[aqua]

My husband wants to start making wine. I thought I might buy him a few things so that he can have a go. Can any experts recommend a short list of stuff.

If I go out and grab the stuff I think my parents had I am sure to miss out on something vital. we have thermometers and scales.

An easy wine kit (as a first go) would be nice, If there is one that people like.

He wants to make apple wine in the autumn.

[timtheenchanteruk]

many companies now do starter kits, with demijohns, bottles and all the ancilleries for a reasonable price, and usually include required chemicals etc, or even a kit. have a look round and see if you are lucky enough to have a brewshop near you (Im spoilt, and have 2 within a 15 min drive) they will give you any advice on what to buy.

the wine kits I have used have all been pretty easy to do, just follow the instructions, for doing kits you will need at a minimum
1 demijohn, 6 bottles (caps/corks/stoppers for these), sterilising chemicals, syphon tube, stoppers and airlock for demijohn
useful additions are a themometer, hydrometer, and possibly a heater.

If you are going to make you own from scratch, you will need yeast and nutrient (I use a ready mixed one) and campden tablets.

[aqua]

I have seen the starter kits. I do a lot of crafts and I have learnt from experience that starter kits are sometimes expensive for the money.

I will take a note of the things you suggest.   Is there any brand of basic white wine kit that turned out well?

[Runwell-Steve]

Hi,

The essentials for wine are

Demijohns,
Hydrometer,
Air locks
Bottles, with corks/rubber bungs/screw caps.
Syphon tube and stick
A filter can be useful as well if you want your wine to sparkle bright.

You can either ferment in a bucket, or in Demijohns.

If you don't want to buy Demijohns you can buy 5 Litre water bottles in the supermarket and use them instead, they are cheaper.

Dependent on the wine you want to make as well you can do a lot of wine using fruit Juice that you buy in the supermarket.

There is a step by step guide to making it here

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=10179

Hope I'm allowed to post the link, seems to make more sense than copying all that here.

[wayne170534]

Good link runwell.

[aqua]

thank you

[aqua]

just found my mum's glass hydrometer from boots - price label on it £1.10 (in original box)

[Growster...]

just found my mum's glass hydrometer from boots - price label on it £1.10 (in original box)

Still got ours too! Bought around 1972...

Must keep an eye on it, it's so fragile, and one tip, watch the paper insert with the markings on it. If the hydrometer gets bumped slightly on the bottom of the demijohn, the paper slips about, and gives a false reading!

Test it occasionally, in room temp water, when it should read 1.000 of course!