Wine making via Costco (Canada)

[tomboalogo]

Hi,

So up here in Canada we have a thing called the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). This government entity jacks up the price of alcohol to nonsensical levels so that government morons can waste the tax dollars. <rant over>

So not wanting to support this and liking wine, I discovered the Costco wine kits. I mentioned this to someone at work and she offered me all the equipment I needed (I estimate $400 worth) for the price of making her some wine. She even bought the kit. How could I say no?

The Costco kits (seems only in Canada, sorry), are on sale right now for $60. That makes 60 bottles.

That's right, $1/bottle. The kits come with corks, labels, shrinks, all you need is bottles.

My first batch turned out watery but I was making it at a friends house. Now at my house where I have control ( engineer) , the batch I made for my equipment benefactor was drinkable 4 days after bottling. Another Costco batch was ok (it's a red so needs to age a bit)

Now I'm experimenting with Mr. Beer before I try full batches.

Not sure if this is badass enough but $1/bottle is pretty good

[enginerd555]

Is this in store only? online looks like only $18 off? or did I miss the sale?

[Spork]

We started much like you...  We lived in a dry county.  It was an hour round trip to buy wine.  We started with the kits, but about that time, the county shook off 60 years of prohibition and came to it's senses.  Once they started selling wine in the grocery stores, we slowed way down on the wine making.

We still make some, but we decided to do it from a fruit preservation standpoint.  In other words, we branched out to making wine when we have over runs of home grown (or gifted) fruit.  We've done blackberry a few times, blue berry, fig and wild grape. 

I will tell you: if you trip over something that doesn't particularly taste good, you will be ABSOLUTELY AMAZED what a couple of years aging will do.  Some of the fruits, while drinkable at 6 months, are not really enjoyable until a couple of years.

[tomboalogo]

Yes the $60 is in store. I find that it's always cheaper in store.

[El Marinero]

I will tell you: if you trip over something that doesn't particularly taste good, you will be ABSOLUTELY AMAZED what a couple of years aging will do.  Some of the fruits, while drinkable at 6 months, are not really enjoyable until a couple of years.

It really is amazing what the right amount of time will do for a bottle of wine.