How to start wine making?

[chickenchargrill]

Has anyone tried the cabernet wine kits?

Yes I have, and it tasted nothing like "real" wine, even when matured for a year or more .. hence my resorting to buying wine ready made.

I didn't think they would. They had an elderflower wine kit too, I couldn't see any o them tasting very nice.

Good on you Sarah, I wouldn't reccomend dandylion wine for a beginner as you either have to:
a) like the taste of dandylion greens
b) have 5-6 years of maturing time on your hands
c) have the patience to remove EVERY piece of green dandylion caylix from the flower heads

While I agree it isn't going to be to everyone's taste, it's not all that tricky to get rid of all the green. As for maturing time, I think the longest we've ever left it is 8 months.

[sarahkeast]

Ok, so I have got a couple of used books and an option on some demijohns that I need to collect this weekend. This guy has a few he is shifting on fleabay, so how many would be a decent number to start with ? I am only thinking of making a few different fruit wines, nothing to serious [well not to start with !] Need to decide if it is worth the journey as he doesnt life very close to me [1-2 hours each way, but would make a 'day out of it']. What would you advise ? Or should I wait till something closer shows up on fleabay ?

[MKG]

If you're starting, buy a minimum of two - you'll find out why one isn't enough when you get to your first racking. Then again, if you decide you like making wine, you'll want at least six. There's a good reason for that - you'll very soon buy a 5-gallon fermenter and to rack from that, you need either another 5-gallon fermenter or five demijohns. The sixth will be holding what you're drinking while the first five gallons settle down. Even if you do go the 5-gallon route, you'll still want demijohns for all the little "what if" recipes you try. It goes on ...

Mike

EDIT: What are the books, Sarah? If one of them is by Berry, put the recipe you want to try up on here first. Berry is good. Berry's editor was catastrophic.

[frozenthunderbolt]

6 MINIMUM. if they are $18 or less (9 pound) I would buy as many as you can afford - particularly if they are the older style made with thicker glass.

[malcolmfraser]

I've been using 5 litre plastic bottles as demi-johns. T***o sells 5l bottles of still water for 95p, I get them delivered with our monthly shop.

You can poke a hole in the lid and fix a grommet for your airlock.

But yes - you should definitely get a few...!