"Prestige" Cheapo wine kit

So, a good friend of mine got me a cheapo wine kit (Prestige Chianti--$45), because he knew I made wine and I guess it was on sale or something.

I normally would buy this,I've tried another cheapo kit (can't remember the brand) and was very displeased with the results.

but, hey, free is free, you know?

Any tried and true tricks to make this a better wine? There is very little juice, less than 2 gallons must to make a 6 gallon recipe. it comes with some powdered oak and, of course, Lalvin EC1118.

I'll take any and all suggestions

Unferth said:

So, a good friend of mine got me a cheapo wine kit (Prestige Chianti--$45), because he knew I made wine and I guess it was on sale or something.

I normally would buy this,I've tried another cheapo kit (can't remember the brand) and was very displeased with the results.

but, hey, free is free, you know?

Any tried and true tricks to make this a better wine? There is very little juice, less than 2 gallons must to make a 6 gallon recipe. it comes with some powdered oak and, of course, Lalvin EC1118.

I'll take any and all suggestions

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Add water to 5 gallons. Better flavor, won't taste so watered down.

Maybe cut down to five and and add some concentrated juice instead of just water. Mike

So adding a different kind of juice wouldn't throw off the taste too much?

Unferth said:

So adding a different kind of juice wouldn't throw off the taste too much?

Click to expand...

Yes it will, but chianti is a blend already.