Equipment & Supplies

Complete Winemaking Equipment Guide: Everything You Need

Reviews, comparisons, and buyer's guides for every piece of winemaking gear.

Beginner

Airlocks and Bungs: Types and Proper Use

Master airlocks and bungs for home winemaking. Learn about three-piece, S-shaped, and blow-off types, plus how to select and maintain bungs for a perfect seal.

10 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Wine Bottle Fillers: Gravity vs Spring-Tip vs Counter-Pressure

Compare gravity, spring-tip, and counter-pressure wine bottle fillers. Learn how each works, their pros and cons, and which is right for your home winemaking setup.

10 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Carboys and Demijohns: Glass vs. Plastic Guide

Compare glass and plastic carboys and demijohns for home winemaking. Learn about sizes, pros and cons, cleaning tips, and which type suits your needs best.

11 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Cleaning Winemaking Equipment: Products and Procedures

Master the cleaning and sanitizing of winemaking equipment. Learn the best products, step-by-step procedures, and the critical difference between cleaning and sanitizing.

10 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Wine Corker Guide: Floor, Hand, and Portuguese Corkers Compared

Compare floor corkers, hand corkers, and Portuguese corkers for home winemaking. Learn which type suits your needs, how to use each one, and what to look for when buying.

9 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Grape Crusher Destemmer Guide

Learn about grape crusher destemmers for home winemaking. Compare manual vs. motorized models, learn proper techniques, and find the right size for your needs.

10 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Best Apps and Digital Tools for Home Winemakers

Discover the best winemaking apps, digital sensors, record-keeping software, and online calculators that help home winemakers track fermentation, measure chemistry, and produce consistent results.

19 min readRead β†’
Intermediate

DIY Winemaking Equipment: Build Your Own on a Budget

Learn how to build your own winemaking equipment including fermentation chambers, bottle washers, wine presses, racking stations, and more using affordable materials and common tools.

18 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Best Fermentation Vessels for Home Winemaking

Explore the best fermentation vessels for home winemaking, including buckets, carboys, and stainless steel tanks. Learn how to choose, use, and maintain them.

10 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Hydrometer Guide: Choosing, Using, and Reading Your Hydrometer

Master the hydrometer for home winemaking. Learn how to choose the right type, take accurate readings, calculate alcohol content, and troubleshoot common issues.

9 min readRead β†’
Advanced

Buying Oak Barrels for Home Winemaking: Size, Type, and Budget

Navigate the world of oak barrels for home winemaking. Learn about barrel sizes, oak types, toast levels, cooperage quality, and how to choose the right barrel for your wine.

10 min readRead β†’
Intermediate

pH Meters for Winemaking: Selection and Calibration Guide

Choose and calibrate a pH meter for winemaking. Learn about electrode types, calibration procedures, maintenance, and when pH measurement matters most in the winemaking process.

9 min readRead β†’
Intermediate

Refractometer for Winemaking: Brix Measurement Made Easy

Learn how to use a refractometer for winemaking Brix measurement. Covers selection, calibration, reading techniques, and when to use a refractometer versus a hydrometer.

9 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Siphoning and Racking Equipment Guide

Master siphoning and racking for home winemaking. Learn about auto-siphons, racking canes, tubing, and techniques to transfer wine cleanly and safely.

10 min readRead β†’
Intermediate

Stainless Steel Tanks for Small-Scale Winemaking

A comprehensive guide to choosing, using, and maintaining stainless steel tanks for home winemaking, covering variable capacity tanks, sizing, fittings, cooling options, and cleaning protocols.

18 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Winemaking Starter Kit: What to Buy and How to Set Up

Learn exactly what equipment comes in a winemaking starter kit, how to set everything up, and which upgrades are worth considering as a beginner home winemaker.

10 min readRead β†’
Intermediate

Wine Testing Kits: Acid, SO2, and Malic Acid Tests

Learn how to use wine testing kits for titratable acidity, free SO2, malic acid chromatography, pH measurement, residual sugar, and volatile acidity to monitor and improve your homemade wine.

19 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Winemaking Thermometers: Types and When to Use Each

Explore the different types of thermometers used in winemaking, from stick-on strips to digital probes. Learn when and how to measure temperature at every stage of the process.

9 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Upgrading Your Winemaking Equipment: A Staged Approach

A practical guide to upgrading your home winemaking equipment in phases, from beginner kit to advanced setup, with budget planning, ROI analysis, and advice on what NOT to buy.

17 min readRead β†’
Intermediate

Wine Filter Systems: Plate, Cartridge, and Crossflow Compared

Compare plate, cartridge, and crossflow wine filter systems for home use. Learn when to filter, how each system works, and how to choose the right filtration for your wine.

9 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Wine Press Guide: Types, Selection, and Usage

Learn about wine press types including ratchet, basket, and bladder presses. Discover how to choose, operate, and maintain a press for home winemaking.

9 min readRead β†’
Intermediate

Wine Pumps for Home Use: Manual, Electric, and Vacuum Options

Explore wine pumps for home winemaking including manual, electric, and vacuum types. Learn how each works, when to use them, and how to choose the right pump for your needs.

8 min readRead β†’
Beginner

Wine Thief Guide: Sampling Wine During Aging

Learn how to use a wine thief to sample wine during fermentation and aging. Covers types, proper technique, sanitization, and tips for taking hydrometer readings.

10 min readRead β†’