Create a restaurant‑quality Merlot at home with the Beaverdale 30 Bottle Wine Kit. This premium kit produces up to 23 litres of smooth, medium‑bodied red wine with ripe plum and black cherry aromas, gentle tannins, a hint of chocolate, and balanced oak. Ideal for dinner parties, gifting, or stocking your cellar, it's straightforward for beginners and rewarding for experienced winemakers.
Key features
- Makes 23L (approx. 30 x 750ml bottles)
- Style: Merlot – smooth, fruit‑forward, lightly oaked
- Tasting notes: plum, black cherry, soft tannins, subtle cocoa/oak
- Difficulty: beginner‑friendly; great results improve with ageing
- Typical timeframe: ready in about 4–6 weeks
- Typical ABV: around 12–13% (process dependent)
- No additional sugar required; formulated from quality grape juice concentrate
- Includes: grape juice concentrate, wine yeast, stabilisers, finings, oak (where applicable), and full instructions
- Best served at 16–18°C; pairs well with roast meats, pasta, pizza, hard cheeses
New to winemaking?
Read our full step-by-step Beaverdale brewing instructions — covers the must, fermentation, the key racking point, and bottling, from start to first glass.
What Equipment Do You Need?
This kit is ingredients-only. You'll also need a 25-litre fermenter, airlock, hydrometer, siphon, and 30 bottles with corks. Always sanitise with VWP or ChemSan.
Upgrading your yeast
Smooth and approachable is Merlot's whole appeal, so try Mangrove Jack's CR51, bred specifically for light, fruity reds meant for early drinking — a good match for this style's gentle tannins. If your fermenting spot runs cold over winter (an unheated garage or utility room, often under 15°C), Lalvin EC-1118 is the more reliable choice.
How it works (quick steps)
- Sanitise equipment thoroughly.
- Add concentrate and water to 23L, pitch yeast.
- Ferment until stable gravity.
- Stabilise, clear with finings; optionally oak to taste.
- Bottle, then allow to condition; flavour improves after 3–6 months.
Why choose Beaverdale
Beaverdale is known for dependable kits that deliver full, varietal character and a smooth finish, giving you consistent, cellar‑worthy results at home.
FAQs
- Do I need to add sugar? No—this kit is designed to ferment to strength without extra sugar.
- How many bottles does it make? Up to 30 standard 750ml bottles (23L).
- Is it vegan? Some finings may not be vegan; check the latest kit contents if this is important.
Kit Specification