Fontana Wine Making Ingredient Kit Merlot 6 Gallon (Makes 30 Bottles) Review (2026)

Who this Merlot kit fits

This kit is aimed at winemakers who already have a carboy, fermenter and bottling setup and want a straightforward ingredient package for a soft, easy-drinking red rather than a bold, tannic style. Because Merlot is typically lighter bodied and ready to drink sooner than a Cabernet Sauvignon, this kit suits buyers who do not want to wait as long for the wine to mellow before it tastes good. The 30 bottle yield from a single 6 gallon batch makes it a practical choice for anyone stocking a cellar, hosting regularly, or giving bottles as gifts, without needing to run multiple smaller batches to get the same volume.

What comes in the kit

The kit includes a wine base concentrate along with brewer's yeast, bentonite for clarifying, and sulphite, sorbate, chitosan and kieselsol for stabilizing and helping the finished wine drop clear before bottling. Fontana markets the line as yielding up to about 23 liters, or close to 30 bottles, of wine within roughly a month from start to bottling, with an alcohol content in the 11 to 13 percent range typical of a standard dry red. The kit also allows for customization, since winemakers can add optional oak or berry flavor packs sold separately to adjust the color, texture or flavor profile beyond what the base kit provides on its own. Equipment and bottles are not included.

The brewing and clearing process

Sanitize your fermenter and other equipment first, then pitch the included yeast into the wine base to begin primary fermentation. After several days, rack the wine to a carboy for secondary fermentation, where the bentonite, chitosan and kieselsol combine to clear suspended particles so the finished wine looks bright rather than hazy. Sulphite and sorbate stabilize the batch before bottling to prevent unwanted refermentation or spoilage once sealed. Because Merlot is a softer style than a tannic Cabernet, it typically does not need as long in the bottle before it tastes good, though any homemade wine benefits from at least some rest time to let the flavors settle after bottling.

Comparing it with sibling kits

Against Fontana's own French Cabernet Sauvignon kit, this Merlot option gives a lighter body and less tannin, appealing to drinkers who find bold reds too heavy. Compared with the ABC Crafted Series Washington Merlot kit, the two are close competitors in the same style and yield, so the choice mostly comes down to each brand's specific yeast strain and additive blend rather than a major difference in process or outcome. Fontana's kit line overall has picked up wine competition medals over the years, a point the brand highlights across its ingredient kits, though results depend heavily on technique during fermentation and clearing rather than the kit alone.

Verdict and who might want something else

This is a sensible pick for winemakers who already own basic equipment and want a lighter, sooner-drinking red from a large batch, with the flexibility to customize flavor using optional add-in packs. Buyers who prefer a bolder, more structured wine should choose the Cabernet Sauvignon kit from the same line instead. Anyone without a carboy, fermenter or bottling equipment needs to source that separately, since this is an ingredients-only kit, and first-time winemakers who are unsure about committing to a full 30 bottle batch might start with a smaller 1 gallon kit before scaling up to this size.

Frequently asked questions