"wine making" news and stories

Over the last few years, interest in home brewing has been steadily growing. That great for the beer fans out there, but what's the wine drinker to do when they catch the DIY bug? Up until now, they haven't had many options. However the WinePod is hoping to change all that by allowing regular people to make wine right in their own homes.

WinePod is the first-ever personal winery. It is a self–contained, computer–controlled unit that allows the amateur wine maker to create up to four cases of wine per fermentation (and up to 12 fermentations a year). The company provides the grapes, as well as all the tools you'll need to cask and bottle your vino. You get software to install on your computer that will walk you through the process and will assist you in avoiding any potential pitfalls.

It's a pricey gadget, starting at $4,499, but for the right wine enthusiast, it could be the perfect holiday gift.

Brad Pitt is planning on buying a vineyard in Italy; just outside Turin, which is a short distance from his pal George Clooney's Lake Como hut.

The Daily Telegraph claims the 42 year-old actor paid a secretive visit to three wine estates, all in the Barolo region, 35 miles south of Turin. The actor stayed at the Fontanafredda estate in Serralunga, once a royal domain and 35 miles south of Turin. He visited other producers in the area including Cascina Cucco and Poderi Aldo Conterno. All three estates produce quality Barolo and Dolcetto d'Alba.

"He seemed to be interested in buying," Monica Tavella from Fontanafredda told the Telegraph.

Pitt is not the first celebrity to eye an Italian vineyard. Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall owns an estate in Sicily and Chelsea boss Roman Abramovich recently visited Tuscany, also with an eye to acquiring an estate. 

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