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 (10 Pack) - Champagne Yeast - 5 g Sachets. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.8/10.
- Also great value:ABC Crafted Series DIY Wine Making Kit Washington Merlot (30 Bottles). Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:Lalvin Wine Yeast EC-1118 10pk - Active Dry Yeast. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.5/10.
- Feature-rich:Ultimate Wine Making Equipment Starter Kit with 6 Gallon Glass 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 Series DIY Wine Making Kit Washington Merlot (30 Bottles)Our score8.6/10
- Ultimate Wine Making Equipment Starter Kit with 6 Gallon Glass CarboyOur score8.4/10
- Master Vintner Wine Making Starter Kit Complete Equipment for 6 GallonsOur score8.4/10
- Craft A Brew Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Kit 1 GallonOur score7.8/10
Ferment In Glass
- FastRack 5 Gallon Clear Italian Glass Carboy, Fits #7 StopperOur score8.3/10
- Suzile 2 Pieces 5 Gallon Glass Carboy with Stoppers and AirlockOur 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 (10 Pack) - Champagne Yeast - 5 g SachetsOur score8.8/10
- Lalvin Wine Yeast EC-1118 10pk - Active Dry YeastOur 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 Large 27" (0.5-Inch) Auto Siphon, ClearOur score8.4/10
- Ubrew USA Auto-Siphon Regular with 6.5 Feet of 5/16" Tubing and ClampOur score8.4/10
- Fermtech Regular 5/16 Auto-Siphon, Clear, 5516Our score8.3/10
- Auto Siphon Racking Cane for Beer Wine Home Brewing with 35cm Tubing and ClampOur score7.0/10
Clear Before Bottling
- Gelatin Powder Fining 1LB 100 Bloom Type B for Beer and Wine ClarificationOur score7.7/10
- Midwest Homebrewing Gelatin Finings, 1 ozOur score7.6/10
- Chicago Brew Werks Biofine Beer Clarifier, 1/2 OunceOur score7.4/10
- The Homebrew Shop Biofine Clear DropperOur 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.
#1Lalvin 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
#2ABC 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
#3Lalvin 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
#4An 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
#5Master 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
#6Lalvin 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
#7Fermtech'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
#8Ubrew 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
#9FastRack'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
#10Fermtech'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
#11A 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
#12Suzile'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
#13Craft 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
#14A 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
#15A 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
#16Midwest 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
#17FastRack'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
#18Chicago Brew Werks Biofine beer clarifier in a 1/2 Ounce bottle for clearing yeast and haze before packaging.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Silica-based fining works quickly in cold or room temperature beer
- + 1/2 Ounce bottle is enough for a batch or two of clearer beer
- + Vegan friendly alternative to gelatin and isinglass
- - Small bottle runs out quickly for regular brewers
- - Does not remove chill haze as well as cold crashing plus gelatin
#19The Homebrew Shop Biofine Clear in a dropper bottle, a vegan-friendly silica fining for clearing beer quickly.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Biofine Clear is vegan and drops yeast haze without gelatin
- + Dropper bottle makes dosing small batches easy
- + Speeds up clarity so beer is ready to package sooner
- - Check the dropper bottle volume before ordering to plan your dosing
- - Can strip some haze intentionally wanted in hazy IPAs
#20An 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.