Have you ever looked into making your own wine? It’s easier and simpler than you might think with this Instant Pot homemade wine recipe…
Choosing the Instant Pot for winemaking is definitely the way to go. It takes less time & gives you an amazing and tasty wine. You can choose your flavor according to your own taste.
Table of Contents
Recipe Video
How Does this Work?
Wine is grape juice that has been fermented, and fermentation requires yeast and a temperature around 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures hotter than 140 degrees will kill the yeast, and if the water is much colder than 70 degrees it may not be warm enough to activate it.
Basically, you’re trying to create an environment for the yeast to thrive, so it turns the sugars into alcohol, and the yogurt function does just that, since making yogurt relies on the growth of bacteria.
This method was originally developed by David Murphy from foodnservice.com.
What Does the Yogurt Button Do?
The yogurt button has two functions: first to heat to 180 degrees to kill harmful bacteria, and second, to maintain a constant moderate temperature for fermentation to take place.
For winemaking, we are interested in this second step. That is why in the recipe, you hit “less” after you hit the yogurt button to skip the first step.
What if my Pressure Cooker Doesn’t Have a Yogurt Button?
This recipe requires pressure cooker models with a yogurt function. Unfortunately, the Instant Pot “Warm” setting is a bit too warm, about 150-170 degrees, so it may kill the yeast.
Do I Really Need to Add that Much Sugar?
It may seem like a lot of sugar, but the yeast needs sugar to ferment properly. The recipe as written is great! It is a little sweet but great to drink on its own, chilled.
I mention chilled because this wine should be stored in the refrigerator after it’s complete to avoid overgrowing bacteria.
Also, choose a grape juice that is 100% juice with no added sugars.
Do I Need to Use the Brands Written in the Recipe?
No—but I would use something similar to get similar results. Any yeast labeled red wine yeast and any sugary grape juice will work.
Additionally, the type of grape juice you use will have an effect on the final taste of the wine. So experiment with different brands and see which one you like best!
What Can I do with the wine?
Once done, you can enjoy a glass of your private label wine every evening watching Netflix, or use it to improve your Instant Pot recipes!
You can make some great recipes using this wine, like Instant Pot poached pears or Instant Pot Coq Au Vin. Alternatively, make mulled wine and have a party!
For more ideas, you can check out this ultimate guide to cooking with wine, from Advanced Mixology.
Can I store the wine?
Of course. And in fact it's a good idea!
While you can drink the Instant Pot wine right away, it actually gets better over time.
Just let it sit for 2-3 weeks to get an even better taste.
Beverage Recipes
Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Latte
Instant Pot Homemade Wine
Ingredients
- 32 oz Welch’s grape juice 32 oz bottle
- ½ cup Lalvin Red Wine Yeast
- ½ cup sugar granulated
Instructions
- Add ½ cup of sugar in the bottle of Welch’s grape juice and shake vigorously.
- Add ½ packet Lalvin Red Wine Yeast in the bottle and shake vigorously one more time.
- Pour the juice into the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid, press the “Yogurt” button and then press the “Less” button.
- Cook for 48 hours. Keep the venting knob on "venting".
- Refrigerate and serve 🙂
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- The alcohol, in the instant pot, doesn't cook off it gets trapped in the sealed pressure cooker and condenses back into the liquid.
- If you’re afraid of bacteria entering the lid of the bottle and wrecking your wine, you can always buy an airlock.
Hi Can I use Monk Fruit for a sugar substation?
You can do the same exact thing by putting all your ingredients into a gallon jug and put a balloon on top and set it on top of a heating pad set on low. Instant hooch!
Really, so interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Whilst this is a good idea, there is a lot of information missing that without is going to lead to problems...
1. EVERYTHING must be fully sanitised or you risk ruining what you make (unless you like vinegar)
2. You need to carefully Syphon off the '(turbo) wine' from the sediment to stop spoiling the flavour.
3. If you do bottle and store, all the yeast and sugar that is left will continue to ferment. Depending on the container, you could end up with some bottle bombs unless the pressure is carefully vented.
4. As seen in one comment, adding more sugar will make sweeter in the short term, but it is still just food for the yeast and will end up making a stronger, drier wine if left for longer (and stronger doesn't always mean it will tast nicer).
5. This is almost identical to 'turbo cider' (apple juice, sugar and yeast), so go nuts with trying different fruit juices - just avoid anything that has preservatives - that will kill your yeast.
How do you remove the "turbo wine"?
I make wine jelly, it is great with chicken, beef and pork. I am going to try this recipe and make wine jelly from it.
Thank you for the recipe.
That sounds great, I'll have to try that!
I just juiced white grapes from my vine. They are a bit tart. Should I add more sugar? Or will this be fine?
I think it would be fine but if you like a sweeter wine yes, add a little more sugar.
Is this a really sweet wine? I want to try white wine but a dry wine like Chardonnay. I appreciate you recipe and insight.
Yes, this recipe is for is a fairly sweet wine.
Do you know what the alcohol content will be at the end of the process?
I have the ultra and while it has a yogurt function, I do not have a “less option”. How do I bypass the first step with this machine?
Thanks
WOW, Last Christmas I gave my son and two nephews Instant Pots. This year I will be giving them your recipe with a sampler pack of 5 wine yeasts I found on Amazon with a bottle of Welch's. Thanks for the recipe.
That's such a great idea! You're very welcome.
Can you double the recipe?
If you have a large Instant Pot so it's not filled past the maximum allowance, go for it!
What if fermentation not started or stopped suddenly. I am also trying to brew wine. Yeast nuetrient may be required?
You can add more yeast…make sure there’s enough sugar to feed it.