[arcticsid]

I don't get involved with threads involving kits because I have never made one. I do, however, understand the basic principals of winemaking in general.

But I see more and more questions in here from first time winemakers who bought kits and ran into touble.

Tom pointed out in another thread, that although it is a kit, and everything necessary to brew a batch is included, there are other factors to make it successful. Preperation, temperature, patience, etc.

So my question is this.

Do they give you enough instructions when you open the box to walk a first timer through to the end? Or, do they expect you to have a basic knowledge before you begin?

I assume you experinced makers open the box and throw everything aside except the juice bag and the FPAC and get it going.

If these kits( even beer kits) are user friendly, why do so many newbies have so many problems. Do they give you enough detailed instructions in the "box" or do they just assume there will be someone like you all in these forums to help them along?

I guess, in defence of the kit manufaturers, if I buy a pack of veggie seeds, instructions on how to prepare a garden are not included.

Thoughts?

Troy

[Tom]

The thing is to read FOLLOW and understand the directions. Yes you can make great wine from kits. Just look at the WineMakers competition 70%+ are kits. The directions are printed so that if you practice temp. Patience and sanitation you will make a good wine. Once you understand the process then you can do other things like TROY !
All kidding aside Troy if you can get your hands on a "good quality" kit give it a try. You will be surprised!

[arcticsid]

I am not afraid to try a kit, and I will. It boils down to money for me personally right now.

My question was directed in behalf of the recent newbies having trouble with kits.

I know alot of trouble the newbies are having, kits or otherwise, is they are jumping in without even trying to educate themselves a little bit. And so I refer back to the vegetable seed example.

[Tom]

Kits ARE the best way for a newB to make wine. The "mist" kits make a wine that can be bottled in 4-6 weeks. The entry level kits are good for the wine novice (this WAS me ) as they are also fast to bottle. Once you get the "method" down then its time to:
Think Out Of The BOX".

That being wine from Juice, Fruit, concentrates and what ever thats fermentable.

[Racer]

I've been gardening for 20+ years now and only feel I've been getting good at it for the last 5 years now. I've been making wine for 8 years now and still feel like I have a long way to go before I'm really good at it.

First time experience on anything will always raise alot of questions and doubts about things until more experience is gained. And in my case for learning about wine making a few mistakes have been lived thru so far in my time in this hobby.

I don't think wine kits are hard to make or difficult its just hard to read the instructions and be completely comfortable that your doing it right or it is going right the first few times you make a kit(or any wine). Having someone help you with your first attempts helps alot. Thank god for wine making forums!!!!!!!!!

[arcticsid]

I agree Racer, I quess I was just wondering if some of these kits are being marketed as "foolproof" , and I am sure for the most part they are, but I sure see more and more questions from first time kit makers regarding them.

I just want to see anyone attempting to brew their own to be successful and was wondering if the makers of these kits over advertising this goal..

There was a thread in here a week or so ago and the guy bought a wine kit that said it could be BOTTLED in 7 days, it was a "strong" kit? I forget now.

Just hoping there are not those out there making promises that aren't attainable.

[Racer]

I think most kit companies are good honest companies. I do remember the 7 day kit post too though.

At least 1 LHBS near me offers up a "wine making 101" class for new folks that takes you thru all steps necessary to make a kit. I took it myself and really benefited from it.I hate to see people struggle with problems too. Hopefully we all are helping to keep newer folks to hang in there till they too are good and comfortable with our "obsession" er I meant hobby there I think.

[arcticsid]

CPFAN ran a brew on premises shop for a while. I think it was more of a thing in Canada. it would be nice to see something like that here. I live in Fairbanks Alaska, and most people here are reluctant to give out their PO Box number,( let alone join anything), being a census taker here is as scary as those trying to do it in the woods of Kentucky). LOL. Serious though. So getting anyone to join anything here is kinda gonna be word of mouth. I have been here a long time and have earned the trust, shouldn't be to tough. All I want to do is share.

We'll see how things go in the spring. I feel confidant enough to lead a wine making class, though I admit I'd need to call in the reinforcements for the beer. No problem. Got the help I need. Just need the snow to go away.

[cpfan]

Troy:

There are some kits that are designed as 7 day kits. They are available mainly from what I consider the secondary kit companies...Wine Kitz, Heron Bay, and Fontana (ABC Cork). I know that some (all?) Wine Kitz FoPs do their kits as 7 day kits. Personally I have no interest in them.

In my opinio, first timers should follow the instruction sheet as close as humanly possible, ignoring comments from store owners, books, internet pages, guys on forums, me, you and everybody else. WHY? Because we all do it slightly differently. We express ourselves differently. We answer questions thinking about the Winexpert instructions when the first timer is reading the Spagnols instructions. Result we confuse the rookies.

Troy, as a former store owner I can tell you that I have dealt with first timers who have made a kit following the instructions, and very much enjoyed the result. As I type, I am recalling one older retired American couple who loved their new hobby, and the wines they were getting from the inexpensive 4-week kits that they made themselves at home. Yes they crossed the border to come to my Canadian store because I was closer than the nearest US one (which was beer oriented anyway).

I have maintained for a long time, that first timers should get a decent equipment kit, and make a good 4-week kit (white cause they can see what is happening).

Sorry this turned into a bit of a diatribe (whatever that means), Steve

[arcticsid]

I ate some of that diatribe once, farted for a week. Is that another Canadian thing?
LOL