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More from WinexpertWinexpert Reserve California Merlot
Winexpert Reserve California Merlot
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Sanitise your fermenter, equipment and bottles first with ChemSan no-rinse sanitiser.
Make 28–30 bottles of Winexpert's premium Reserve tier. The Winexpert Reserve California Merlot kit uses 10L of hand-selected grape concentrate and is ready to bottle in 6 weeks, delivering a medium-bodied red with chocolate, black cherry and vanilla spice.
New to home brewing? Get this kit as a complete starter kit.
Add a 25 litre fermenter with tap, bottling wand, airlock, hydrometer and sanitiser and it becomes our Winexpert Reserve Wine Making Starter Kit – all you need to add is bottles. Includes a step-by-step guide.
Get the starter kit – £108.99Tasting Notes
Chocolate, black cherry and vanilla spice with medium oak. Merlot is classically soft and approachable — full flavoured without heavy tannin, making it a crowd-pleasing red for everyday drinking or entertaining.
What Equipment Do You Need?
A 23-litre fermentation vessel, airlock, hydrometer, siphon, and 28–30 bottles. New to winemaking? Our wine starter kits bundle all essentials. Always sanitise with VWP or ChemSan for best results.
Upgrading your yeast: for a soft, approachable style like this, try Mangrove Jack's CR51, bred for fruit-forward reds meant for early drinking — a good match for Merlot's silky character.
Fermentation Timeline
Week 1–3: Primary fermentation at 20–22°C for reds.
Week 4–5: Add finings and allow to clear.
Week 6: Bottle and age for 2–3 months before drinking.
Tips for Best Results
- Keep temperature stable at 20–22°C — consistency matters more with Reserve's extra concentrate
- Merlot is forgiving and drinks well relatively young
- Allow wines to clear completely before bottling
- Age for minimum 2–3 months for smooth character development
See all Winexpert Reserve wines. Browse all wine kits at BrewCo.