Preparation: Here you'll choose your kit, and assemble the small amount of equipment necessary. Then sanitize all materials, open the kit, review the instructions and get started!  As with all hobbies, while the sky's the limit on fancy brew toys, but a basic and easy to use home winemaking setup should cost in the neighborhood of $50-$75, and include the folowing items:

   • One 7-8 gallon food-grade plastic fermentation bucket with airtight lid, drilled
      for airlock.
   •  Airlock (a small plastic water valve which permits C02 gas produced by
      fermentation to escape, while protecting the young wine from air-borne
      contamination.
   •  5 to 6 gallon glass Carboy and drilled rubber stopper to fit.
   •  Siphone equipment, including siphon starter, tubing, bottle filler.
   •  Corks
   •  Bottles
   •  Spoon or Paddle
   •  And, of course, the Wine Kit of your Choice.  We hope it's one of the
       RJ Spagnols® kits we offer.

Fermentation:  Quick and easy! You'll empty the ingredients into your fermentation bucket, then add water, yeast (included in the kit), and any additive pack called for in the kit instructions. Place a lid on the bucket, attach the airlock, and you're on the way!

Transfer:  Intermittently over the next month or so, the directions will call for actions to be taken.  For example, you'll move the wine from the fermentation bucket to a glass vessel (called a carboy), and add various additive packs supplied with the kit.

De-Gassing:  When the wine is almost ready to bottle, you'll stir it repeatedly over the course of a day to release as much carbon dioxide as possible from suspension in the wine.  This is a simple-yet-important element in the aging process.

Bottling:  The big day!  You'll clean, fill and cork bottles, and that's that.  Then it's time to apply custom labels and any other bottle adornments that tickle your fancy.  In a couple of weeks or so, your wine will be ready for drinking!