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Fermentation

Buckets, carboys, airlocks — the gear your wine actually lives in.

11 picks on this shelf

If you're making 5–6 gallons at a time, this is the heart of the operation. Buy good glass once, use it forever.

Home wine making starter equipment kit with carboy, fermenter, hydrometer and tubing
Equipment
Russ & Todd approvedBeginner top pickBuy once

The Whole Darn Starter Kit

Everything you need on day one — minus the wine itself.

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A white food-grade plastic primary fermenter bucket with snap-on lid and grommeted airlock hole
Fermentation$22–$26
Russ-approvedBeginner top pickBuy once

6.5-Gallon Primary Fermenter Bucket

Where every batch actually starts. A food-grade plastic bucket with a lid and a hole for an airlock.

See where to buy →priced 2025-11-20
A clear 6-gallon glass carboy on a wooden table
Fermentation$48–$55
Russ & Todd approvedBeginner top pickBuy once

6-Gallon Glass Carboy

The big jug. Where wine lives between fermentation and bottling.

See where to buy →priced 2025-11-20
A 3-gallon clear glass carboy on a wooden workbench
Fermentation$35–$38
Russ-approvedBuy once

3-Gallon Glass Carboy

The small one. For half-batches, top-ups, and second-stage racking.

See where to buy →priced 2025-11-20
Three plastic airlocks and three rubber stoppers on a wooden surface
Fermentation$12–$14
Russ & Todd approvedBeginner top pick

Airlocks + Stoppers (3-Pack)

The bubbling thing on top. Lets CO2 out, keeps everything else out.

See where to buy →priced 2025-11-20
An adhesive liquid crystal thermometer strip on the side of a glass carboy of dark wine
Fermentation$5–$6
Russ-approvedBeginner top pickBuy once

Stick-On Thermometer Strip

Slap it on the carboy. Read the temp. Done.

See where to buy →priced 2025-11-20
An electric heating belt wrapped around a glass carboy of dark fermenting wine
Fermentation$25–$30
Russ-approved

Fermentation Heating Belt

For when your basement is too cold for the yeast to do their job.

See where to buy →priced 2025-11-20
A large white Speidel plastic fermenter tank with spigot on a wooden floor
Fermentation$115–$135
Russ-approvedBest for big batchesBuy once

Speidel Plastic Fermenter (30L)

The German fermenter that lasts forever and seals like glass.

See where to buy →priced 2025-11-20
A clear PET plastic Fermonster carboy with wide-mouth lid on a wooden workbench
Fermentation$30–$35
Todd-approvedBeginner top pick

Fermonster PET Carboy (6 gal)

The unbreakable carboy. For the rest of us.

See where to buy →priced 2025-11-20
A traditional 23-liter green glass demijohn carboy on a rustic wooden floor
Fermentation$85–$99
Russ-approved

Italian 23L Glass Demijohn

The old-world option. Heavy green glass, narrow neck, looks fantastic on a shelf.

See where to buy →priced 2025-11-20
An orange plastic carboy handle clipped onto the neck of a glass carboy
Fermentation$15–$18
Russ & Todd approvedBuy onceBeginner top pick

Orange Carboy Handle (Brew Hauler)

The strap that turns a 50-lb glass jug into a manageable two-handed carry.

See where to buy →priced 2025-11-20