Fontana Italian Sangiovese Wine Kit Ingredients - 6 Gallon DIY Kit - Makes 30 Bottles of Wine

For the price, this kit is actually really good. I bottled at about 63 days from fermentation, and the wine came out smooth and semi-sweet with a nice dry feeling on the palate. I typically prefer a puckeringly dry wine—this isn’t quite that, but it’s close enough that I really enjoy it. I ordered some three-liter bags for the first time and ended up with five bags plus eight 750 ml bottles. The instructions were okay. I’ve made wine before, so I managed, but they could definitely be clearer since the packets weren’t labeled by number. Luckily, I learned how to read words, so it all worked out. :) Would buy again.

🍷 Review of Fontana French Cabernet Wine Kit (with Modifications) Batch Start Date: June 24, 2025 Racked to Keg: July 24, 2025 Final Volume: ~6 gallons Fermentation Temperature: 72°F (controlled) ⸻ 🔧 Modifications Made to Improve Kit Quality: • Replaced standard yeast with Lalvin RC-212 for better mouthfeel, color, and red fruit extraction • Used Fermaid K instead of the included nutrient, added in stages: • ¼ tsp at pitch • ½ tsp during active fermentation • ¾ tsp around ⅓ sugar depletion (Day 3–4) • Added toasted French oak chips during early primary fermentation (pre-fermentation soak with non-chlorinated warm water) • Boosted alcohol slightly by adding 300 mL granulated sugar (estimated final ABV ~13.4–13.5%) • Used potassium metabisulfite at kegging for stabilization (¼ tsp) • Skipped potassium sorbate since wine was dry and not back-sweetened ⸻ 🔬 Fining & Clarification: • Used kieselsol + chitosan fining agents, added 7 days apart • Allowed 7 additional days post-fining before racking to keg • Wine served from Cornelius keg at 5 PSI CO₂, uncarbonated ⸻ 👃 Tasting Notes (Initial, July 2025): Appearance: • Deeply colored, opaque Cabernet (not hazy, but nearly black in carboy) Aroma: • Earthy, spicy, with notes of tobacco or leather • Subtle background of cherry and warm oak Mouthfeel: • Full-bodied and smooth, very slight CO₂ tingle at first pour • Tannins are soft and well-integrated Flavor: • Flavors of cherry and vanilla, with mild sweetness and warmth • Slight green apple tang and soft acidity • Finish is warm and lingering with a faint, pleasant bitterness Overall Impression: “A smooth, tangy, full-bodied Cabernet with a bright warmth and a medium-dry, approachable finish.” ⸻ 💬 Final Thoughts: This kit produced a very drinkable young Cabernet with good structure and complexity. The yeast and nutrient substitutions made a noticeable difference in mouthfeel and smoothness. A few weeks of keg aging have already improved the profile, and I expect it to continue improving over the next couple months. Would recommend with modifications for intermediate home winemakers looking to elevate a kit.

We have had excellent results with this wine

Have had other kits from Fontana that were also low SG to start. Those were Pinot Noirs and I added 4 cups of simple syrup to get their starting SG to 1.07. I added 3 cups of syrup to this Chardonnay to get to 1.08. I only added the starting level of water to 5 gallons, not the 6 as directed. We like a dry finish so not everyone needs to do this. Wanted to pass along our experience. If you like a sweeter wine, this will be a great kit out of the box.

This is the third time I've purchased this kit. I get compliments from many people on this cab. 13% ABV on the nose, as advertised. If others get less than that, then I suspect either they have substandard fermenting conditions or the yeast wasn't sufficiently activated. I've been home brewing for over 10 years and I don't remember ever having fermentation problems or experiencing significantly lower than expected ABV. The quality of this wine is great. Fruity with just the right amount of tart and dryness. It could use slightly more tannins, but I like my wine more grippy. It is however sufficient to pair with proteins like red meats and pork. Lovely nose of black currant and cherry, violet, honeysuckle and cedar. The cedar was a little bit surprising until I learned that a cedar aroma is common in full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon single varietal and blended wines, such as those of Napa Valley or Bordeaux — particularly the Left Bank appellations. TL;DR: Buy this kit.

I bought the pinot noir because it’s our absolute favorite wine. This home brew is spot on it’s delicious, not too dry and slight sweet everything great! I was blown away how good it tastes immediately and I can’t wait to see what it tastes like six months from now. 😍🤩🍷✌🏻

Instructions are good. I bought this kit based on the outstanding results I got from a 23 Shiraz that was out of this world. It wasn’t just me. Several others agreed that this Zin is passable and pleasant but on a scale of 1-10 maybe a 6.5. It is turning out to be a cooking wine mostly as I don’t want to sully my reputation on making delicious homemade wine.

Love these kits. Instructions are clear and straightforward, and the wine turns out great if you follow them properly. The key is not cutting corners or improvising - stick to the process and you'll get good flavor.