Replies

I agree that it takes time, skill and space to make *quality* wine at home. The equipment costs — but, we accumulated it over time. We always saved money; and not just from the taxes avoided. We can store 4 months’ supply under the basement stairs, we also have a “cellar” for aging longer. Admittedly, you have to also enjoy doing it, like a hobby. You're probably not “paying yourself” minimum wage.

OTOH, if you go to a neighbourhood wine-kit store, you can make a batch of wine with little time, zero skill or specialized knowledge, and no space (except for what the store charges for rack-space rent). The idea is that the store is just selling you grape juice — you have to add the yeast yourself. That way, it's your *fault* that the grape juice spoiled, and turned into wine. Your only other task is to help put it into bottles. I've never made it that way; because, I want a lot more control over the process. However, I do know that it's so easy that winos should do it — they could drink decent wine, for less than the cost of rot gut.

As for the pot growing — that's almost all done indoors around here (BC). Maybe that’ll change, when it's legal here — except that we probably don't have the best climate for outdoors growing. Growing indoors is, by all accounts, quite time consuming and expensive (but, still profitable). As for growing outdoors, I imagine it's just a bit more work than growing tomatoes — more, if you're trying for top quality. That makes it about comparable to wine-making (or beer-making).