NoSnob
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2011
- Messages
- 238
- Reaction score
- 25
Rather than hijack a thread about KT in certain kit wines, I am starting a new thread. This is in response to a comment Robie made about the percentage contents of the advertised varietal in wine kits:
"Even commercial wines are not always pure varietal. They can legally add in certain percentages of other varietals. I guess this also happens with kits; I doubt there are any laws that govern the percentages for kits manufacturers."
Robie I have wondered about this too. I asked my LHBS about this and was told that the premium kits are likely to contain mostly the advertised varietal. The unstated implication was that the lower & mid-level kits, well, maybe not so much. It is obvious that kit manufacturers are not bound by the 75% advertised varietal content requirement applicable to wines because kits are juice, not wine.
Even if the kit contained 100% of the advertised varietal (which it likely does not) there is the question of whether its origin is the cited source. So, for example, perhaps a kit wine manufacturer has only Cabernet Sauvignon juice and concentrate in its kit but its source is predominately from bulk California Cab Sauv and not the advertised Lodi Ranch Cab Sauv as indicated on the label. This example is not intended to disparage any specific kit maker.
As consumers, the only recourse any of us has is to buy the product we think best represents that which is labeled. Caveat Emptor! I suspect the kit wine manufacturers are counting on our not being all that discerning. However, I am encouraged that they are forging ahead with the addition of skins to their premium kits.
NS
"Even commercial wines are not always pure varietal. They can legally add in certain percentages of other varietals. I guess this also happens with kits; I doubt there are any laws that govern the percentages for kits manufacturers."
Robie I have wondered about this too. I asked my LHBS about this and was told that the premium kits are likely to contain mostly the advertised varietal. The unstated implication was that the lower & mid-level kits, well, maybe not so much. It is obvious that kit manufacturers are not bound by the 75% advertised varietal content requirement applicable to wines because kits are juice, not wine.
Even if the kit contained 100% of the advertised varietal (which it likely does not) there is the question of whether its origin is the cited source. So, for example, perhaps a kit wine manufacturer has only Cabernet Sauvignon juice and concentrate in its kit but its source is predominately from bulk California Cab Sauv and not the advertised Lodi Ranch Cab Sauv as indicated on the label. This example is not intended to disparage any specific kit maker.
As consumers, the only recourse any of us has is to buy the product we think best represents that which is labeled. Caveat Emptor! I suspect the kit wine manufacturers are counting on our not being all that discerning. However, I am encouraged that they are forging ahead with the addition of skins to their premium kits.
NS