Did you know that a wine making journal can be really useful? Whether you are a beginner or an avid winemaker, a journal can help you to learn as you go. While you can invest in a pre-made journal, maintaining it is entirely down to you.
So, what is the best way to maintain a wine making journal? Read on to find out.
What Is a Wine Making Journal?
A wine making journal is where you record everything you need to know about the wine you create. It can be used as a reference point when you are making future batches, as well as help you to learn from your mistakes.
Wine making is a skill that takes years to fully learn. When you first start out, you’ll go through quite a steep learning curve. A journal can help you to keep track of what works and what doesn’t, as well as help you to save the recipes you create.
What Information Should You Include?
You can use the wine making journal to record everything about the process. The best things to cover in the journal include:
- Terminology
- Recipes
- Tips
- Notes
- Important wine information
Having a list of wine terminology that you can refer to is a great idea when you’re starting out. You can also use the journal to record the recipes you create, including notes on how they can be improved and any tips which help with the wine making process.
Include things such as the time the wine needs to age, the best ingredients to use, and the tools and equipment you’ll need. You could even make it fancy and include a label from your wine bottle on each recipe.
Have a Separate Notes Section
It’s a good idea to include a separate notes section. This can be used to mark down anything you have observed which could prove useful when creating future batches. You can write down anything that went wrong and the things you need to change. You could also include tips you’ve discovered along the way.
Having notes is one of the best ways to learn as you go along. Winemaking requires a lot of learning and you can’t do that if you don’t keep notes.
Create Pages with Useful Information
Alongside your recipes and notes, it’s a good idea to include useful information such as ambient temperatures for the different types of wine. Include absolutely everything you can think of, including how often you stirred it if applicable.
You should also track how long you aged the wine for. This can make a big difference to its flavor and body. By writing down how long it was aged for, you can determine if you need to leave it longer next time.
These are some of the best ways to maintain a wine making journal. While you can create them from scratch, you can save a lot of time by investing in a specialized wine making journal. You’ll easily be able to find these online. By keeping a journal, it can really improve your winemaking skills.
