Hello from NEPA

[MJOl]

Hello,
just joined the forum. I'm from Northeast PA (USA) and and am about to start making wine for the first time. I have all the equipment from past beer making ventures (which I didn't like) and have what I need to make wine from a kit (that's how I'd like to start). Can anyone suggest a good kit to start with? I like Cabernet Sauv or Shiraz mostly and would like to start with one of those. Thanks!!!
Michael

 

[Tom]

1st WELCOME to a great Forum!
I would start you first kit with a wine you like. For the 1st kit start with one that you can bottle soon like a 4-8 week kit. This will get your feet wet. Be prepared to start another right away. Better get 2 different kits.
Do you have a local source? Most LHBS also carry wine kits. start there.
Let us know what you got and keep us informed of your progress.

 

[MJOl]

Thank you!
I was really asking about "brands" of kits. I want to at least make sure I'm starting off with a decent kit. Yes, I do have a local home brew store and I'm aware of all the internet sources for kits as well. Thanks!

 

[Tom]

If you goto our main page there is a lsit of other kit mfg's. Here you can get a feel what each one has to offer.
http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/index.php
The Mosti Mondiale makes a fine all juice kit if looking on the higer end.

 

[MJOl]

Great! Thank you.
I'm very excited to get started. First thing to do is build a simple warming chamber as my basement doesn't really get above 66-68 degrees. I saw a simple design for one - basically a foam board box with a lid that has a 100 watt bulb plugged into an outllet connected to a baseboard heater type thermostat. Perhaps a sheet of aluminum foil to keep the light directly off the fermenter.

 

[arcticsid]

You could also look into a brew belt, they are relatively inexpensive and they say thew work well.

 

[MJOl]

I did see that, but they say you can't use 'em on glass carboys (secondary fermenter).

 

[Wade E]

Ive been using them on glass carboys for 4 years now never with an issue, my basement is about the same as yours so I have 4 of these belts and use them all the time. Just dont wrap 1 around a carboy that is in the lower 40's at that time or the temp change may cause it to crack kind of like a windshield with the defroster on a very cold winter day. I would suggest getting nothing smaller then a 15 liter kit if you are looking for a good red wine, the white wines you can get away with the 10 liter kits. I have read that the Mosti 10 kits make a decent wine
http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdListVN.asp

or the Cellar Craft 5 Week Showcase series
http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdListCC12.asp

 

[St Allie]

great to have you here!

Allie

 

[MJOl]

Thanks again everyone, for the welcome and for the suggestions!

 

[smurfe]

Welcome aboard. Most of your beer equipment should cross over just fine. Make sure your fermenter is big enough if using a bucket. Many beer fermenters are 6.5 gallon and wine fermenters are 7.9 gallon. It will be tough to keep some kits fermenting in a 6.5 bucket without a blow over. Most beer kits are 5 gallon while wine kilts are 6 gallon.