is to pick fruit that is very ripe, but not rotten. Use about 15-20 pounds of fruit for 5 gallons of wine. Mash the fruit and put the juice into the fermenter. Save the pulp and put it in a cheesecloth bag which also goes into the fermenter. Then fill with water and follow the rest of these instructions.
