"Doug" wrote in news:1112908783.790033.71150
@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:

Craig -
If your supplier carries the Vintners Reserve kits, they already
have some sort of relationship (direct or indirect) with WinExpert. If
you are looking for a better kit, see if they can order one of the
better WinExpert kits (the Selection series, or even better, the
Selection Estate series). Where I live (Minnesota) you can buy most
of the VR kits for $45 to $50 US, while the Selection Original series
tend to run about $70 to $80 US, and the Selection Estate kits are $100
or more (but worth it!). So your Cellar Classic kit price is probably
in line with comparable WinExpert kits.

I have not made it, but I have heard a lot of very positive reports
about the Selection Estate Woodbridge Ranch 11 Cab. Sauv. kit. Also,
FWIW, bear in mind that even the inexpensive kits will improve quite a
bit with time. I opened a 2 1/2 year-old VR Chianti just yesterday,
and was amazed at how much it had improved from when it was 6 or 12
months old. I usually don't age the VR kits that long, but somehow I
overlooked that bottle.

Doug

Thanks Doug, I have seen some of the Estate kits on an online supplier
(midwestsupplies.com) that I sometimes buy beer ingredients from that I
cannot get at my local supplier. If my local cannot get these, then I'll
research that kit, as cab. sauvs. are my most requested wine from family
and friends.

Craig

Craig -
I buy most of my kits from Midwest Supplies, since they are nearby.
They
carry pretty much all of the WinExpert kits (or will order them for
you). They are listed as a local retailer on the RJ Spagnols web site,
but I've never seen any RJ Spagnols kits there. Maybe they would order
one for you, though.

I have seen a number of posts from folks who have ordered from Austin
Homebrew Supply (Austin TX) and have been quite satisfied -- they do
carry the RJ Spagnols kits, as well as WinExpert, Cellar Craft and
Advintage. If you are in or around Minneapolis, I believe that Wind
River Brewing (in Eden Prairie) carries at least some of the RJ
Spagnols products.

Doug

Craig -
I buy most of my kits from Midwest Supplies, since they are nearby.
They
carry pretty much all of the WinExpert kits (or will order them for
you). They are listed as a local retailer on the RJ Spagnols web site,
but I've never seen any RJ Spagnols kits there. Maybe they would order
one for you, though.

I have seen a number of posts from folks who have ordered from Austin
Homebrew Supply (Austin TX) and have been quite satisfied -- they do
carry the RJ Spagnols kits, as well as WinExpert, Cellar Craft and
Advintage. If you are in or around Minneapolis, I believe that Wind
River Brewing (in Eden Prairie) carries at least some of the RJ
Spagnols products.

Doug