1/29/12 as of today I have completed the Shiraz out of this kit.
I have made plenty of kits to date and this one has been just as easy as the others. Everything needed (other than the equipment) was provided for both the Shiraz and the Gewurztraminer kits. All processes went well and as expected with the Shiraz kit finishing right about 11% ABV. I did have about a glass left over at bottling which I drank to test it out. ABSOLUETLY GREAT WITHOUT ANY AGING. I could obviously tell this in a nonaged wine, but this wine, just made, without any aging, I can only assume this shiraz will be ridiculously good! I have given this a 4 star for now, hoping I can kick it up to a 5 star after some aging. I will open a bottle at 3 months and see how it is and report back to everyone. Also by then I should have completed and started a review for the gewurztraminer.
The description of this wine kit is woefully inadequate. The full list of items included should read: Two twenty pound bags of varietal grape juice concentrate (enough to produce 60 bottles of wine--30 Shiraz and 30 Gewurztraminer); all ingredients including bentonite, yeast, stabilizer, kieselsol, yeast nutrient, and chitosan; 60 real corks; bottle labels; heat shrink caps; and instructions. The ingredients are all food grade, produced in Canada.
I had first bought a home wine making kit with the carboy (glass jar), bucket, siphon, cleaning solutions, corker, etc. This kit in combination with the fermenting hardware gives me everything I need to get started (minus the bottles)....Return to read of my progress, or better yet begin your own vintage and share your experiences. I can hardly wait!
Update: The Shiraz turned out great according to quite a few wine enthusiasts and without any particular difficulties. The GewurtztramIner also turned out quite professionally and now I'm never without a gift.
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I was able to get this particular kit discounted. The wine turned out great. I actually made three batches, the two on the box plus a mix of the two (2 gallons each). Nice table wine with proper aging.
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This is a very good kit for the price. You get everything you need (minus the fermenting equipment and bottles) to make two different wines. I have completed the GewurtztramIner kit and it turned out wonderful. The majority of the Shiraz is still aging in the carboy for another 2 to 3 months. I bottled about a gallon (four full bottles and a partial) to us to sample as it ages. I have opened one bottle after about a month and it is a little harsh, which is to be expected at this early stage. I have made a few kits of both reds and whites and the reds take much longer to come into their own than the whites (regardless of what the box states). I would recommend this to anyone looking for both a red and white kit that comes out better than table wine.
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Gave this item as a gift to my brother and sister in law... Reports are that it doesn't look anything like the picture on here. I also think the basket was different than the one in the picture.
