WinExpert Reserve 30 Bottle Italian Pinot Grigio

I have no idea what has happened at Winexpert, but the wheels are definitely falling off. I've been making their wines for 15 years and the Pinot Grigio used to be quite reliable. This one has no resemblance to any wine I have bought, from any region, in any shop. Fortunately, I know how to make vinegar. You need to dilute the wine to below 9%abv and tip in some live acetobacter ('mother') and leave it in an open-topped jar for 10-15 weeks.

Unless your thing is to sit on a bench by the side of the road shouting at busses, this kit is a waste of money.

I still recommend the premium kits (white only) - £120 can get you a very good wine, though I think it needs 6-months in the bottle to get to its best. At that end of the range, I'm a bit disappointed by the sweetness of the American styles, which I don't seem to be able to ferment out. Maybe they have started introducing artificial sweeteners to chase the American palate.

Fortunately I can get wine grapes from the local fruit importer (Italian only and only 3 varietals), so i think I'm going to build that up.

Nothing wrong with Brew2Bottle - they are great retailers, but I think the kit-makers are cutting corners and rolling back on quality. Maybe the shipping costs (NZ to Canada to UK) are just a crazy obstacle. We should get a processing/manufacturing plant in the UK that is looking at premium quality! Brew2Bottle - you should start one...