Mark,

I haven't made kit wine for many, many years so I am no expert.
However, generally the lighter whites age more quickly than the reds and
although either would be drinkable by Christmas you may want to consider
a white such as a Riesling or even a Chardonnay and IMHO it would be a
better wine by Christmas than the Merlot. This assumes that your father
likes white wines as well as reds.

Good luck,

Glen Duff
-----------------

Mark Garwatoski wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I have been making beer for over 10yrs and mead for about two. My father has
> been harassing me to make a batch of Merlot. I think I'm about to finally
> break down and get a Brew King Select kit and get it started. I plan to make
> it per the instructions for the first time and rack onto marbles to yield a
> low headspace after racking.
>
> Is it to late to start a kit and still be in bottles by xmas? I don't mind
> telling him to let it age 3-6 months in the bottle. I basically have no idea
> how long wine takes but I make meads and Lambics that I make and forget
> about for 12-18months so I know the drill and can wait if needed.
>
> Is the yeast provided adequate or should I use a liquid strain?
>
> Thanks for any input,
>
> Mark
>
>
>