Mike
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- Sep 17, 2009
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I've been brewing my own beer for about 3.5 years now. I started brewing with extract kits, but within about 6-12 months, I had switched to all grain and have been doing it every since. For those unfamiliar, some of the main advantages of AG brewing include:
The main disadvantages are:
I started making wine about a year ago and have made 3 kits thus far with 2 more to be bottled shortly. I'm now interested in what is entailed in making the same jump in winemaking that I made in homebrewing; going from extract kits to making the product from scratch. Briefly speaking with some fellow winemakers at my LHBS, it seemed like the cost of raw grape juice was about the same as buying kits. Additionally, the turn around is much longer for wine made from scratch. Those two things kind of turned me off to the idea.
I'm hoping to get the thoughts of people on here regarding the pluses and minuses of going "all grape" (is that what's its called in winemaking?). Are the two statements above about cost and turn around true?
Thanks!
- lower costs per batch from buying ingredients in bulk
- more control over the process
- a higher quality product
- more pride in the final product based on an "I made it from scratch" concept
The main disadvantages are:
- much more (expensive) equipment required
- a more involved process/longer, more strenuous brew days
I started making wine about a year ago and have made 3 kits thus far with 2 more to be bottled shortly. I'm now interested in what is entailed in making the same jump in winemaking that I made in homebrewing; going from extract kits to making the product from scratch. Briefly speaking with some fellow winemakers at my LHBS, it seemed like the cost of raw grape juice was about the same as buying kits. Additionally, the turn around is much longer for wine made from scratch. Those two things kind of turned me off to the idea.
I'm hoping to get the thoughts of people on here regarding the pluses and minuses of going "all grape" (is that what's its called in winemaking?). Are the two statements above about cost and turn around true?
Thanks!