Wineworks
With retail outlets in Liverpool and Chesterfield, Wineworks have a long history in the home brewing industry. Richard Blackwell, Wineworks’ owner, has been involved with the development of home brewing in the UK since it began in the 1980s. Since Lee and I began studying the products and processes of home brewing, we have noticed Richard’s “fingerprints” and influence everywhere in the industry.
Wineworks aim to provide products on a par with the best and source some of the finest grape juice available in Europe. We have used Wineworks Superior kits only and have so far made Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio.
Wineworks kits are packaged in an economically styled but attractively designed brown cardboard box. It is clear they have an environmentally friendly attitude, which I commend.
Wineworks Superior - Pinot Noir *
Review for wine after 3.5 months.
We have always been fans of rich full bodied Pinot Noir, so were eager to get one of these kits underway as soon as we could. We had been wanting to experiment with Wine Works so it seemed an appropriate choice when making our first selection from their list. All the Wine Works Superior kits, as we have come to know, comprise one standard grape juice bag and a small super concentrate sachet to give extra depth to the flavour. Both Lee and I were impressed with the rich aroma of the juice and hence were excited with the prospect of great wine.
Sadly, the final outcome was significantly less than we had expected. At only 11.5% ABV this Wine Works Superior Pinot Noir was by no means as strong as we would have liked. Interestingly we have never managed to achieve an ABV greater than 11.5% from any Wine Works kit we have chosen. The wine is clear but it is also quite thin looking in appearance. The flavour is also decidedly lacking with no distinctive fruitiness I would have expected. In fact the overwhelming characteristic of this wine is a sharp and sour flavour that despite adding sweetener leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
After a year sitting on the rack I am still sad to say, this wine tastes no better than it ever did. I for one will not touch this one again. Chas.
Wineworks Superior - Merlot 30 Bottle Kit**
I am writing this review nine months after making this Merlot, so I expect it to by now, have matured sufficiently so I can get a genuine idea of it’s flavour and depth. Sadly, just as with the Wineworks Pinot Noir, this Merlot leaves much to be desired in both of those departments. Judging by price, which is equivalent to kits from Beaverdale, I would have hoped for much more.
As with the Pinot, our Wineworks Merlot started out promisingly but slowed down and struggled to reach even 11% ABV. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t insist on a 13% or 14% strength wine but 11% and below seems a little low considering this is supposed to be a premium quality kit. So yes, I was disappointed by the strength. If this I really can’t imagine what the Wineworks standard kits deliver? Actually I’m not sure I want to know.
Anyhow, after nine months I cannot say this wine has improved greatly nor indeed do I expect much more from it. The wine is quite thin in body and doesn’t have a notable bouquet or character taste. It is very dry, really quite harsh and tanninish . Despite having already added sweetener at the bottling stage, I reckon this will need a lot more to make it reasonably palatable, unless you particularly enjoy dry reds. I recommend choosing a kit from another brand if you want a Merlot or Pinot Noir. Sorry about that Wineworks.
Wineworks Superior - Chardonnay 30 Bottle Kit***
On a much happier note I can report that the Wineworks Superior Chardonnay is definitely a wine to checkout. Just like all the Wineworks wines we have made, the ABV wasn’t high, this wine finished at just 10.9%. That said this wine has a really great flavour, the kind I would expect from something much stronger. The first bottle we tasted was about three months old and was very acceptable. It was summer and the refreshing fruitiness was popular with our guests and quickly our stock was depleted. However we took the precaution to stash a couple of bottles to see how the wine would improve and to our delight it certainly did. We drank both bottles in fast succession, it was that good.