6-Gallon Merlot Kit
Wine kits are the easiest entry point into home winemaking. A pre-balanced juice concentrate plus yeast and adjuncts produces a clean, predictable Merlot in roughly three months from pitch to first pour. Expect plum and cedar notes, light-to-medium body, and table-quality wine that improves over the first year in bottle.
ABV11-13%
Ferment21d
Age60d
Total81d
Ingredients
| 1 kit (16L) | Merlot juice concentrate kit |
| 6 L | Water (top up) |
| 5 g | Wine yeast (EC-1118 or kit yeast) |
| 0.6 g | Potassium metabisulfite |
| 1 g | Potassium sorbate |
Equipment
- 6-gallon primary fermenter
- Glass carboy
- Airlock
- Hydrometer
- Racking cane
- Auto-siphon
Steps
- Day 0
Mix must
Pour kit into primary, top with water, sprinkle yeast.
- Day 0-7
Primary ferment
Cover; ferment at 70°F until SG drops below 1.020.
- Day 7
Rack to carboy
Siphon to glass carboy, leave gross lees behind, fit airlock.
- Day 7-21
Secondary
Continue ferment to dryness (SG ~0.992-0.996).
- Day 21
Stabilize
Add k-meta + sorbate; degas thoroughly.
- Day 21-49
Clarify + age
Add fining agent if included; bulk age in carboy.
- Day 49
Bottle
Sanitize bottles, siphon, cork. Lay flat, age 60+ days before drinking.