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The Miracle Machine turns water (and a few added ingredients) into wine

By Dave Parrack
March 06, 2014
The Miracle Machine turns water (and a few added ingredients) into wine
The Miracle Machine is named thanks to its promised ability to turn water into wine
The Miracle Machine is named thanks to its promised ability to turn water into wine
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The Miracle Machine is named thanks to its promised ability to turn water into wine
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The Miracle Machine is named thanks to its promised ability to turn water into wine
The Miracle Machine in operation, fermenting the wine in a matter of days
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The Miracle Machine in operation, fermenting the wine in a matter of days
The Miracle Machine works in combination with a smartphone app that tells you when the wine is ready to drink
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The Miracle Machine works in combination with a smartphone app that tells you when the wine is ready to drink
The Miracle Machine app helps the process of making wine even easier
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The Miracle Machine app helps the process of making wine even easier
The internal components of The Miracle Machine
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The internal components of The Miracle Machine
The internal components of The Miracle Machine
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The internal components of The Miracle Machine
View gallery - 6 images

A certain historical figure is reputed to have once turned water into wine, and whether you believe this event actually happened or not, the idea is a compelling one. Now, a wine expert and an entrepreneur claim that they have created a device that turns this concept into a reality. Just to ensure the connection is made, they have called the device the Miracle Machine.

The Miracle Machine, being brought to market by wine expert Kevin Boyer and entrepreneur Philip Vine, is a device capable of turning water into wine in a matter of days. Added to the water are a set of ingredients that includes grape concentrate, yeast, and a finishing powder that imbues the liquid with barrel-aged flavor.

The wine is fermented using a method the pair aren't willing to discuss, saying only that it involves "an array of electrical sensors, transducers, heaters and pumps." All of the components inside the Miracle Machine are connected to an Arduino microcontroller that ensures the process is happening as it should.

An accompanying app, linked to the Miracle Machine via Bluetooth, tracks the progress of the wine. It can also be used to select the perfect wine for your palette, telling you which ingredients to purchase in order to make the wine of your choice.

The Miracle Machine app helps the process of making wine even easier
The Miracle Machine app helps the process of making wine even easier

The Miracle Machine is due to be funded via Kickstarter, with interested parties invited to register for notification when the campaign goes live. The retail price of the Miracle Machine once it goes on general sale is listed at US$499.

The ingredients required to make the wine will be available through both the Miracle Machine website and Amazon. The cost of producing a single bottle of wine (that supposedly tastes like a $20 bottle) is estimated at $2, though the proof will be in the tasting once the Miracle Machine has been launched.

The video below shows the creators of the Miracle Machine discussing the device and their inspiration for developing it.

Source: The Miracle Machine

Editor's note:: Unbelievable? As it turns out, yes. The Miracle Machine is in actual fact a cleverly conceived (and well executed, judging by the number of outlets, including ourselves, who covered it) PR exercise for Wine To Water, a non-profit aid organization aiming to help provide clean water to people in need around the world. The true purpose behind the "invention" has now been revealed here.
The Miracle Machine

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Good ThinkingWineArduinoKickstarter
10 comments
Dave Parrack
Dave is a technology journalist with a ravenous appetite for gadgets, gizmos, and gubbins. He's based in the UK, and from his center of operations writes about all facets of modern and future technology. He has learned more in his five years writing for the Web than he did in 11 years at school, and with none of the boring subjects thrown in to the mix.

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10 comments
thk
If they try to market it with that outrageous claim, I'm sure they will run afoul of advertizing laws. Jesus!
JDC
I can only imagine they will have some issues with the ATF and other anti-moonshine authorities. But the main hurdle I see is the 'finishing powder' that imbues barrel aged flavor. What in the name of Dow/Monsanto might that be? At the very least they will need to divulge those ingredients.
JPAR
Can they make me one for beer? (the beauty of this product is that it avoids all alcohol tax)
Mel Tisdale
It stands no chance. Anyone who can afford to pay $499 for such a machine will be able to afford the real thing, i.e. be able to buy a proper bottle of wine with the magic ingredient: a proper label that says that they can afford an expensive wine and the person they are with is worth it.
StWils
Show your financial acumen by spending the $500 on real wine and avoid this crap.
Danock
Water grape concentrate? You mean grape juice--what everybody else uses to make wine. No miracle here.
aquinas
JDC, the ATF does not regulate the sale of stills or devices for fermentation or distillation. With respect to flavoring, look at the label of almost any prepared food and you will see "artificial flavoring" or "natural flavoring". That is all they have to disclose.
jerryd
Other than slightly faster, how is it better than a wine bottle and a cork or a wine cask, etc?
I doubt they will get any kind of money as any wine person knows this.
And I doubt others would spend that kind of money when a wine or beer kit cost a tiny fraction of their $499 price. And likely makes better wine to boot, not artificially flavored either.
Captain Obvious
More likely, it will make wine comparable to $2 wine.
katgod
Have to agree that at $500 dollars you have to make a lot of wine to break even and it needs to be wine that is better then what you can get at cost plus for $10.00 (often as good as a $20.00 bottle) As others mentioned maybe the better solution is to buy 5 $100 bottle of wine, if you chose wisely this will no doubt be a much better experience. Good idea but it needs to around $100.00 to find many buyers that would take a flyer on instant wine.