Make your own wine with these at-home fermentation kits
In a world full of IPAs and DIY beer kits, wine lovers deserve a chance to put a personal twist on their favorite drink, too.
There are countless wine-making kits scattered across the Internet and it's easy to get overwhelmed. Don't fret. We've compiled a list of some of our favorites, from the extremely simple to the complex starter kits.
Mini Wine Pak: Perfect for beginners
If you're a novice at the whole wine-making thing, this is the kit for you. Basically, you make the wine out of a plastic bag— and it's actually really fun. Clear instructions, simple procedure, and super affordable at $29.95. The batch it creates is five liters, which is good if you're still learning the ropes. And the best part: it only takes ten days. If you're impatient like me, this is very good news.
Mini Pak kits come in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Shiraz. Choose from the list here.
Wine Lovers: Middle Ground
The Wine Lovers kits are a bit more advanced, but still great if you're just getting into the wine-making business. An inexpensive yet reliable choice at $42.95, these kits are relatively simple to get the hang of and make a whopping six gallons of wine in just four weeks.
Wine Lovers kits come in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, and Zinfandel Blush. Check them out here.
Strange Brew: The ultimate home starter kit
The title may say "starter," but this kit is the real deal. At $149.50, there isn't a piece of equipment this kit doesn't have. Wine novices and wine experts alike can figure this kit out in no time with the instructional DVD and enjoy their homemade wine in four weeks. If taste is your biggest factor, this is the kit for you — you'll wonder why you ever bought wine from the store. Bigger kits like this one don't use included grape concentrate, so you can use home grown fresh fruit and know that your finished product is truly homemade. Check out the Strange Brew kit here.
Master Vintner: The best of both worlds
Whether you're a beginner or experienced wine maker, the Master Vintner kit might be right up your alley. Like the Strange Brew, the Master Vintner requires you to supply fresh grapes, which means you just know the taste is gonna be rich. The instructions come in the form of an easy-to-follow DVD from a well known authority in the industry — it's like having a life coach, but for wine making. The best part about this kit? It's on sale for $120.99. (If you like the brand but don't quite need six whole gallons, check out their small batch kits.) Get the Master Vintner Home Winemaking here.
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers and tests essential home tech like vacuums and TVs, plus eco-friendly hacks. Her ever-evolving experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
