Several months ago there was a discussion about cheap Costco/Sam's Club type kits and I said would post some results—so here they are.
The kit was bought at Sams Club and was sold for $C24.80 (thats under 19 bucks US per kit). Each kit was a standard 23 litre kit. The only type of wine was Merlot, and it was branded as "Sommelier Select", a Canadian product out of Mississauga Ont. Each kit includes 30 corks, labels and shrink wraps. You have to buy it in a 2 kit package.
Results-made the first kit Merlot), standard instructions. The box says it is a
4 week kit, but the inside instructions are for a 6 week kit. I made it over 3 months and filtered it and bottled it this weekend. I realize you need time to age the wine, etc but considering how cheap this kit was, I tried a bottle, and it is not bad. Equivalent of $50 and $70 kits I have made in the past.Hard to argue with a final price of under a buck a bottle Canadian.
I have 3 other's aging right now. Kit 2 making the standard way. Kit 3 I am making in 19 litres instead of 23 to see if that "improves" the wine and Kit 4 adding elderberries. Probably 3 or 4 months till I bottle those, but will post the results if anyone interested. Total investment $100 for 110 bottles of wine, including corks and labels.
The funny thing is the kits are only on sale at one local Sams Club-a couple others I have been to don't have them, and it still only Merlot that's available.