Modern Home Winemaking: A Guide to Making Consistently Great Wines

A review from my husband Matt: Daniel Pambianchi’s Modern Home Winemaking: A Guide to Making Consistently Great Wines provides a rigorously comprehensive, practical, and insightful approach into making grape wines. The book covers each step of the winemaking process thoroughly and expansively– from describing the chemical reactions taking place to detailed analyses of winemaking equipment and procedures. Daniel covers and provides recommendations for most of the current winemaking additives and equipment available to winemakers. The book includes an abundance of practical insights based on research and experience, ensuring that even the more complex procedures are clearly explained in theory and in their practical application. Daniel covers essential topics, such as acidity and pH, SO2 management, and sugar and alcohol in-depth, with at least a chapter dedicated to each of these topics. The book provides a clear reference for amateur winemakers but also more intricate analyses of the winemaking processes for more seasoned winemakers. If one was looking to purchase one winemaking book, I would recommend Modern Home Winemaking: A Guide to Making Consistently Great Wines without hesitation.

This year I harvested grapes from my backyard for the first time. As I’ve never made wine before so I wanted something comprehensive that would explain the complexity of grapes, delve into different varieties and go into some of the science behind how to get a consistently good wine every time. This book is well written and includes diagrams which are very helpful. The tone is geared toward intermediate wine makers with explanations for the novice. Exactly what I wanted. I was also pleasantly surprised that they briefly discussed the grapes I grow because they are not typical of the backyard grower. Nor do they focus all of their discussion on European growing as with other tomes.

The structure and level of depth on this book are nearly perfect. I had been using the MoreWine manual for years as I found other books educational but not practical for heat of the moment decisions. This book explains the chemistry very well, providing better intuition into the process. The book is useful both for background reading and having open in the middle of crush day. Ive had it for a couple of weeks and it is heavily dog-earred already. Making a 100L batch of Sauvignon Blanc right now!

A well written and informative narrative on this subject. I have been making wine successfully now for three years and have been pleased with my results but this book has added to my skill level and my enjoyment of the hobby.

An up-to-date guide written to satisfy the beginner to advanced home winemaker. Especially helpful appendices and examples. Well done!

I bought almost all the "how to make wine at home" books, and this is the one you must keep in your library all the time

Best book on the market hands-down

am just a home maker of wine that was looking to cover the basics, not the science. Many times the same subject matter was repetitive. The detail was so in depth that any hobbyist of wine making would not read half of this book before putting it on the shelf.

Not sure why the title does not say "professional winemaking" this book is packed with information and well written.

O livro é muito bom, muito técnico sobre como fazer, dias, etc. E bem completo. Ajuda muito quem quer melhorar seu vinho fazendo em casa mesmo.

Is is obvious that the author has a serious scientific background. Hence, this book is not only useful to home winemakers, but also gives valuable support to many professional winemakers.

Don’t hesitate to read this before your next harvest! Such a good and informative read.

I have Daniel’s another book “ Techniques in Home Winemaking” for man years and learned a lot of practical winemaking skills. This new book with 23 chapters covers more comprehensive hands-on experience, has many calculation examples, diagrams/tables and notes for easy and better understanding. This book will be also a good addition to the new college students in Enology/Viticulture based on my study journey. My college Professor said: There are so many winemaking books out there, but writing a good one is not easy. Daniel did a great job.