Thought I’d start a place where we could record suggestions for making a “quick drinking” kit. The question of which kit gets asked a lot, but there are things you can do as well. Here are a few of my notes. Add yours.
1) Lower your expectations a little. Seriously, if it takes a year or two for Gallo, 8 weeks really isn’t going to be enough to make the good stuff.
2). If you enjoy white wine, make a white. In general, they will be ‘ready’ earlier, particularly the lighter styles.
3). If you’re making a red, generally a light, less tannic grape/style will drink better sooner.
4). Use a lower end kit. Generally less grape solids and lower tannins, so will drink better earlier.
5). Use a high end kit anyway(didn’t see that coming, did you?). Most of the high end kits will show as well at 6 months as the lower end kits even though they have the capacity to age and hold longer. So if you have enough self control to have some left, you’ll be drinking better wine in month 7. I’m sure I’ll get resistance on this one, so I’ll say this is based on a study by a large kit manufacturer, though it was done quite a while back. I used to have a copy of a graph depicting it, but it’s long lost.
6). Spend WAYYY more time degassing than the kit directions would lead you to believe is necessary.
7). Then spend a little more time degassing. #1 fault I’ve seen in “early drinkers”.
Somebody else add their own advice . . .
1) Lower your expectations a little. Seriously, if it takes a year or two for Gallo, 8 weeks really isn’t going to be enough to make the good stuff.
2). If you enjoy white wine, make a white. In general, they will be ‘ready’ earlier, particularly the lighter styles.
3). If you’re making a red, generally a light, less tannic grape/style will drink better sooner.
4). Use a lower end kit. Generally less grape solids and lower tannins, so will drink better earlier.
5). Use a high end kit anyway(didn’t see that coming, did you?). Most of the high end kits will show as well at 6 months as the lower end kits even though they have the capacity to age and hold longer. So if you have enough self control to have some left, you’ll be drinking better wine in month 7. I’m sure I’ll get resistance on this one, so I’ll say this is based on a study by a large kit manufacturer, though it was done quite a while back. I used to have a copy of a graph depicting it, but it’s long lost.
6). Spend WAYYY more time degassing than the kit directions would lead you to believe is necessary.
7). Then spend a little more time degassing. #1 fault I’ve seen in “early drinkers”.
Somebody else add their own advice . . .