Making this kit work

[piper27]

First time winemaker here.What do I need to do to make this kit work with the equipment I have on hand.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I4ZS0G4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Would I be able to get by with a 6.5 gal primary fermenter, a 5gal carboy and a 1 gal carboy? I do have other supplies, cleaners, sanitizers, hydrometer, ect.
Thanks for any help

 

[DoctorCAD]

I made that kit. Even added 4.4 lbs of grape skins. It still is just OK.

A 6 gallon carboy would make it much simpler, but a 5 + 1 will do. At every rack, pour both together in the 6.5 gallon bucket and then split back to the 5 + 1 to balance out the flavors, or alter the 1 gallon and keep the 5 gallon as is to see if there is any differences.

 

[spk]

I bought the Malbec kit from them on Amazon in March. As a beer brewer, I already had an ale pale and glass carboy (and a Better Bottle) that I wasn't using at the time. I followed the directions on making it, let it ferment a bit longer in primary than their directions recommended, but then racked to my carboy and again followed instructions (sorbate and kmeta), degassed, waited, then clarified, waited, and bottled.

Since I did not back-sweeten at all, if I were doing it again I might not add the sorbate. I tried one small bottle (I got 24 wine bottles, 750mL, and 2 12oz beer bottles) about a month in and it was tasty, dry, a bit fruity (like a Malbec should be), but not a complex bouquet at all, and not a 'big body'.

But for about $2/bottle of wine?

To summarize: your 6.5 gallon fermenter and a 5-5.5 gallon carboy, tube/cane/siphon for racking. You'll want a wine thief or turkey baster, etc., for samples. I bought no new "wine equipment". I just had to supply wine bottles, corks, and a corker. It came with labels and all the chemicals.

 

[piper27]

I made that kit. Even added 4.4 lbs of grape skins. It still is just OK.

A 6 gallon carboy would make it much simpler, but a 5 + 1 will do. At every rack, pour both together in the 6.5 gallon bucket and then split back to the 5 + 1 to balance out the flavors, or alter the 1 gallon and keep the 5 gallon as is to see if there is any differences.

Thanks Doc, I think I might just pick up a 6 gallon carboy. The link is showing Cabernet, but I bought the merlot kit.

 

[piper27]

I bought the Malbec kit from them on Amazon in March. As a beer brewer, I already had an ale pale and glass carboy (and a Better Bottle) that I wasn't using at the time. I followed the directions on making it, let it ferment a bit longer in primary than their directions recommended, but then racked to my carboy and again followed instructions (sorbate and kmeta), degassed, waited, then clarified, waited, and bottled.

Since I did not back-sweeten at all, if I were doing it again I might not add the sorbate. I tried one small bottle (I got 24 wine bottles, 750mL, and 2 12oz beer bottles) about a month in and it was tasty, dry, a bit fruity (like a Malbec should be), but not a complex bouquet at all, and not a 'big body'.

But for about $2/bottle of wine?

To summarize: your 6.5 gallon fermenter and a 5-5.5 gallon carboy, tube/cane/siphon for racking. You'll want a wine thief or turkey baster, etc., for samples. I bought no new "wine equipment". I just had to supply wine bottles, corks, and a corker. It came with labels and all the chemicals.

Thanks Spk, I believe I have all the supplies with the exception of the corker, but I'll have time to get that.