This year, you have a wine connoisseur on your Valentine’s Day gift list. It’s time to disregard the usual wine membership and the expensive case of wine, and instead, consider purchasing a gift that keeps on giving: a winemaking kit.
One doesn’t need to be a scientist, grow wine grapes in the backyard nor wait months for a wine to age to successfully to create the perfect glass of wine. There are several beginning winemaking kits to choose from that throws intimidation right out the window.
Shopping for a winemaking kit for the beginner involves a little bit of information: What is the wine of preference? Red? White? Fruity wines? Light body? Full Body? Sweet? Dry? Once you have narrowed the choice down, it’s time to select a kit best suits the taste of your future winemaker.
For most novice winemakers, the all-inclusive kit or value kits can be the way to go. It includes everything you need to produce 12 bottles of quality wine in less than a month. The instructions are simple and you can choose between either a red or white wine. These kits are usually priced at around $100 and includes everything one needs to make an affordable and delicious bottle of wine.
But perhaps you have a winemaker that may want to step it up a bit and experiment with different varietals and produce a wine that maybe has a bit more body to it.
Top of the line winemaking kits tend to contain ingredients for a bolder style of wine with more alcohol. Usually these wines will take longer to make and age before they are truly drinkable. Many include grape juice from vineyards all over the world. For a true wine afficionado, this may be the right choice. Prices range from $120 on up.
Buying the most expensive wine kit does not indicate that you only enjoy expensive bottle of wines. Kits for every budget produce a good and drinkable wine provided instructions are carefully followed, but don’t feel inclined to go with the least expensive either. The goal is to be rewarded with a bottle of wine you would be happy to share with friends. Pay attention to the cost per bottle and decide your budget from there.
Kits vary in what they include. Be sure that the winemaking kit you purchase contains the following equipment, which is required to making wine:
Primary Fermenter: plastic type bucket with a cover.
Carboy: a container made of glass or plastic.
Airlock and Rubber Bung: A valve that seals the carboy.
Siphon Hose and Siphon Rod: Used to transfer the wine.
Spoon or Paddle: Must be long enough to reach bottom of bucket
Bottle Filler: A rod that fills your wine bottle (usually not included though in all-inclusive wine kits they are) with wine
Cork: To seal your wine.
To compliment your winemaking kit, a clever idea would be to include a dozen wine bottles creatively wrapped. Make certain that the corks supplied in the kit compliment fit the bottles that you purchase.
Wine kits: The creative answer to your holiday dilemma.
