Howdy from Teesside

[Bootcutboy]

Hello all, just wanting to introduce myself, I am just about to start up brewing again after giving up the first time to do lack of spare time.
A couple of years back I actually managed to fashion a fruit press and made myself a load of proper cider with fizz from about 3 black bags full of apples that I blagged off all my neighbours, it was tough going but it was the nicest cider I’ve ever tasted, probably as there was such a variety of apples in it, also it was bloody lethal.

Anyway as I said I am just coming back to trying to get into brewing again after a couple of busy years that I’ve dedicated to learning to play the guitar properly and started up a 50’s Rockabilly Trio with me as singer/lead and rhythm guitarist, a drummer and a proper double bass player, which is going great. Needless to say this love for playing music goes hand in hand with a right thirst for alcohol, and basically being a poverty stricken musician I need all the cheap booze I can make!

I am currently making a wilko’s golden lager kit and next would like to start up a red wine kit, so I am wondering if anyone can suggest the best (but most straightforward) wine kit out there to ensure it comes out decent and drinkable. I was going to just get a Wilkos Medium red 20 bottle kit to try out first but read on some forums that it came out weak and more like a rose.

Red wine wise I am not a fan of anything too deep and thick tasting, I struggle with Malbecs. At the mo I am loving the cheap Fire Tree NERO D’Avalo from Aldi, I also usually love a Rioja and chateaux Neuf de pape. So any help, recommendations or tips with doing my first ever red wine kit would be really really appreciated, I want to get stocked up for Crimbo if poss.

Anyhoo nice to meet you all, I hope this is the start of a beautiful squiffy friendship... hic!

Dave

 

[stephen1546]

Hello

Good luck with the band, been making red wine and white kits for over a year now.
I usually buy Solomon Grundy Platinum kits, they come at around £33 and take around 2 weeks from start to bottling. They are 30 bottle kits but i usually brew a little short and end up with around 25 bottles. I find they are as good as any 6 quid bottles you find in the shops.
They are straight forward to make and they come with 5 litres of grape juice and finings with no sugar required.

Cheers

Stevie

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Welcome to the forum :thumba:

I make the cheaper end kits and if you live near a Range store give their Make Your Own wine, cider and beer kits a look.

Plenty of reviews to read here -
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/wine-and-cider-kit-reviews-a-z.57680/


I have moved this to the wine forums as it'll get more views here.

 

[DavieC]

@Bootcutboy , do you play a Gretsch?
I've made a couple of California Connoisseur kits which turned out great and a Beaverdale Pinot Noir which I thought was excellent, brew2bottle had some wine kits on offer, worth a look.

 

[Banbeer]

Welcome along buddy:thumba:

 

[druid1966]

Hello! I just got back into brewing also ( and also finally decided to learn to play guitar ) I keep mostly to myself with the guitar, but really enjoy my 1971 Martin D-35 with a TC , stout, or thick and chewy Pinot Noir. Great place this!


I posted a thread on tinkering with wine kits and you can improve a pretty cheap kit doing some of the cheats.....

 

[Bootcutboy]

Hello

Good luck with the band, been making red wine and white kits for over a year now.
I usually buy Solomon Grundy Platinum kits, they come at around £33 and take around 2 weeks from start to bottling. They are 30 bottle kits but i usually brew a little short and end up with around 25 bottles. I find they are as good as any 6 quid bottles you find in the shops.
They are straight forward to make and they come with 5 litres of grape juice and finings with no sugar required.

Cheers

Stevie

Hi Stevie thanks for the heads up about the Solomon Grundy kits, they do seem to get very good reviews. Since I posted this thread I’ve actually come across a really good deal for the Make You Own Wine kits, I got a red and a white kit for under £30 total which is ace (if they turn out ok) so I will give them a go first before I move onto the more expensive kits. Thanks again!

 

[Bootcutboy]

Welcome to the forum :thumba:

I make the cheaper end kits and if you live near a Range store give their Make Your Own wine, cider and beer kits a look.

Plenty of reviews to read here -
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/wine-and-cider-kit-reviews-a-z.57680/


I have moved this to the wine forums as it'll get more views here.

Hi there thanks for the recommendation, actually I have bagged a bargain and got a red and a white Make Your Own kit both for under £30! They are my xmas pressie off my wife So I will be giving them a go after Xmas. Thanks a lot

 

[Bootcutboy]

@Bootcutboy , do you play a Gretsch?
I've made a couple of California Connoisseur kits which turned out great and a Beaverdale Pinot Noir which I thought was excellent, brew2bottle had some wine kits on offer, worth a look.

Haha yes I play a Gretsch but managed to steer clear of the stereotypical Rock-A-Billy orange one, I got a nice light green one. Thanks for the heads up about those kits, I will add them to my list to make in future! Much obliged kind sir.

 

[Bootcutboy]

Welcome along buddy:thumba:

Thanks a lot matey

 

[Bootcutboy]

Hello! I just got back into brewing also ( and also finally decided to learn to play guitar ) I keep mostly to myself with the guitar, but really enjoy my 1971 Martin D-35 with a TC , stout, or thick and chewy Pinot Noir. Great place this!


I posted a thread on tinkering with wine kits and you can improve a pretty cheap kit doing some of the cheats.....

I was always just a singer rather than singer guitarist but I forced myself to learn as I wanted to be in a three piece, less people/arguements/travelling arrangements to deal with and of course less ways to split any earnings haha. It was hard, probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done but I feel quite proud of myself for sticking with it, however I only consider myself an intermediate lead player. I have my Gretsch, a nice Fender Tele, a Gretsch resonator and a tanglewood Uke which is also loss of fun.
I will certainly have a look at your thread about tinkering with kits, do you have a link to it or can you tell me how I’d find it please? Thanks a lot, Dave

 

[johncrobinson]

You have a Gretsch i am stuck on Fender and Gibson
they all sound better after a few