How to Make a Yeast Starter for Wine (4 Steps)

The most common yeast varieties for wine are all part of the same family, the "Saccromyces." These can be bought in yeast packets to create home starters and get your own brewing process ready. A yeast starter is a simple method of reconstituting dry yeast cells before adding it to the must of your homemade wine. Creating a home yeast starter is recommended by most home wine brewers since it allows the yeast to breath before going in a jug or carboy and speeds up the fermentation process so the wine can keep all its fruity flavors.

Things You'll Need

Active dry Saccromyces yeast packet
Water
Thermometer

Fresh grape must or reconstituted fruit juice
Carboy

Instructions

Warm 1 cup of water to between 100 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure the temperature is correct by using a thermometer. Remove water from heat.
Add 1 packet of yeast to the warm water slowly, over the course of a few minutes to avoid yeast clumps. Stir the yeast in once it is all added.
Allow yeast starter to sit for about 30 minutes. Transfer mixture to a carboy.
Check the temperature of the yeast starter before adding must. Warm 1/2 cup must, or reconstituted fruit juice, to within 10 degrees of the water temperature before adding. Reseal the carboy and allow the mixture to sit for another 4 hours. Add a second 1/2 cup of warm must to the mixture and allow to sit for another 4 hours.

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