I figure I'll add my wine making ramble here for earl's sake...
My wine making started less than 90 days ago with absolutely no knowledge and just a idea that because I like to drink and enjoy wine then by all rights I should enjoy making it too. I WAS RIGHT!! I have my first kit, a Lodi Old Vines Zinfandel,bottled. I also have started6 gallons worth of apple (from cider), which is undergoing secondary fermentation right now.
I went through my notesand figured from starting to now I have about $485 invested in this hobby.This was anequipmentstarter kit, a high end wine kit, 2 cases of new bottles at bottling, professional printed,the ingredients and chemicals for the scratch apple,2 extra carboys and a few toys. If I can squeeze 29 bottles from the apple wine my total cost per bottle overall(including the Zin) would be $8.79/bottle... seems a bit high I know, but now I have enough chemicals to bottle probably a dozen cases or more and the equipment to keep everything running. I anticipate my next batch, which will more than likely a kit can bebottled for less than $2.50 each. Hopefully one day I get into the dollar a bottle production realm!
And believe me, you can do this hobbyfor less than I am currently, but in my opinion...I have learned this isnt a hobby you want to skimp in, your better off with good equipment and good ingredients, this will make a better wine.
<whew...> Im done...