Navigating through the many available wine kits can be overwhelming if you are a beginner winemaker.
Fortunately, we’ve listed some of the best wine-making kits so that you’ll have an easier time deciding which one to buy.
Continue reading if you’re ready to make some delicious tasting wines at home!
7 Best Wine Making Kits
Master Vintner Wine Making Equipment Starter Kit – Best Overall
If you want a product that outshines the rest, this wine-making kit should be your best bet.
A Must-Have for Beginners
Take a look at how the winemaking brand MAKES YOUR LIFE EASIER with these add-ons. Other brands would not even consider including these features.
- Full-proof instructional CD with step-by-step brewmaster videos
- Easy-to-read kit instructions
Indeed, you are going to HAVE FUN performing your first ever winemaking process.
Obsession for Perfection
“Good enough” is not in Master Vintner’s vocabulary.
Its wine-making kit has gone through several tests so that you can experience an excellent wine-making process. [R]
You may think the brand’s pursuit for perfection is too much, but it conducts many tests for you to enjoy the following:
- Fresh-from-the-vineyard taste
- Compatibility with ALL wine ingredients
- User-friendly cleaning equipment (bubbler and glass carboy)
Short Fermentation Time
We understand that good things come to those who wait. However, why would we want to keep you waiting when you can enjoy your wine ASAP?
Luckily, you’ll be drinking away with friends in no time because the quick fermentation time allows the wine to be ready in about 28 days or less.
Any Drawbacks?
The only drawback is its high price tag. Other than that, there’s no rhyme or reason as to why you should avoid this kit.
Pros
- Top-of-the-line materials
- Suitable for beginners
- Compatible with all wine recipe kits
Cons
- Most expensive on the list
- Packaging is not the best
Strange Brew Ohio Deluxe Wine Making Kit – Best Value
Another household favorite among many winemakers and vintners is the Strange Brew Ohio Deluxe Kit. These features and benefits will show you why they STAND TALL with great value for your money.
6-Gallon Capacity
You need to have more than enough batches of wine at home for everyone.
Fortunately, this wine-making kit contains a 6-gallon glass carboy, so there’s no need to worry about running out of wine in the middle of your house party.
Essential Accessories
Other winemaking kits fail to provide you the necessary equipment you need, thus making the winemaking process harder than it should.
Strange Brew ensures you have everything you need to make your life a lot easier. Here are two pieces of equipment that simplify and speed up the winemaking process.
- A 7.8-gallon fermenter with a grommeted lid
- 1/2-inch auto siphon pump
Any Drawbacks?
One major factor that holds the product back is the lack of a recipe handbook. This would have helped Strange Brew separate itself even more from other winemaking kits.
If you are a beginner, you might struggle with complex materials and lack of instructions. It may be better if you try another kit instead.
Pros
- Sufficient 6-gallon capacity for everyone
- Extra equipment you can’t find in other kits for the same price range
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- No handbook included
- May be difficult to use for beginners
Fontana Wine Home Brewing Kit- Best Budget Pick
We’re sure you don’t want to spend too much money on a luxurious need like wine.
However, there is a wine-making kit that saves you some bucks while still providing high-quality performance. Show us what you got, Fontana Wine!
Multiple Flavors
One asset the budget kit has over its counterparts is the many flavors at your disposal.
We won’t include all, but here are some popular options among vintners and wine aficionados.
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Gewurztraminer
- Pinot Grigio
- Pinot Noir
- Malbec
- Merlot
- Sangiovese
- Zinfandel Blush
We told you there would be a lot.
Top-Tier Ingredients
It’s one thing for your product to possess many options and flavors, but it’s another ballgame to incorporate the ingredients properly.
Fontana deserves a lot of credit for providing high-quality ingredients straight from the California vineyards. These include the following:
- Bentonite
- Brewer’s yeast
- Chitosan
- Kieselsol
- Sorbate
- Sulphite
- Wine base
DIY Potential
It looks like Fontana is 100 percent down with seeing you express your CREATIVE SIDE during the homemade wine-making process.
The brand’s kits include the basic ingredients for red wine, which means you are free to use the following add-ons like vanilla oak or any berry flavor of your choice.
Any Drawbacks?
The biggest disadvantage is the complete absence of essential equipment. You’re going to have to buy them separately, which might be time-consuming and inconvenient.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Abundant flavor choices
- Excellent ingredients
- Customizable fruit wines
Cons
- No equipment included
Winexpert Classic Wine Making Ingredient Kit (Italian Pinot Grigio)
Winexpert is another major player in the wine industry. Its winemaking kits are second to none, just like the Italian Pinot Grigio variation we are about to show you.
Let’s see what it has to offer should you decide to pursue this kit.
6-Gallon Wine Kit = 30 Bottles
You don’t want to be a party pooper by not having enough wine for everyone, right? Good thing Winexpert solves this problem!
Running out of wine will not a problem when you buy this kit from Winexpert.
The 6-gallon capacity can produce up to 30 BOTTLES, a huge plus if you invited many guests for grandma’s much-anticipated 100th birthday party.
Delicious Italian Pinot Grigio Taste
Don’t you want to feel like you’re in Italy when you taste its cuisine?
You won’t have to travel thousands of miles because Winexpert gives you authentic Italian Pinot Grigio wine at home.
Prepare to experience these zesty flavors in every sip:
- Lime juice
- Lemon
- Green apple
- Honeysuckle
You and your taste buds better say Grazie to Winexpert for bringing you Italian wine at home.
Any Drawbacks?
Unfortunately, it does not come with the equipment most wine-making kits possess. You have to buy these separately, which can cost you EXTRA.
Pros
- Sufficient 6-gallon capacity for everyone
- Authentic Pinot Grigio flavors
- Easy-to-use wine kit
Cons
- Equipment needs to be bought separately
Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Starter Kit
Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies is another competent brand that is home to some high-quality wine kits.
It’s safe to say you’ll be in great hands when you buy its starter equipment kit.
Easy-to-Use Tools
We’re aware that one of your pet peeves is trying to use materials that are hard to handle. Fortunately, that’s far from the case with this wine kit.
It contains a plastic carboy, otherwise known as “Better Bottle,” which uses high-end, BPA-free polytetrafluoroethylene. [R]
Carrying 6 gallons of fermented wine will be as EASY AS ABC, right Jackson brothers?
Are you still not impressed?
A double lever corker makes your life SO MUCH EASIER because you won’t need to exert too much effort opening the corks.
Refer to this video if you want a step-by-step procedure on how to use the user-friendly corker. [R]
Any Drawbacks?
We understand you don’t like waiting in general. However, you will have to wait for 2 to 6 months before you can enjoy your wine.
You may have to pursue other wine kits that have faster fermentation periods if you can’t wait that long.
It also does not help that the wine kit does not come with a recipe book or instruction manual. If you are unfamiliar with the materials, you may have to do your own research.
Pros
- Lightweight carboy
- Enough wine supply for everyone
- Easy-to-use corker
Cons
- Long fermentation process
- No instructions included
- Not enough juice
Master Vintner Fresh Harvest Fruit Wine Making Kit
Master Vintner makes another appearance on the list with its Fresh Harvest Fruit Wine Making Kit. Expect to make a lot of juice-based wines, as the product name suggests.
Recipe Handbook
One thing that separates this wine-making kit from the rest is the inclusion of a recipe book.
This may not sound like a big deal to you, but you’ll thank Master Vintner for including DIY recipes when you create your own concoctions. [How to make Plum Wine]
The handbook is important because some fruit wines tend to mature faster than grape juice. Not following each instruction may hold you back in the winemaking process.
Complete Set of Tools
Most baristas and vintners will tell you the importance of preparing everything you will need in the field of winemaking. Unfortunately, this is where some brands fail to deliver.
Thankfully, this brand does not disappoint by providing you all the necessary materials that will ENHANCE your winemaking experience.
- 2-gallon plastic fermentor w/ lid
- 1-gallon jug (good for 15 batches of wine)
- Tubing
- Airlock
- Screw cap and straining bag
- Sanitizer and Campden tablets
- Racking cane and tubing
- Hydrometer
Any Drawbacks?
The only drawback is the instructions are tailor-made for advanced winemakers and baristas. If you are new to winemaking, this may not be the wine kit you should buy.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Recipe handbook with tips
- Affordable price point
Cons
- No basic instruction manual included
Craft A Brew Home Wine Making Kit
Last on our list is a wine at home kit from Craft A Brew. It holds its own among other wine-making kits thanks to its easy usability and luxurious flavors.
Easy to Use For Beginners
The more straightforward your wine kit is, the MORE CONVENIENT it will be to create your homemade wine.
The presentable packing and inclusion of essential ingredients will give beginners and inexperienced wine makers an easier time creating elegant wine.
A winemaking guide discusses the steps and illustrates how each ingredient plays a role in the winemaking process.
Multiple Flavors and Materials
Are you a fan of trying everything out of the ordinary every day?
The brand’s wine kits take your palette on an adventure with four amazing flavors from some of the world’s most well-acclaimed vineyards.
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Chardonnay
- Merlot
- Pinot Grigio
The brand complements these high-end flavors with sturdy and well-constructed tools to make the winemaking process more fun. The following materials include:
- Glass carboy
- Funnel
- Tubing
- Airlock
Indeed, everything you need to make that unique concoction is at your full disposal.
Any Drawbacks?
The product does well in terms of quality materials overall performance, but you must be wary that some flavors may not be as good as advertised.
Some have complained that the Cabernet Sauvignon flavor does not taste like the original version you can find in stores.
You may want to go for the other flavors or buy another bottle of wine if you’re particular about taste.
Pros
- High-end flavors from world-renowned vineyards
- Easy learning curve for beginners
- Enough materials for the winemaking process
Cons
- Select flavors may not live up to the hype
What Is a Wine Making Kit?
Simply put, a wine kit is comprised of wine grape juice concentrate and extra additives that complete the fermentation process.
Some wine kits come with the necessary equipment you will need to make your own wine.
You might have to buy the materials yourself if your kit does not include any equipment.
Here is a quick rundown of the things you need to prepare when making wine.
- Plastic or glass carboy: anairtight vessel that makes a favorable surface area to volume ratio
- Primary fermenter: contains an open top so that you can stir and punch out grape skins
- Bung and airlock: seals the carboy’s top part
- Racking Cane: transfers the wine between buckets and carboys
- Oak: used for the aging of wine
- Sanitizer: used for cleaning purposes
- Bottles: stores the fully-aged wine
- Bottle filler: starts and stops the flow at the end of your siphon via a valve
- Corks: covers the wine bottles
- Corker: inserts the cork
What Are the Different Types of Juices?
Determining the type of juice present in your wine kit is as important as figuring out the flavor of your ice cream.
Each wine kit possesses different juice types, which means the taste and maturation period will differ among the wine making kits.
Partially Concentrated Grape Juice
This is a solid choice because your wine will last for a long time WITHOUT losing its flavor.
You don’t need to put extra additives or chemicals to maintain the wine’s taste. The only downside is its low sugar levels, which may contribute to the bitterness of your wine.
Fully Concentrated Grape Juice
Do you want to sweeten up your life? Why not consider kits made out of fully concentrated grape juice.
These kits possess HIGH SUGAR LEVELS, which does a masterful job preserving your wine and providing longer shelf life.
Unfortunately, the grape juice LOSES its original flavor when you incorporate the extra ounces of sugar.
It also does not help that orange juice concentrate is not the same original orange juice in terms of freshness and flavor.
100 Percent Juice
It’s going to be a scavenger hunt trying to find a wine kit containing 100 percent juice. That’s how hard it is to purchase such kits.
You will enjoy that original grape juice taste, but your wine won’t last long, unlike the first two options. [R] You need to consume the wine right away, or else it might spoil over time.
Tips to Consider When Buying Wine Making Kits
You need to be aware that all kits have different contents, fermentation periods, and gallon counts. Some winemaking kits pass the eye test, while others fail miserably.
Here are a couple of pointers you should be aware of before starting your search for that wine kit.
Wine Taste
As yourself first: “How do I want my wine to taste like?”
Are you a fan of sweet dessert wines? Do you prefer fruit wines? Should you go for partially concentrated or fully concentrated grape juice?
You need to make sure you find yourself a wine that you’ll never get sick and tired of drinking. The taste must be enjoyable and consistent in EVERY gallon.
Budget
We don’t mean to play the killjoy role, but it pays to take a quick look at your wallet to see whether you can afford the wine kit you’ve wanted to buy.
Some kits are more expensive than the rest because they include extra equipment and guarantee high-quality wine.
Do some research on the different prices to find out which one fits your budget the most.
Time
Put it this way. Some pizzas take longer to bake than others. Factors like the crust’s thickness and the oven’s heating capacity play vital roles in the baking time of each pizza.
That’s how wine also works. NOT ALL KITS possess the same fermentation time. The aging process can go for about four weeks or longer.
If you want to enjoy your wine right away, go for winemaking kits that assure shorter fermentation periods.
However, do understand that wine tastes better when aged for longer periods. [R]
FAQs
Are Wine Making Kits a Cheaper Alternative to Actual Wine?
It depends on the kit you are buying. If your kit contains a lot of equipment and extra additives, it may cost a lot more than actual wine.
However, if you already have the materials at home, making your own wine is the cheaper option than buying.
Can You Increase the Alcohol Content Of a Wine Kit?
Of course, you can, BUT you have to do it properly.
Make sure to dissolve the sugar ASAP so that it does not remain below the fermenter.
We highly advise you to use a wine hydrometer and yeast profile charts to determine the PROPER amount of alcohol content for your wine. [R]
Top Picks
If You Want to Give Yourself the Best Overall Winemaking Experience…
Go for the Master Vintner Wine Making Equipment Starter Kit – our BEST OVERALL PICK!
The authentic vineyard taste, compatibility with all wine flavors, and beginner-friendly tutorials separate this kit from the rest of the pack.
Are You Looking For a Kit That Gives You Ultimate Value for Money?
It’s time to get your hands on the Strange Brew Ohio Deluxe Wine Making Kit.
A 6-gallon capacity and extra equipment have other kits that have the same price range shaking.
How About if I Want to Save Up Some Bucks?
Don’t worry, the Fontana Wine Home Brewing Kit – our BEST BUDGET PICK, should still deliver the goods despite its cheap price tag.
You get a wide array of ingredients and flavors you can customize for a reasonable price point.
If these top three products and all the other kits satisfy your needs, we won’t keep you waiting any longer.
Grab that wine kit you’ve been wanting and make some elegant wine at home!
HAPPY WINEMAKING!!
Lead marketer, brewer, dad, and husband. Pretty much an all-round awesome guy.