Basic Winemaking Equipment for Beginners
One of the beautiful things about winemaking is that you don't need an expensive winery to make excellent wine. With just a few essential pieces of equipment, you can produce wines that rival commercial offerings. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to get started, from essential basics to nice-to-have upgrades.
The Essential Equipment List
These are the must-have items for any beginning winemaker:
1. Primary Fermenter
The container where your initial fermentation takes place. Options include:
- Food-grade plastic bucket: Inexpensive, lightweight, and durable. Look for one with a spigot. 5-7 gallon capacity is ideal.
- Stainless steel bucket: More durable and easier to clean, but more expensive.
- Glass carboy: Excellent for small batches but heavy and breakable.
2. Secondary Fermenter (Carboy)
For racking wine off sediment after primary fermentation. Glass carboys in 1, 3, or 5 gallon sizes are the standard choice.
3. Airlock
Allows carbon dioxide to escape while preventing oxygen and contaminants from entering. You'll need one or two. S-shaped or three-piece airlocks work best.
4. Hydrometer
An essential tool for measuring sugar content and tracking fermentation progress. Includes a testing jar. Look for one that reads from 0.990 to 1.170.
5. Thermometer
Temperature control is critical for good fermentation. A digital thermometer with probe is ideal, or a floating thermometer for carboys.
6. Siphoning Tubing
Food-grade tubing (3/8" ID) for transferring wine between containers without disturbing sediment. Get at least 10 feet.
7. Bottling Bucket
A bucket with a spigot at the bottom for easy bottling. Often the same as your primary fermenter.
8. Wine Bottles
You'll need 30 bottles per 5-gallon batch. Wine bottles (750ml) are standard. You can buy new or reuse commercial wine bottles.
9. Corks
You'll need a cork for each bottle plus extras. Natural corks are traditional; synthetic corks are easier and more consistent.
10. Corker
A device for inserting corks into bottles. Two types available:
- Hand corker: Less expensive, requires more effort
- Floor corker: Easier to use, better for larger batches
Many wine supply stores sell starter kits that include most essentials: fermenter, carboy, airlock, hydrometer, thermometer, siphon, and corker. These are often the best value for beginners.
Equipment for Specific Tasks
For Crushing Grapes
- Potato masher: For small batches, a clean, sanitized potato masher works fine
- Crusher/destemmer: For larger batches, this mechanical device crushes grapes and removes stems
- Straining bag: For holding crushed grapes during pressing
For Pressing
- Wine press: The traditional method; expensive but produces best results
- Bladder press: More efficient than basket press; expensive
- Hand press: Manual option for small batches
For Measuring
- pH meter: For precise pH measurement (more advanced)
- Acid testing kit: For measuring titratable acidity
- SO₂ test kit: For measuring sulfite levels
For Sanitation
- Bottle brush: For cleaning inside bottles
- Carboy brush: For cleaning carboys
- Sanitizer: Star San or sulfites
- Cleaning solution: PBW or similar
🔬 Why Glass Is Often Preferred
Glass is non-porous and doesn't retain odors, making it ideal for wine storage. It's also completely impermeable to oxygen (when properly sealed), preventing oxidation. Plastic is more affordable and durable but can scratch (harboring bacteria) and may retain odors over time. For long-term aging, glass is the clear choice.
Choosing the Right Size
Batch size affects your equipment needs:
1-Gallon Batch
- 1-gallon glass carboy for fermentation
- Smaller bottles (you'll need more of them)
- Good for learning and experimentation
5-Gallon Batch
- Standard home winemaking size
- 30 bottles per batch
- Balances effort with yield
10-Gallon Batch
- 60 bottles per batch
- Requires more equipment and space
- Better for more experienced winemakers
Quality Considerations
When selecting equipment, prioritize quality in these areas:
Material Quality
For anything that contacts wine, use food-grade materials. Stainless steel is ideal; high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic is acceptable for primary fermentation. Avoid any containers that held chemicals or non-food substances.
Seals and Connections
Airlocks and stoppers should create a complete seal. Check that stoppers fit your carboys snugly and that airlocks seal properly.
Transparency
Glass carboys let you monitor fermentation visually—important for spotting problems early. If using plastic, choose opaque or colored containers to protect from light.
Equipment Maintenance
Proper care extends equipment life:
- Clean after every use: Never let wine residue dry and harden
- Sanitize before use: Even clean equipment needs sanitizing
- Store dry: Prevent mold by ensuring equipment is completely dry before storing
- Check for damage: Replace cracked carboys, worn stoppers, damaged airlocks
These items aren't strictly necessary but make winemaking much easier:
- Auto-siphon (for easier racking)
- Bottle filler (for clean filling)
- Funnel
- Straining bag
- Punch down tool
Conclusion
You don't need an elaborate setup to make excellent wine at home. Start with the essentials, add more equipment as you gain experience, and focus on learning the fundamentals first. Quality equipment helps, but it's no substitute for knowledge and attention to detail.
As you progress in your winemaking journey, you'll naturally add more tools to your arsenal. But these basics will serve you well for years to come.
Ready to understand the science? Read Wine Chemistry 101: pH, Acidity, and Sulfites Explained