How good are wine kits?

[RichC]

Hi, I'm considering making some kit wine. I'm a fussy baxtard when it comes to wine and I'm wondering will it only lead to disappointment? I know I can brew excellent beer vs what's commercially available(when things go to plan) but does the same apply for wine, or is it all like that pi$$ you get in boxes?
thanks
Rich

[molc]

My first kit is maturing now for another 5 months, so I'll tell you after how it turns out. I used to drink quite a lot of wine, so know what's good and bad at least, so I'm going to be super critical.
At bottling it had some nice notes of a cab sauv but the tannins were overpowering g and it was overly sour, like a cheap wine. If those mellow out, it will be a great wine though.

[pob]

Surprisingly good from the two kits I've tried, definitely better than I was expecting from a kit.

Both were (7 day, juice only) whites which would appear to be easier to get right, both styles, a Chardonnay & a Pinot Grigio are by there nature easy drinking without too much complexity.

First one was a 6 bottle Chardonnay clean, unoaked, slightly buttery ready to drink after 6-8 weeks.

The second a 30 bottle Pinot Grigio (which was 7 months out of date) came out good aswell, still needs 6-8 weeks to mature, good feedback from few of the guys in the clubs (& their other halfs).

Next on the list will be a premium red.

As in beer good fermentation (& sanitation) is paramount. What goes totally against the grain from a beer perspective, is the exposing to air as you trash it to degass the wine - brain confusion there.

[molc]

Yeah and the instructions are telling you not to expose to the air, but then the next sentence is stir vigorously!

[RichC]

Thanks guys. Will probably try one out so.