What does the kit actually include? do I need to buy anything else for a first time wine maker?
1342818
This kit is ingredients only with corks. You need a starter kit that has all the hardware like primary fermentation bucket Carboy hydrometer siphoning hose corking tool. Etc. they sell those fore about $100
1342819
This is not an "all in one" kit. There are several other things you will need, and a couple things that will make things easier for you. This kit contains: instructions, grape juice, bentonite, stabilizer, clarifier, corks, labels. This basically consists of all the ingredients. You will also need a fermenter (could be a carboy or 6gal bucket style), airlock, sanitizer, hydrometer, siphon, bottles, and corker. You will have to transfer the 6 gallons between containers several times, so a second 6gal bucket or carboy is needed. At some point you're going to want to bottle it, which will require about 30 x 750ml bottles and a corker. Unless you want to just put a straw in it... All the additional supplies will likely run you a bit of additional money, but they're all reusable. Once you have them you just buy the wine kits to make another batch. So, the kit is just the ingredients and none of the hardware.
345663
The kit is basic in the sense that it includes all of the equipment needed to make a batch of wine excluding the ingredients. Therefore, if this is your first batch, I would recommend a wine kit from a local wine/beer making supply store to use this equipment with, as opposed to making the wine from scratch (from the actual grapes). Making from scratch would require a grape crusher and a press + ingredients, whereas making from a wine kit (with the equipment from this kit) includes the juice already squeezed from the grapes; yeast; preservative; clearing agent; etc. I would recommend Wine Expert wine kits which yields 6 gallons of wine using the wine making kit. The Wine Expert kits we enjoy are the Italian red wines like brunello and amarone. The cost about $130, and they include the "must" which consists of the skins of the grapes after they are crushed and makes for a high quality wine. The wine kits are fail safe and the wine is amazing; they all yield 30 bottles. You will need to purchase or save and clean 30 bottles. If you purchase them at the local wine supply shop or online, they will cost you around $1 per bottle. Your total cost per bottle using the high end WineExpert kit and the bottles works out to around $8 per bottle and worth every penny in my opinion. Their are cheaper wine kits but we prefer the high end kits which contain the "must". With this delux making kit. We have turned out 3 batches of kits and two batches from scratch. I would recommend purchasing an extra 6 gallon carboy (spelling) which is that big glass bottle you see in the picture. Trust me, it will be used for racking (siphoning finished product) from one to another. So in all, extra purches include 30 bottles, extra bag of corks (enough corks ar included but you will want extra for consecutive batches); a 6 gallon carboy; and a wine kit. Hope this helps!! Enjoy, --christopher
1186233
This is a great kit and has everything except the juice. You can get juice on amazon for 55 to 120 bucks, which makes about 30 bottles. The juice comes with the powder and stuff for the batch. You will eventually need more corks too.
312977
As others are saying, the two are separate purchases even though they are pictured together. Also, you'll need some sort of a block of wood to get the wine rack balanced properly (it said this in the instructions and was not included). Mine is still sitting in a drawer for that reason. The stemware set works great, though, and is relatively easy to set up.
1469825
Nicole, you will need to purchase a kit that contains your fermenting bucket, carboy, corker, siphon, etc. typically the whole kit is around 100 bucks. Then all you need is bottles. I usually recycle bottles from work, friends, etc. the wine kits will have corks, labels and stuff included. Once you get all your equipment, you will be on your way to making tons of great wine! Good luck!
2262200
Yes, the Kit contained everything I needed. I did however purchase a floor corker (I never tried the one provided though) the kit was a great start. I have since purchased and additional Carboy so I can have two wines going at once.
1431623
No, this is a good starter set for any beer kit. It has pretty much everything but a 5 gallon cookpot and bottles. The first kit I brewed was True Brew Irish Stout. True Brew has excellent kits if you haven't brewed before, with great step by step instructions and even caps for your bottles. I would definitely go with one of them if you are just starting out. Two other things you might want to consider that aren't in the kit are the Jet Carboy & Bottle washer and a stand capper. The hand capper that comes in the kit works fine, but if you are a capping 48 bottles it will wear you out. The stand cappers also hold the bottle while you cap so you are less likely to spill or miss cap.
985731
Off the top of my head, there are a few things that are likely duplicated. The primary fermentation bucket and the airlocks, and possibly one of the hoses. With that, I think this is an excellent kit. The glass carboy and corker would not be in the beer kit, plus this kit has a few nice extras like a spring loaded bottler. It is nice to have this kit altogether so you know you have everything you need.
2058667
depending on where you live, I would look at a wine starter kit on Midwest supply.com or Amazon. This gives you all the things you need to make wine. Hoe much wine are you planning on making. If you are only going to make a few kits here and there, these beginner kits will be good enough. If you plan on making kits on a regular basis, I would upgrade the kit to include a floor corker. I also prefer the glass carboys to plastic, but they are also much heavier especially when full of wine. I really found everything I needed and the best prices at Midwest supply.com. They allow you to upgrade items in the kits and often give you a better deal than buying individually. I think I spent about $350. That will get you started. I make fruit wine from fresh fruit and have made about 30 of the vino italiano kits. I bought more carboys and fermentation buckets so I could do multiple wines at a time. Hope this helps
581294
I have just bottled my 5th batch of Cornucopia wine, with another waiting to be started....I normally get 28-30 bottles from a kit (plus a half bottle for drinking!), although one kit only made 26 bottles. It could have been my fault--not topping up enough, or losing too much to racking. But this is THE best kit on the market, is the ONLY kit that is COMPLETE (every other one you have to buy additional corks, labels and foils), and is the BEST value. Good luck in your winemaking....
461098
This kit comes with a can of beer mix, 8 bottles (quarts), and a fermenter keg. Also comes with instructions that are easy but must be followed. There are other kits out there with no bottles which you need so pick this one. This kit is okay but buying refills has become way more expensive since a different company bought them out (Coopers).
1614936
Yes you will need a bottle capper tool, fermentation bucket, another bucket with spigot, hose to fill bottles, stainless 5 gallon pot & spoon to stir pot. You can purchase theses products as kits. And of course you will need 48 bottles to put the beer into. Brown non screwtop.
2262754
The kit I got did come with 8 bottles and caps included but this was a couple of years ago so if they havent changed, yes. That really is not a problem as they sell extra bottles and I have also used empty plastic water or soda bottles when I was making more batches faster than it was being consumed. Definitely would order one or two extra refill kits and they are available in many different varieties. Also the unknown is you can experiment making flavored beer by adding herbs, spices or even citrus to the mix as it is brewing to get beer unlike what is available for sale in stores.
1295470
yes there is a test "jar" in the kit. The only thing I would have liked extra in the kit is a larger thief to be able to easily be able to remove wine and fill the hydrometer "jar" because the little one that can with mine required numerous thief's to fill the "jar". I have a larger one now and it is much easier but the little one is useful when you are trying to just taste the wine in a carboy if you are adjusting it for sweetness or acidity.
999364
I received a "how to" dvd with the kit. The instructions are very basic, if you need more detail you can try a wine making book. I used the detailed instructions that came with my wine kit that included the grape must, yeast, etc.
1955590
The kit should contain all the ingredients you will need to make this wine, as long as you own the necessary equipment. It even includes corks, labels, and shrink tops for up to 30 bottles (bottles not included). Follow the directions and you will create a wonderful wine that you will enjoy for many months, or years.
187762
The instructions recommend that these kits should be made to six gallons, the confusion arises when many folks indicate that they only make the kit up to 5 gallons ( thereby producing a wine with slightly a slightly higher alcohol content and more body) either volume will generally produce an acceptable finished product.