Wilkinsons wine kits

[Chippy_Tea]

I have read several threads about their kits taking ages to start fermenting, i have just read the instructions (see below) and it says to use cold water, the WOW guides and other kits i have made always say the temperature must be between 20c and 25c before you add the yeast, would it be better to use 1.8 litres of water between 20c and 25c instead of cold water?

Empty the can into a sterile DJ then add 1.8 litreas of cold water and 450g of brewing sugar, swirl the open DJ carfully.
Put the DJ in a constantly warm place between 20c and 25c.

 

[Redcar]

A good question! I've just bought one (not used a kit before) and I'm inclined to use the WOW technique of using a cooled (but not cold) sugar syrup rather than Wilco's instruction.

 

[JohnSteed]

Mrs Steeds done two of these kits so far, chardonnay is bottled (and tastes mighty fine) and the elderflower is bubbling away as we speak. She followed the instruction to the letter using coldd water, and both have been fine. Fermentation was well under way after 24 hrs.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Thanks, i will follow the instructions :thumb:

Wish i had a couple of spare DJ's.

 

[tonyhibbett]

They are rather slow. This, in itself, is no bad thing. Making good wine takes time. Unfortunately these cheap kits don't make good wine. S o what else is new?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Unfortunately these cheap kits don't make good wine. S o what else is new?

I have made two Solomon Grundy kits which i guess would be classed as cheap, the white was OK but not something i would make again, the Rose was surprisingly good considering the cost, i now only buy The range stores "make your own" 30 bottle Rose kits which at £19.99 have to be the cheapest around and i make WOW's for when i fancy a change, i guess i am just happy to drink cheap wine as long as it tastes OK.

I will add a review to the review forum when they are done as there isn't a review for either.

 

[wino2012]

Yeah wilko's are slow. I am still waiting on a Pino finishising, into its fifth week!

I usually chuck all the ingredients into to the fermenter and leave for 24 hours to adjust to room temparaure under airlock, give it a good swirl then pitch all the other stuff. Works well :

 

[jansman]

I have been brewing the Wilko Pinot Grigio for SWMBO. I find thet 3 litres of boiling water onto the can contents and sugar, disslove and then top to 25 litres with cold water. Then add yeast and nutrient. I find that gives optimum temperature, and ferment generally starts within a couple of hours.
They are slow to ferment out(I find 5 weeks) but the Gaffer likes the end result!

 

[tonyhibbett]

The truth about the Wilco 30 bottle kits is that they are in fact rebadged Munton Mondego kits, which Muntons are probably happy to be disassociated with. Their premium kits contain up to 4 times as much grape juice concentrate for a relatively small extra price. Even so, the wine has the equivalent ratio of 50% grape juice, only half of which is the varietal claimed. But, as far as I know, they are the only producer to come clean about this fact.

 

[tonyhibbett]

Muntons make no claims about the alcoholic strength of their premium kits. The initial sg suggests 10%, so probably best to brew it short at a max of 21 litres.

 

[wino2012]

Far be it from me to say anything political about this issue. I do, however, get totally p****d off with these companies attempting to re-brand stuff that is sub standard ****. I have tried the muntons stuff in the past and have to say it tasted like a WOW gone wrong. Ive been making kits for a while now and thought I knew enough to stay away from the stuff I don't like. If my first kit had been a muntons pino grigio I would have given up and opted for sobriety. A good deal of the pleasure derived from wine making is sharing, sharing this stuff would be an embarassment. This is not a review on the Wilko Pino as it is STILL fermenting in a 25ltr vessel. If it is a re-packaged Muntons Pino, what a waste of time, expense and expectation .... IMHO :nono:

 

[tonyhibbett]

Could even be worse than that, if that were possible. There is evidence to suggest that Wilco takes a popular package, waters it down a bit and sells it cheaper under its brand name. In a culture that considers a Macdonalds burger as not only actually edible but desirable, anything is possible.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I have never tried an expensive kit so I will not be able to compare my two wilco kits to anything other than a wow, if they turn out like a wow at £4 each I will be happy.

BTW I prefef KFC. :lol:

 

[wino2012]

That saddens me Tony. Perhaps I should make a brew of KFC, Maccy D and Wilko's Pinot :sick:

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I think the first 8 seconds of this sums it up.

http://youtu.be/ubgiBZpyxrA

 

[Moonflower]

Wilkinsons in Northampton have a half price sale going on at the moment. My friend had decided to get all her supplies to start wine-making so she hit the jackpot. All my fault, I picked her pink elderflowers last year and made a superb wine, she wants to do the same! Their Cab Sav is very drinkable.
On the subject of yeast I always start it off with some tepid water and a spoonful of sugar to get it working before pitching it in.