Hello Everyone

[NEAR]

Hi,
I haven't started getting the equipment together yet to begin making wine, that I'm going to do during the summer, I just need a little advice to get me going. I will post my first project once I get started, and believe me I'm anxious to do that. Before I do get started with that though I have 2 questions, and one is, what is a good wine to start with? The second question is, where is a good place to set up for making wine? Is it preferred to make it in the basement away from sunlight or is sunlight a non-factor in the outcome of the final product? Thank you for reading this and I can't wait to get started!

 

[robie]

Welcome to the forum!

A good wine to start with is one you can drink as soon as possible, called a summer wine or mist wine. RJ Spagnol and WineXpert, among others have these types of kits sometimes also called Orchard Breezin' kits.

Most of them can be consumed within 60 days of the day you start the kit.
You can start one of these. When finished, start a kit that takes much longer. This way you can have something to drink while you are waiting.

Also, white wines, generally speaking, are ready sooner than most reds. If you like white wines, start a white before you start your first red.

A basement is a good place to setup. The less sunlight the better. Of course you can cover your wine with a blanket.

You will need close access to a water sink and drain.

 

[Julie]

Hi NEAR,

Welcome to winemakingtalk. And do like Robie says.

 

[Tom]

WELCOME to a great OBSESSION!

What kind of wine do you like to drink?

That should be your 1st kit.

As far as where in your house. That depends on your temp. You should do most of the frementing where its 65-72*. Basements if you plan on aging.
Temp is most important. Like above there are "mist" kits (low alcohol) and entry kits. Both can be bottled in 4-6 weeks.

Now being in upstate NY you should look into Walkers to get fresh juice. http://www.walkersfruitbasket.com/

 

[Runningwolf]

Welcome aboard. Along with what everyone else already said what does your wife/husband like? It is important to make what you like but even more important your wife/husband likes it. She/He will either support your Hobby or not. Winexpert makes a blackberry merlot that is liked by most people that like either sweet or dry. Let us know your decision and we can help guide you along.

 

[NEAR]

Thanks for all the input so far everyone. I enjoy sweet wines, and anything not too dry. I have no wife to satisfy just a girlfriend that enjoys Sangria and other red wines, just nothing too dry. We pretty much have the same taste in wine which helps a lot. Blackberry Merlot sounds delicious.

 

[rodo]

Welcome to the forum. I agree with everything said above.

When you get a chance be sure to check out "The Map" and add a marker for yourself. Here is a link to The Map. http://wineapp.michaelsouellette.com/

 

[NEAR]

Thanks for all the input so far everyone. I enjoy sweet wines, and anything not too dry. I have no wife to satisfy just a girlfriend that enjoys Sangria and other red wines, just nothing too dry. We pretty much have the same taste in wine which helps a lot.

 

[Runningwolf]

Hey Near, I just noticed you're from Buffalo. You are close enough to attend some of our parties with the NW PA group. A lot of them are from the Pgh area but myself and a few other's are from Erie which is right in the middle. Your options for picking up juice in the fall is fantastic also as you can choose between the Finger Lakes to the east or Walkers to the west. I'm not sure what you can get across the bridge but Steve (cpfan) can help you there.

 

[rodo]

Hey Near, I just noticed you're from Buffalo. You are close enough to attend some of our parties with the NW PA group. A lot of them are from the Pgh area but myself and a few other's are from Erie which is right in the middle.

Thats just what I was thinking. Nothing like compairing noted and wine with a dozen wine makers.

 

[NEAR]

We'll see how the first few batches go, and then I'll see from there. I hope I can get a few different wines done before the fall, and I can get a good grip on the whole process so I can just keep making wine all year round if possible.

 

[NEAR]

I have a question but the forum won't let me post websites without having 5 posts so this is a useless post taking up my time and your time, and for that I apologize.

 

[NEAR]

Buffalo has a little wine store called Let's Do Wine that I'm going to go to because they have a very comprehensive website. If someone could check out these 2 kits they have and let me know which one is more worth it that would be great as well!

Deluxe One Gallon- http://letsdowine.com/deonegakit.html

Deluxe Five Gallon Kit- http://letsdowine.com/5gadekit.html

I just want to know if these are even worth saving up for or if I would be better off looking elsewhere. Please and thank you!

 

[Wade E]

I think a Mist kit is right up your alley then and Sangria is actually one of the kits they make! here is a great place to buy all your stuff from and they also sponsor this site to help it stay online. The first link is the Sangria kit which is an early drinker and the second link is to their home page where they have great deals on equipment kits. I guaranty you are going to love this hobby and the wine you make. I surely would suggest starting with one of these kits as its near impossible to screw one up. Just read ttwice so that you dont put the sorbate or sulfite in before the yeast!
http://www.finevinewines.com/p-1804-14876.aspx

http://www.finevinewines.com/default.aspx

 

[Wade E]

You are most likely going to be doing wine kits so you need a 6 gallon carboy and 7.9 gallon primary bucket. Ill check out that site and see what they have available and be right back!

 

[Wade E]

I know you are most likely going to say this one is too expensive but let me tell you you will regret not getting this stuff if you dont and will pay more later to buy it separately!!! I would get this set up!
http://www.letsdowine.com/ul6gakit.html

 

[Flem]

I agree with what everyone above has said. Wade has suggested getting the best starter kit. I agree totally. I got one that didn't include a floor corker. I'm now in the process of purchasing one and I haven't even used the hand corker. Oh yeah, buy an extra hydrometer---you're sure to break the first one. By the way, Welcome to the Forum.

 

[Runningwolf]

Wade is right on!

 

[tonyt]

Jump in, the water's fine.
Gosh I wonder how many of us would like to be accumulating our equipment for the first time again . . . knowing what we know now and having all these folks on the forum giving advice. I have two suggestions: First check George at Fine Vine Wines has several levels of kits set up to choose from based on your desire to $pend. they come with or without a wine kit. http://www.finevinewines.com/c-237-Wine-Equipment-Only.aspx He also has a bunch of how to videos that didn't seem to work today but he did tell me he was having www issues today. Secondly, I would get a 10 gallon plastic primary rather than the 7.9 gallon, size matters.

 

[Wade E]

Also, George at FINEVineWines would love you to call him and he will bend over backwards to custom design an equipment package for you with great prices. You will also get a discount for being a fist time buyer and once you spend a certain amount with him you get a discount forever on anything you buy after that! You can buy the regular equipment kit and sub out the hand corker for the floor corker instead. I really really really recommend a floor corker, and bottle vinator(sulfiter). It will make your wine making experience sooooooooo much better!!!!!!!!!! An auto siphon and drill mounted stirrer are also musts!!!!!!! Please take our advice, we have been there and cheaped out at first and everyone one of us know have one of each of these meaning a hand corker and floor corker and the hand corker is stashed in a cabinet not getting used. Heck, ill give you my hand corker just so you see that you dont want it. They all sell them as beginners dont want to spend the extra cash but they always come around after corking the first batch and youll be on here saying what am I doing wrong as my corks arent going in all the way and its leaving huge dents in the corks also!