Some years ago I became interested in winemaking, and collected a number of second hand books on the subject. I did a bit of mucking around but not much, anyway, these are the books I collected -
Successful Modern Winemaking – H.E. Bravery – Arco Publications (UK) 1961 ISBN (Not Available) – I guess the term ‘modern’ is subjective. The book is a small paperback but starts out with a discussion of the winemaking process and equipment required. The following chapters cover making wine using – fresh fruit; root vegetables; Ribena (!!!); prepared extracts; citrus fruits; flowers; dried herbs; dried fruits and grains; grapes. There is a chapter on making “wines for the ladies” (ie low alcohol) and liqueurs and ‘party specials. Regardless of the cover stating the book is ‘illustrated’ I guess it is technically correct, it has exactly two line drawings!
Make Your Own Wine – W.Sherrard-Smith – Aldine Press (UK) 1964 ISBN 978 0 46002 057 2 – Section one of the book (another small paperback) covers equipment and ingredients (Part1), the process of fermenting (part 2), recipes to make wine using fresh fruit, fruit juice and some oddities such as tea, celery, parsnip and marrow (the vegetable type, not the stuff from the middles of bones as I originally thought!) (Part 3). Part 4 (amplification) covers the activities such as racking, sterilisation, topping up, fermenting and how to correct ‘spoiled’ wines. Section 2, part 5 (entitled ‘the skilled amateur’) gives detail in wine types and serving homemade wine. Part 6 (Candid Facts) is a collection of varied info about wine making such as acid and alcohol content, clarification, record keeping, yeasts, sterilisation and filtering using newer fabrics. There 3 pages of line drawings, so I guess this one also qualifies as ‘illustrated’.
First Steps in Winemaking – C.J.J.Berry – Amateur Winemaker Publications (UK) 1980 ISBN 0 900841 40 0 - This small paperback is divided (sort of) into two parts. The first part covers winemaking in a series of short articles covering equipment needed, cleanliness, fermentation and yeast, the hydrometer, flavour, racking, using concentrates and diagnosing and fixing faults, entitled ‘Chamber of Horrors!. It also covers growing your own grapes and setting up a winemaking circle and competition. The second part is set up as a ‘winemaking through the year’ with recipes for each month with all the usual suspects and a few weirdos like birch sap, rice and raisin, oakleaf or walnut and cornmeal wines. There are two sets of black and white photos (several of which containing gratuitous shots of an attractive young lady) and some really well done sets of line drawings.
Winemaking at Home – Francis Pinnegar – Arrow Books (UK) 1985 ISBN 0 09 947840 4 – The first chapter – making wine from grape concentrate – gives the most detail in the process covering equipment required, ingredients and then going through the major steps in the process. The following seven chapters cover making specific types of wine including wine from fruit, root vegetables and flowers; making mead, sparkling wines and sherry. This is followed by a chapter on how to consult and use the wine recipes, after which are recipes and instructions for making specific wines. These wines include dry white wines, sweet white wines, rose wines, meads, sparkling wines, dry and sweet red wines, Sherries, ports and madeiras. There is also a section giving recipes for mixed drinks with names like caudle, lamb’s wool, floster, Syllabub and wassail. There are quite a few decorative line drawings.
The Pan Book of Winemaking – B.C.A. Turner – Pan Books Ltd (UK) 1964 ISBN 0330247700 – The greater part of this book is taken up with the process of winemaking and a series of recipes in the back. By way of introduction, the first chapter covers why one might want to make wine at home. The second and third chapters cover what you need to make wine in terms of equipment and ingredients. The next two chapters cover how to make wines theoretically and practically in terms of preparations, fermentation and maturation. Following chapters cover making the most of the wine, problems and solutions, clubs and competitions and finally how to make mead and ale. At the end are a series of recipes for various wines including grape wine, flower wines an ‘others’ including beetroot, carrot, coffee and parsley wine, as well as more usual recipes for fruits and vegetable wines including recipes for mixed fruit wines. There are two small sections of black and white photos in the book, no line drawings.
Home Winemaking Techniques & Recipes – Rodney Boothroyd – Allison & Ashby (UK) 1985 ISBN 0 85031 622 7 – The book is divided into three parts, but part one consumes most of the book. Part one (Winemaking at home) covers the basics of winemaking including extracting the flavour, fermentation and maturation; basic equipment required; fermentation jar and air lock; hygiene and sterilisation; winemaking techniques; selecting the ingredient and extracting the flavour. This is followed by looking at yeast and yeast nutrient; the process of fermentation, producing stronger wines and use of the hydrometer; when fermentation is complete; racking and the finished wine; fortifying wine; blending wines; storage maturation and bottling. A section on problems, faults and remedies completes the section. Part two provides 120 winemaking recipes and Part three covers making sherry and sparkling wines. There are a few line drawings scattered throughout the book.
The Backyard Vintner – Jim Law – Quarry Books (US) 2005 ISBN 1 59253 198 9 – This book covers growing your own grapes as well as making your own wine. Part one – the vineyard – covers starting your vineyard including location, weather and grape varieties, soil preparation, laying out and planting your backyard vineyard. Taking care of the vineyard including trellising, training, fertilising weed control etc, rounds out the section. Part two – making the wine – cover setting things up, when to pick the grapes and the basics of fermentation and winemaking. The rest of part two covers the details of making red wines and making white wines; aging, fining, blending and bottling your wine. The book has lots of colour photographs and line drawings.
The Compleat Home Winemaker and Brewer – Ben Turner – William Luscombe Publisher Ltd (UK) 1982 ISBN 0 86002 168 8 – Part one covers the theory of wine making such as history, terms, ingredients, basic processes and equipment required, both essential and desirable. The practice of winemaking is then covered including basic methods, wines from juice concentrates; fresh and dried fruits; canned fruits, juices and jams; fresh and dried flowers, leaves and saps, grains, vegetables, herbs and spices. Also covered is wine from the freezer, diagnosing and fixing faults and storing and blending wine. Part two covers the theory of brewing including history, styles of beer, beer from a kit, essential ingredients, brewing from malt extracts and from grains. The practice of brewing covers basic recipes, equipment and additives required, bottling and storing beer, problems and hygiene and serving beer. There is also a small section on other homemade beverages including mead, cider and perry. The book has lots of colour photos and line drawings.
Woodwork for Winemakers – C.J. Dart & D.A. Smith – The Amateur Winemaker Publications (UK) 1985 ISBN 0 900841 17 6 – This is obviously not so much about winemaking as building stuff to help you winemake better! Chapter one is a quick discussion on materials and methods like dowelling, glues, timber and techniques like glue and pin and glue and screw. Chapter 2 – preparation – covers projects like a fruit pulper, a small press and small weighing balance; Chapter 3 – Fermentation - has plans for stirrers, a pulp squeezer, various fermentation cupboards and a trolley; Chapter 4 – After fermentation – covers plans for a racking and straining stand, bottle corking holder and a cork flogger. Chapter 5 - Storing and serving - has plans for various bottle racks, several jar dispensers and a mobile bar. Chapter 6 – shed winery – talks about and has plans for the site, base, insulation required, electricity, work bench and general layout. Chapter 7 – Miscellaneous – has plans for a malt grain crusher, winemakers cupboard and record card index box, among other things. Lots of plan line drawings and a few black and white photos.
