Description

Beaverdale Merlot | 6 Bottle Wine Kit

Merlot is a dry dark blue-coloured wine and classed as one of the most popular red wines varietals in many markets. Merlot in French means The Little Blackbird, probably a reference to the colour of the grape. While Merlot flavour can vary depending upon where it is grown climate-wise, you will typically get notes of blue, black and red fruits. These tasting notes are backed by undertones of vanilla, cocoa and various earth tones.

Merlot because of its softness and early ripening is a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin. Merlot is one of the primary grapes used in Bordeaux wine, and it is the most widely planted grape in the Bordeaux wine regions.

Beaverdale Kits

Beaverdale is a premium quality wine kit which requires no added sugar (all of the sugar content is contained within the grape juice).  Everything you need to make this wine is included with the kit (except water). The wine can be drunk young, but unlike some 3-week wine kits, it will continue to mature if you are patient. This kit will make 1 gallon (4.5 litres) of wine, which will produce around 6 bottles of delicious wine. The kit is easy to make and if you get hooked on the style it is also available in a 5 gallon (30 bottles) version.

First launched in 1988, The House of Beaverdale began producing a pure grape juice concentrate of such high quality it would allow people to produce, in their own homes, a range of wines to rival those produced professionally in the Chateaux of the world’s great wine-producing regions. The House of Beaverdale firmly believes that, even within a week of this wine being finished, you will not buy a better product. However, as The House of Beaverdale only uses pure grape juice, your finished wine will improve with keeping and, if you are able to lay down a few bottles from each batch, you’ll be amazed at the improvement that the maturing process has on your wine.

What’s included?

• A pouch of Merlot style grape concentrate
• Oak chips
• 2g sachet of yeast
• Wine stabiliser to end the fermenting process
• Sachets of Chitosan and Kieselsol wine finings to clear the wine
• Full instructions

What equipment do you need?

Basic 1 gallon winemaking equipment, for example, glass or plastic demijohn, bung, airlock and sanitiser. You will find these under the starter kit section of this website.

Food Pairing

Beaverdale Merlot wine matches with a wide variety of foods because of its position in the middle of the red wine spectrum. Merlot pairs well with chicken, lightly spiced dark meats, and slow cooked beef stew. Beaverdale Merlot is also a perfect match for tomato-based pasta dishes and pizza. It is also complimented with camembert and crusty bread.

Tips:

We recommend using a Vinbrite filter to clear the wine to a professional standard. If you can leave it a few months to mature, the wine will greatly improve.