Buying guide
Home Winemaking Setup
Updated How we research
Craft your own wine from kit to bottle. The page is split into five sections (Start With A Wine Kit; Ferment In Glass; Pick Your Wine Yeast; Rack Off The Lees; Clear Before Bottling), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 20 picks. Our scores range from 7.0 to 8.8 out of 10.
- Best overall:Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 5 g, 10 Pack. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.8/10.
- Also great value:ABC Crafted Washington Merlot Wine Kit, 30 Bottles. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 10 Pack. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.5/10.
- Feature-rich:Ultimate Wine Making Starter Kit, 6 Gal Carboy. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Start With A Wine Kit
- ABC Crafted Washington Merlot Wine Kit, 30 BottlesOur score8.6/10
- Ultimate Wine Making Starter Kit, 6 Gal CarboyOur score8.4/10
- Master Vintner Wine Making Starter Kit, 6 GalOur score8.4/10
- Craft A Brew Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Kit, 1 GallonOur score7.8/10
Ferment In Glass
- FastRack Italian Glass Carboy, 5 GallonOur score8.3/10
- Suzile 5 Gallon Glass Carboy, 2 PiecesOur score8.0/10
- 5 Gallon Glass Carboy with Brew HaulerOur score7.8/10
- FastRack 5 Gallon Glass Carboy FermenterOur score7.5/10
Pick Your Wine Yeast
- Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 5 g, 10 PackOur score8.8/10
- Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 10 PackOur score8.5/10
- Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 5 grams - 100-PackOur score8.4/10
- Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 5 gramsOur score8.1/10
Rack Off The Lees
- Fermtech Fast Flow Auto Siphon, 27 inOur score8.4/10
- Ubrew Auto-Siphon with 6.5 ft TubingOur score8.4/10
- Fermtech Regular 5/16 Auto-Siphon, 5516Our score8.3/10
- Auto Siphon Racking Cane, 35 cm TubingOur score7.0/10
Clear Before Bottling
- Gelatin Powder Fining 100 Bloom Type B, 1 lbOur score7.7/10
- Liquor Quik Super-Kleer KC Finings - 4-PackOur score7.6/10
- Midwest Homebrewing Gelatin Finings, 1 ozOur score7.6/10
- Biofine - 1LOur score7.1/10
All 20 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
Lalvin EC-1118 champagne yeast in a 10 Pack of 5 g sachets for wine, cider and mead.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + EC-1118 ferments reliably even in high alcohol musts
- + 10 Pack of 5 g sachets covers many small batches
- + Neutral profile lets fruit and honey flavors show through
- - Ferments very dry, so sweet meads need backsweetening
- - Strong strain can overpower other yeasts in mixed ferments
ABC Crafted Series DIY Washington Merlot wine making kit that yields 30 Bottles.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 30 Bottles yield gives a large supply of homemade Merlot
- + Washington Merlot offers soft, fruit-forward red character
- + Crafted Series kit bundles concentrate and additives
- - Requires full size winemaking equipment such as a large carboy
- - Aging time adds weeks or months before best drinking
Lalvin EC-1118 wine yeast in a 10pk of active dry yeast packets for wines, ciders and meads.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + 10pk keeps enough sachets on hand for a season of fermenting
- + Fast, clean starting strain tolerates cool temperatures
- + Great for restarting stuck fermentations
- - Check the sachet weight before ordering to plan your batch size
- - Very high attenuation leaves little residual sweetness
An ultimate wine making equipment starter kit with a 6 Gallon glass carboy for full size wine kits.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 6 Gallon glass carboy suits standard six gallon wine kits
- + Starter kit covers the core fermenting and transferring gear
- + Glass carboy is ideal for long wine aging
- - Wine ingredient kit and bottles are sold separately
- - Glass carboy is heavy and fragile when full
Master Vintner wine making starter kit with complete equipment for 6 Gallons of wine.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Complete equipment for 6 Gallons matches common wine kits
- + Master Vintner is Northern Brewer's dedicated wine line
- + Detailed guides help first-time winemakers succeed
- - Ingredients are not included in the equipment kit
- - Bottles and a corker may be extra, adding to the startup cost
Lalvin EC-1118 wine yeast in 5 grams sachets, a bulk 100-Pack for serious winemakers and cider makers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + 100-Pack drives the cost per sachet very low
- + Consistent EC-1118 performance batch after batch
- + 5 grams sachets suit batches up to typical carboy size
- - Far more yeast than a hobbyist can use before expiry dates
- - Needs cool storage to keep a large stock viable
Fermtech's Fast Flow Large 27" auto siphon with a 0.5-Inch cane, built for faster racking of full batches.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 0.5-Inch cane moves beer much faster than regular sized siphons
- + 27" length reaches the bottom of tall carboys and fermenters
- + Fast transfers reduce oxygen exposure time during racking
- - Large diameter will not fit narrow carboy necks without care
- - Needs larger tubing than standard siphons, sold separately
Ubrew USA's Regular Auto-Siphon with 6.5 Feet of 5/16" tubing and a clamp, a complete transfer kit for beginners.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 6.5 Feet of tubing gives plenty of reach between fermenter and bucket
- + Clamp holds the cane on the vessel so it does not slip into sediment
- + Complete set means no separate tubing purchase for first racking
- - Long tubing needs thorough flushing and drying to avoid buildup
- - Regular size flows slower than large bore siphons
FastRack's 5 Gallon clear Italian glass carboy that fits a #7 stopper, a quality vessel for aging beer and wine.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Italian glass is known for good clarity and even wall thickness
- + Fits a #7 stopper, so matching airlock bungs are easy to find
- + Great for long aging where oxygen barrier matters
- - Stopper and airlock are not included in this listing
- - Full carboy is very heavy and needs a handle or carrier
Fermtech's Regular 5/16 Auto-Siphon 5516, the standard racking cane for moving beer from fermenter to bottling bucket.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + One pump starts the flow, so there is no need to mouth-siphon
- + Regular 5/16 size fits standard carboys and bucket fermenters
- + Fermtech Auto-Siphon is the classic model many brewing guides reference
- - Tubing is not included in this listing, so buy matching hose
- - Plastic cane can crack if exposed to boiling water or dropped
A single Lalvin EC-1118 wine yeast sachet of 5 grams for one batch of wine, cider or mead.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + Single sachet is ideal for a one-off batch
- + EC-1118 handles tough musts and high sugar levels
- + Easy rehydration for dependable fermentation
- - Buying single packets costs more per sachet than packs
- - Neutral character adds little complexity to simple wines
Suzile's set of 2 Pieces 5 Gallon glass carboys with stoppers and airlocks, ready for two fermentations at once.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 2 Pieces set lets you run two batches or rack between vessels
- + Stoppers and airlocks come included for immediate use
- + Glass vessels resist scratches and flavor carryover
- - Shipping glass carries a risk of breakage on arrival
- - Two heavy carboys need safe floor storage out of the way
Craft A Brew Cabernet Sauvignon wine kit for 1 Gallon batches, a small-batch way to make red wine.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 1 Gallon batch lets you try winemaking without big costs
- + Cabernet Sauvignon is a popular, full-bodied red style
- + Craft A Brew instructions are beginner friendly
- - Makes only a handful of bottles per batch
- - Red wine needs months of aging for best results
A 5 Gallon glass carboy bundled with a Brew Hauler strap for safer carrying of full glass fermenters.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Brew Hauler strap gives a secure grip for lifting heavy glass
- + 5 Gallon carboy works well for secondary and long aging
- + Bundle adds safety without buying a carrier separately
- - Glass still breaks if knocked, even with a carrying strap
- - Check whether an airlock and stopper are included before ordering extras
A 1LB bag of 100 Bloom Type B gelatin powder for fining beer and wine to brilliant clarity.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 100 Bloom Type B gelatin is a standard strength for beverage fining
- + 1LB bag lasts for a very long time at small per-batch doses
- + Works for both beer and wine clarification
- - Not vegetarian, so it does not suit vegan beer
- - Needs careful blooming and warming to avoid clumps
Liquor Quik Super-Kleer KC is a kieselsol and chitosan fining sold here as a 4-pack. Each package treats 5 to 6 US gallons of beer, wine or cider.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Each package treats 5 to 6 US gallons, so the 4-pack covers four standard homebrew batches
- + Kieselsol and chitosan combination, a different approach from the gelatin and kettle finings in this guide
- + Listed as an all-purpose clarifier for beer, wine or cider, so one product covers several hobbies
- - Packaged for 5 to 6 gallon batches, so it is awkward to split for 1 gallon brews
- - Listing highlights are brief: no timing, dosing steps or shelf life are given
Midwest Homebrewing gelatin finings in a 1 oz pack, a simple way to clear beer after cold crashing.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Gelatin fining clears yeast and chill haze effectively when cold
- + 1 oz pack is enough to fine a few batches of homebrew
- + Unflavored finings leave no taste in finished beer
- - Not suitable for vegan or vegetarian drinkers
- - Works best with cold crashing, which needs fridge space
FastRack's 5 Gallon glass carboy fermenter, a classic glass vessel for secondary fermentation and aging.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Glass will not scratch or absorb odors like plastic fermenters
- + 5 Gallon size is ideal for secondary conditioning with little headspace
- + Clear walls let you watch fermentation and clarity progress
- - Glass is heavy and dangerous if dropped or bumped when full
- - Narrow neck makes cleaning harder without a carboy brush
Biofine in a 1 liter (33.8 oz) bottle from Homebrewers Outpost, a fining agent listed as clearing beer in 24 to 48 hours. A bulk size that costs far more up front than single-batch finings.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Listing says it clarifies beer to sparkling clear in 24 to 48 hours
- + Stated dose is 3 to 30 ml per 5 gallon batch, so 1 liter covers at least 33 batches even at the highest dose
- + Dosed by the milliliter, a different format from the gelatin powders and kettle tablets in this guide
- - The 1 liter bottle is a large upfront purchase compared with half-ounce vials or single sachets
- - Listing is brief: the dose range is wide (3 to 30 ml) and no storage or shelf life details are given
An auto siphon racking cane with 35cm tubing and clamp for transferring beer or wine between vessels.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Includes tubing and a clamp, so it is ready to use out of the box
- + Suitable for both beer and wine transfers in home brewing
- + Pump action starts siphoning cleanly without disturbing sediment
- - 35cm tubing is short, so vessels must sit close together
- - Check the racking cane build quality against known brands like Fermtech
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Home Brew Craft curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.