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When you hear vintners talk about crafting their wines and about the grapes that went into them, the years the wines have spent in toasted French oak barrels, and the gentle aging of the bottles, winemaking seems like an art form only understood by the masters, and, to a certain extent, it is.

The quality of the wine is dependent on many variables from the composition of the soil the grapes are grown in to the quality of the cork in the bottle, but it is possible to make wine at home and thousands of people do it across the country. Not only does it save money, but it allows home winemakers to craft a vintage that is a reflection of their tastes.

Getting started in home winemaking is not difficult. There are three basic ways to begin: with fresh grapes, fresh juice, or a wine kit. Fresh grapes are what is used into commercial wine and the vast majority of wineries are located close to vineyards. If you are lucky enough to live in a wine making area, you can likely purchase bushels of grapes from many vineyards. In order to render the grapes into juice, you will need a crusher and a press. A crusher grinds the grapes into a “must”. For many types of wine, the crushed grapes are allowed to ferment for a short period of time with the skins to give the wine color and character. The second piece of equipment you need is a wine press. A press separates the juice from the skins, seeds and stems. Winemakers sometimes share crushers and presses as they are relatively expensive pieces of specialized equipment.

Starting from fresh grape juice is simpler. The crushing and pressing has already been done for you. However, it still requires that you live close to a vineyard.

The easiest way for a home winemaker to get started is by purchasing a wine kit. A wine kit consists of concentrated grape juice that has been vacuum sealed to withstand storage and transportation. The additives that are required in the process are also included. Not only is a wine kit the only way those who do not live in wine country have to make wine at home, but it also allows the winemaker to choose from amongst the world’s best grapes. Whether you like Chardonnay, Chianti, or Riesling, you will be able to find a kit. Certain grapes are named for the regions from which they come and some countries, especially France, have control over the name. So, for example, if you are purchasing Chardonnay concentrate that has been grown and packaged in Chile, it will be listed under a different name. The winemaking store will be able to guide you through the maze of wine kits to find the one that’s right for you.

Instructions vary slightly with each kit but the general process is that the wine concentrate is mixed with water and yeast and allowed to ferment in a primary fermenter (usually a plastic bucket with a lid and air lock) and then transferred over into a glass secondary fermenter to finish converting sugars into alcohol. Once completed, the wine is often filtered before being bottled. This basic equipment is available from your local wine making store and can be reused for several years with care.

Getting started making your own wine is fun and you can share the fruits of your labor with friends and family.