Other What else might I need with this kit?

[Brigitte]

Greetings,
I am going to start my first wine soon. Have some of chuggins blueberry puree on the way! I found this kit at EC Kraus for $119.

This Wine Making Kit Contains:
First Steps In Winemaking Book
Winemaker`s Recipe Handbook
6 Gal. Screw-Top Poly-Fermenter
Fermentation Bag
Triple Scale Hydrometer
Siphoning Hose
5 Pkgs. Wine Yeast (5 batches)
1 oz. Pectic Enzyme (7 batches)
6 oz. Acid Blend (7 batches)
6 oz. Yeast Nutrient (7 batches)
4 oz. Yeast Energizer (7 batches)
2 oz. Wine Tannin (7 batches)
100 Campden Tablets (7 batches)
5 oz. CleanPro SDH (30 gals. Of Solution)
50 Wine Bottle Labels (2 batches)
30 Mushroom Corks (1 batch)
50 Heat Shrink Capsules (2 batches)


Is it a good deal? Do I need anything else? I have not purchased it yet. Seems to me a carboy would be needed? Any help is appreciated.
Brigitte

 

[richmke]

Seems like a starter kit for someone making wine from scratch. If that is your plan, price the individual items and see what the total is.

For the primary fermenter, a 7.5 gallon pail works fine for me. 6 gallons will be too small if you ever make a kit.

I wouldn't trust the mushroom corks for longer than a few months.

You will also need:
Carboy. 5 gallons is fine if you stick with the 6 gallon primary. Otherwise 6 gallon.
Bung & airlock for each carboy
Stir rod
Siphon (small is good because it fits in the bag for kits, which makes it easier to transfer to the primary)
Total Acidity test kit
pH test kit
SO2 test kit
Wine thief - there is one that is large enough for the hydrometer, so you don't need a separate test jar.
racking cane
Bottles
Corks and corker (if you plan on longer term storage).

If you ever plan on making a lot of wine, then the All-in-one is a must have. To plan for the AIO, buy only Glass Carboys. Plastic ones will not do.

 

[Brigitte]

thanks

Seems like a starter kit for someone making wine from scratch. If that is your plan, price the individual items and see what the total is.

For the primary fermenter, a 7.5 gallon pail works fine for me. 6 gallons will be too small if you ever make a kit.

I wouldn't trust the mushroom corks for longer than a few months.

You will also need:
Carboy. 5 gallons is fine if you stick with the 6 gallon primary. Otherwise 6 gallon.
Bung & airlock for each carboy
Stir rod
Siphon (small is good because it fits in the bag for kits, which makes it easier to transfer to the primary)
Total Acidity test kit
pH test kit
SO2 test kit
Wine thief - there is one that is large enough for the hydrometer, so you don't need a separate test jar.
racking cane
Bottles
Corks and corker (if you plan on longer term storage).

If you ever plan on making a lot of wine, then the All-in-one is a must have. To plan for the AIO, buy only Glass Carboys. Plastic ones will not do.

RichMke,
Thanks for the advice! yes this kit is intended for a person with their own fruit. Supposedly has all a person would need. I have never made wine at all, have been reading a lot however.. and it seemed some things were missing.
I appreciate your time to help me. thanks!
brigitte