Dave, Desiree, Beer & Wine

Well, not really but that doesn’t mean the most expensive kits are the best for you.

There are several differences to look at when deciding what kind of kit to make.  Timeframe, desired body and wine complexity are the big factors when choosing a kit.

Wine kits are typically referred to as 4-week, 6-week and 8-week kits.  A newcomer to the wine kit industry is the 5-week kit and is a bigger version of the 4-week kits and aging is pretty much the same as for the 4-week kits.

4-week kits are the least expensive and quickest to be drinkable. They are very comparable to $7.00 – $8.00 bottles of commercial wine.  They typically have between 7 and 10 liters of juice and like the name suggests they take about a month to get from start to bottling. They are engineered to be ready to drink at a young age.  Sweet wines such as the Island Mist and Orchard Breez’n don’t need any aging once they are bottled.  Bottle them and drink that night!  4-week white wines benefit from a month or so of aging once they are bottled and red wines should be aged for 3 months.  Since 4-week wine kits are ready to drink after only a few months they do not age well.  They have a shelf life of around one year.  After that they are going to start slowly declining in quality.

4-week kit pros:

•  Ready in just a few months

•  Great for first time winemakers

•  Least expensive of the wine kits (averages around $2.50 per bottle)

•  Great value versus comparable commercial wines

4-week kit cons:

•  Does not age well

•  Not as complex

•  Very few full bodied kits

6-week wine kits take a few weeks longer to get from start to bottling.  This is because they have more juice, 15-16 liters, and no added sugar.  They have more total dissolved solids (TDS) which take longer to mellow making them harsher when they are young.  6-week whites need 3-6 months of aging and reds benefit from 6 months to a year and they will age for 2-3 years.  6-week kits are comparable in quality to $14.00 – $18.00 bottles of commercial wine.

6-week kit pros:

•  More complexity and aroma

•  Great for cellaring

•  More choices in body, varying from light to full

•  Great value versus comparable commercial wines

6-week kit cons:

•  Not as good when they are young.  Needs to age 3-6 months.

•  More expensive than 4-week kits (averages $3.75 per bottle)

8-week wine kits are the highest quality kits available.  They typically have between 18 and 23 liters of juice, so they need very little to no additional water.  The TDS levels are very high and 8-week white kits age for 6 months to a year.  8-week reds age for 1-2 years and can have a shelf life of 5-7 years.  Many of the red wines kits come with grape skins that add another level of complexity to the wine.  When aged properly they are outstanding and are well worth the wait.  8-week wines kits easily compete with commercial wines that sell for $25.00 – $40.00.

8-week kit pros:

•  The most complexity and aroma

•  Wines can cellar for several years

•  The most body and mouthfeel

•  Excellent value versus comparable commercial wines

•  All your wine loving friends will be jealous

8-week kit cons:

•  Can be very harsh when young.  Reds need 1-2 years of aging.

•  Most expensive of all the wine kits (averages $6.00 per bottle)

•  Building a cellar may be harder because you will be expected to provide the wine for all future parties and get togethers

I get a lot of questions on which kit is best.  Timeframe plays an important part in my feedback.  If you need a wine that is drinkable in 4-6 months, say for a wedding or party, then choosing an 8-week kit is not a good idea.  The wine will be harsh and everyone will think you are a terrible winemaker.  It is best to go for a lesser bodied wine that is very drinkable.

If time isn’t a factor, then desired body and complexity come into play.  Sweet wines and light bodied wines can be very good in a 4-week kit.  If you like you dry wines to be fruity and easy to drink then the full bodied 8-week kits may be too much and 4-week kits are for you.

However, if you do not like light/medium bodied wines and can wait for the proper results, then a 6 or 8 week kit will be more rewarding.  Nothing is more disappointing than opening a bottle of cabernet sauvignon expecting bold flavors, body and aroma, only to be greeted with a thin and light flavored wine.  4-week kits simply do not compare to the body and complexity that is achieved with the higher end kits. So if big and bold are what you like, then I suggest trying a 6-week or 8-week wine kit.  You will be happier with the results.

Cheers!

Desiree Knott

High Gravity Homebrewing & Winemaking Supplies

7164 S Memorial

Tulsa, OK 74133

(918) 461-2605

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This entry was posted by Desiree Knott on Saturday, April 11th, 2009 at 2:19 pm and is filed under Winemaking Related. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.