Equipment Essentials

Good winemaking does not require expensive equipment—but it does require the right equipment. Here is what you actually need to make wine at home, from absolute essentials to useful upgrades.

The Essentials: Cannot Make Wine Without These

Primary Fermenter (6-8 gallon)
Food-grade plastic bucket with a lid. This is where your must will undergo primary fermentation. Get one with volume markings and a spigot for easy racking. Budget: $15-30

Secondary Fermenter (5-6 gallon carboy)
Glass or PET plastic. This is where wine ages after primary. Glass is traditional and non-porous; PET is lighter and nearly unbreakable. Either works. Budget: $25-50

Airlocks and Bungs
Airlocks let CO2 escape while preventing oxygen and bacteria from entering. Get several—they are cheap and you will break some. Budget: $2-5 each

Hydrometer and Test Jar
Essential for measuring sugar content and tracking fermentation progress. Without a hydrometer, you are guessing. Budget: $10-20

Siphon and Tubing
Auto-siphons make racking nearly foolproof. Get food-grade tubing that fits your siphon. Budget: $15-25

Sanitizer
Star San or potassium metabisulfite. No-rinse sanitizers make the job quick and effective. Budget: $10-15

Very Helpful: Makes Life Much Easier

Wine Thief
Takes samples for testing without contaminating your batch. Worth every penny. Budget: $8-12

Bottling Wand
Spring-loaded valve that makes filling bottles clean and consistent. Essential for bottling day. Budget: $5-10

Corker
Floor corkers work best but are expensive. Hand corkers are cheaper but harder to use. If budget allows, go floor corker. Budget: $20-200

Bottle Brush
For cleaning bottles properly. Get one that fits wine bottles specifically. Budget: $5-10

pH Meter or Test Strips
Digital meters are more accurate but require calibration. Strips are cheaper and good enough for most home winemakers. Budget: $10-50

Nice to Have: Upgrades That Help

Refractometer
Measures Brix in the field with just a drop of juice. More convenient than a hydrometer for testing grapes before harvest. Budget: $25-40

Grape Crusher/Destemmer
Manual or motorized. For fresh grape winemaking, saves hours of hand-crushing. Budget: $100-500+

Press
Extracts juice from crushed grapes. Basket presses are traditional and effective. Bladder presses are gentler but more expensive. Budget: $100-1000+

Temperature Controller
Maintains consistent fermentation temperature. Critical for serious red wine production. Budget: $50-200

What You DO NOT Need (Yet)

Skip these until you have made several successful batches:

• Oak barrels (use oak alternatives instead)
• Motorized equipment (unless processing large volumes)
• Laboratory-grade testing equipment
• Commercial bottling lines

Building Your Kit Over Time

Start with essentials and add equipment as your skills grow. Many homebrew stores sell starter kits with everything you need for $50-100. Begin there, make a few batches, then invest in upgrades based on what would most improve your process.