Looking for Kit Recommendations

[pmf2000]

So I have 2 Mist type kits under bottle with 1 Pinot Grigio clarifying and 1 KenRidge Classic Merlot in secondary fermentation. I started with the two Mist kits so I would have something to drink immediately. I now have a good rotation that I can enjoy some wine while the others are in their cycle.

So what now? I can start a 6 to 12 month kit without much concern. I am actually thinking about gifts for Christmas (I make bottle stoppers as well).

The only restrictions I have are to keep it under $100 - 1 White, 1 Red. I know someone will say, 'What do you like?' but honestly wine is still new to me I'm open to recommendations.

Any suggestions?

Tim

 

[Bailey]

Any wineries close by?

I've found the best way to decide what kits to try is to go to wineries and taste away. I'll try a wide variety of wines, buy a few bottles of what I like and then look for kits of the same style.

Most wineries don't charge for tastings, the ones that do usually only charge a few dollars.

There's as much personality in wineries as there are people. Some a pretty snooty, some have 'brew on premises' and some even sell kits along with the wine they sell.

Other than that - make what you've liked in the past. Don't be afraid to make the same kit again.

 

[Wade E]

Are you talking 1 white and 1 red, both for under $100? I dont think you are going to get a decent red kit for much less then around $90!

 

[Runningwolf]

Like others will tell you taste is very subjective. As far as a white goes I would suggest the best Gewürztraminer you could buy. It is very good and semi dry.

 

[pmf2000]

Are you talking 1 white and 1 red, both for under $100? I dont think you are going to get a decent red kit for much less then around $90!

$100 each would be the plan. I should be able to get a nice red kit for $100 and a white one for $100

 

[Runningwolf]

two other higher end whites that I liked really well are WE piesporter and WE South African Chenin Blanc.

 

[Wade E]

OK, thats better, yiou sure can get a real nice white wine and probably dont even need to spend that much on a white but the reds will require the bigger bucks. What kits do yiou have available to you where you are or are you buying off a specifice website? Do you tend to like sweeter whites or very dry whites? I would spend a little more on the red and less on the white and I believe you will be much happier this way. I would go with a grape skin kit for the red wine like a RJS Cellar Classic Winery Series or a Cellar Craft Showcase or Im sure Cpfan can recommend one of the other brands that I cant really get over here without spending some big cash on shipping. Id do the RJS Super Tuscan or the Syrah.!
http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdListCCWS.asp

Then Id go with a lesser size white wine like a the RJS Grand Cru International Gewurtztraminer for a semi sweet white wine or a Piesporter or if you are looking for a dry white then the Sauvignon Blanc or the Chardonnay.
http://www.finevinewines.com/OProdListWK_RJGCI.asp

 

[Runningwolf]

$100 each would be the plan. I should be able to get a nice red kit for $100 and a white one for $100

So..can you tell who favors red and who favors whites . I hate to say it but, Wade is right, LOL. Spend less on the white and more on the red. I just started making reds and definitely spent more on them. I am counting on my tastes changing in the next 12-18 months when these will be ready to drink. No Problem holding off for me since I lean toward the whites right now and my cellar is fully stocked.

 

[cpfan]

pmf:

Without knowing where you live it's pretty tough to figure out the pricing. Is it $100Cdn or $100US? Not that there's a big diff at the moment (about 5%). The only brand you mentioned is Ken Ridge (and the Classic Merlot is the favourite house red around here), so I'll stick with that brand.

I can get the Ken Ridge Showcase German Gewurztraminer for $92 Cdn, and that has been our favourite white since it was first released. Their New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is also very good for same price.

Picking a red is so tough because of different tastes. Ken Ridge Showcase reds cost me $96 Cdn. I can easily recommend the Australian Shiraz, Italian Amarone, and New Zealand Pinot Noir. The rest are probably just as good but I don't have experience with them.

BTW, if you update the Location field in the Control Panel, we can often give much better answers to questions like this. Heck I could have changed my Niagara Region prices to Calgary prices if that was applicable.

Steve

 

[IQwine]

the WE that I like is Luna Rossa if you want a big red. It's a regular one here. Good luck.

If you are going to pay less for the white and more for the red then take a look at the WE Lodi Ranch 11 Cabernet Sav

 

[pmf2000]

I am in Canada and have access to several distributors. No need for Mail order or anything like that. I like the idea of spending slightly less on white and a bit more on Red.

keep the suggestions coming.

 

[skiboarder72]

I have made the 10L RJ Merlot kit, and after 6 months it tastes really great in my book. It was only $70 US. I've also tried some of the cheaper kits off Amazon, they are only $42 but make a fairly generic/simple wine, I would getting at least a 10L kit for a 6gal batch.