This is my first post after finding this site, and I would appreciate some advice advice from experienced kit makers, especially if you also have experience in making wine from grapes.
I am a long time [40 years] wine afficianado [I would hesitate to sayconnisseur, although I have been fortunate enough to taste quite a number ofwonderful andexpensive wines during the last four decades]. A couple of years ago I retired and moved to rural San Diego County, with a couple of acres surrounding my house. Ihave justinstalled 70 Sangiovese vines, with plans to put in another 30-40 of somethingdifferent to blend with it [possibly Merlot for a "Super Tuscan" blend]. I have also partitioned off one half of the fourth bay of my garage and am making it into a temperature controlled room for fermenting, racking and wine storage. Several localfriends have from 35-200 vines and have already begun wine making. We will sharea crusher/destemmer and bottling equipment.
Since I am at least three years from being able to make wine from my own fruit, I had planned to beginpurchasinggrapes next fall so that I can start making wine and gaining experience while my vines mature. With this asbackground, my questionsare as follows:
1] Would kit wine making be worthwhile for me to gain experience, or is the process too simplifiedto suitthat purpose?
2] I am wondering whether the kit wine would be disappointing as far as being too grapey, or too sweet? [I'm not expecting deeply complex flavors, but am hoping for something that would be at least as good as an $8-10 commercial wine I might purchase at World Market].
3] Does anyone here have good sources for purchased grapes which you would recommend?
I am a long time [40 years] wine afficianado [I would hesitate to sayconnisseur, although I have been fortunate enough to taste quite a number ofwonderful andexpensive wines during the last four decades]. A couple of years ago I retired and moved to rural San Diego County, with a couple of acres surrounding my house. Ihave justinstalled 70 Sangiovese vines, with plans to put in another 30-40 of somethingdifferent to blend with it [possibly Merlot for a "Super Tuscan" blend]. I have also partitioned off one half of the fourth bay of my garage and am making it into a temperature controlled room for fermenting, racking and wine storage. Several localfriends have from 35-200 vines and have already begun wine making. We will sharea crusher/destemmer and bottling equipment.
Since I am at least three years from being able to make wine from my own fruit, I had planned to beginpurchasinggrapes next fall so that I can start making wine and gaining experience while my vines mature. With this asbackground, my questionsare as follows:
1] Would kit wine making be worthwhile for me to gain experience, or is the process too simplifiedto suitthat purpose?
2] I am wondering whether the kit wine would be disappointing as far as being too grapey, or too sweet? [I'm not expecting deeply complex flavors, but am hoping for something that would be at least as good as an $8-10 commercial wine I might purchase at World Market].
3] Does anyone here have good sources for purchased grapes which you would recommend?