Hi. I would like to get started making wine at home. How much
realistically will I need to spend $$$, and what exactly will I really
need to get started? Are any of those kits worth looking at, or are
those scams? Please also suggest a good book or 2.

Thanks.

--

Lewis Lang

Rats, that ended up posted somewhere it shouldn't have been somehow...sorry
folks!

KD



"KD" wrote in message news:...

"Lewis Lang" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi. I would like to get started making wine at home. How much
realistically will I need to spend $$$, and what exactly will I really
need to get started? Are any of those kits worth looking at, or are
those scams? Please also suggest a good book or 2.

Thanks.

--

Lewis Lang


Hi Lewis:

Kits are a great way to start out, that's what I've been doing. I've been
making wine for while, mostly just kits. In my opinion, the wine is half
decent and they're quite easy to make, no book required. Directions are
included.

I had been thinking about trying this for several years, just never got
around to looking into it and thought it would be really expensive. I even
saved my empty wine bottles for several years, with the idea that I would
someday fill them with my own. When I finally got around to checking it
out, here in Atlantic Canada, I paid about $100 for a 'starter kit' which
included all the basic tools (carboy, primary, siphon hose, cleaners,
etc.), as well as a wine kit to try out.

Since then I've made probably eight batches of wine from kits. All have
turned out quite well, although they do improve with age. I've always been
a white wine drinker, hardly a connisseur, but after my first couple of
batches of sauvignon blanc, I'm experimenting to see what other types I
like. White zinfandel is my current favorite.

I've also made two batches that were not exactly kits, in that they were
not packaged in a box by a big company. In the fall, my wine supply store
sells a kit-type deal that includes fresh pressed apple juice and all the
additions you need to make it into apple wine. That one is still sitting
in the carboy clearing, haven't tried it yet. I also bought a mead 'kit'
just like it, just something put together from my supply store which
includes a big bucket of fresh honey and yeast, etc. Haven't tried it yet
either.

Give it a try - at worst you're out $100 if you buy the stuff new. You
might also find used equipment if you check out the classifieds. Find a
decent wine/brew store, I've found mine to be extremely helpful with even
stupid questions!

Good luck!

KD