Create a Winemaking Club

The good news: you have created your first bottles of wine with your wine kit. The better news: you want to continue with your new found hobby but would like to seek out others to share ideas and experiences. Congratulations! It’s time to start a Winemaking Club.

Starting a wine club from scratch is not difficult. There are plenty of winemakers out there that would enjoy nothing more than tasting wine and discussing the latest trends in making wine at home as well as the latest models in wine kits. So how do you go about it? Here are some suggestions to get started:

Go online: There are many online wine discussion groups, particularly those for amateurs who are eager to taste wines from fellow winemakers. Many groups are sorted into local regions. If one is not close to you, start your own message board.

Find family and friends: Often times, family and friends are eager to start with their own winemaking once they see your success and enthusiasm. Chances are someone in your social circle has a neighbor or friend that also creates wine. It’s a small winemaking world.

Share barrels, grapes, equipment: This is a good way to introduce yourself to local wine organizations. There is always someone looking to cut costs, as winemaking can be somewhat expensive the more involved you get.

Enter local wine competitions: The wealth of information you receive at competitions makes it easy to find people willing to gather more frequently. Your competitors can turn into your more trusted influences.

Start Small: Keep your wine group manageable with only a handful of people. Anything larger in the beginning is too difficult to manage and too many voices are heard.

Many successful groups suggest that once your winemaking club is formed, it is easier to follow a few simple ideas. Schedule six to seven wine meetings per year and well in advance. This gives participants a chance to create wines with their wine kits in plenty of time. It is also necessary to have an initial planning station to determine the wine the group will make. For most, this involves some careful planning and research. Also, decide if the group wants to purchase winemaking equipment that can be shared. Many groups share barrels, grape juice and other materials to cut costs. Include your combined families as well for occasional tastings. It’s always important to get the opinion from those that are more likely to give you an answer if it is a wine everyone can drink.

Other suggestions include keeping a record of your meetings and recipes. Many groups have guest speakers to discuss the latest trends in wines as well as to get their opinions and advice. Finally, combine your meetings with meals that compliment the wines. Crackers only go so far when cleansing your palate in between wines. See how all of the wines go with a meal that enhances the winemaking experience into a festive occasion.

Wine tasting is a social affair and creating wines is a way to share your interest with the local community. And of course, who knows where the success could lead?