I started making home made wine in January 2007 by using a one gallon glass jug and 2 cans of Welch's grape juice concentrate. It was a recipe that I found at Jack Keller's website. I really got into wine making because I was always interested in the science behind how yeast can convert sugars into alcohol. The wine I first made was very similar to Mad Dog or any other concord communion grape wine. It was not bad, but I knew that I wanted to start using kits to make something a little more to my tastes. My friends here in TN really like the sweet peach, raspberry and grape wines, but I am more of a dry wine drinker. My first kit was a Vintners Reserve Merlot Kit. I followed the simple instructions and much to my surprise, 6 weeks later I had a fairly good tasting Merlot on my hands. I thought "six gallons is a lot of wine" and wondered what I would do with all of it. I starting sharing it a couple of months later and I only had two bottles left for myself!. I started getting a reputation among my friends for making a very nice wine. I have since made Valpolicella, Chilean Merlot, a very sweet Riesling for my wife and now I am working on a Chardonnay and a Pinot Nior.

I have the Chilean Merlot ready to bottle and I think that it is going to make a very nice Christmas gift for my friends.

Cathy just came back from Italy and I plan on using some of her pictures for my next wine labels.

I will post some picture here soon. I will also add some recipes as well and some how to's to help teach those that may have always wanted to make wine, but were afraid to.