Pinot Noir is a grape varietal that has risen to great prominence on the international wine stage in recent years, and is now treasured by winemakers and wine lovers across the world. In its native France, it is actually an ancient variety, which has been cultivated since the 4th century AD.  French winemakers still use it to make the prized reds of.. Read More

Whether you are a seasoned craft winemaker or you’re trying your hand at it for the first time, your goal should always be to produce wines that reflect the grape varietal and wine style, and will remain stable once bottled. After all, when you are making 30 bottles at a time, you want to enjoy the last bottle opened just as much, or even more, tha.. Read More

There is no better feeling than finally arriving home with your very first winemaking kit. Whether you are making a full bodied red wine or a sweet dessert wine, you will require the same equipment and need to set up your winemaking station the same way. The proper environment is very important to the winemaking process, and here are 5 key elements t.. Read More

Most of us who enjoy wine are already familiar with the three steps in tasting wine: looking at the glass to see the wine’s colour and clarity, giving the wine a swirl before sniffing the glass to identify aromas, and then finally taking a sip (or often a gulp) to experience the wine’s flavours. But, when you take that first drink and swish the w.. Read More

Time does fly these days. We started planning a progressive dinner party, including deciding on which RJS Craft Winemaking wines we would make, back in January.  First we planned the menu and selected the best wines to accompany the food; then we visited an RJS Craft Winemaking Academy store where we made our wines; six weeks later we returned to bo.. Read More