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