mmarty1

Recipes 

Wow I ordered a Wine Kit from a Groupons deal for $79 a few days ago and I just looked at the Fedex tracking, it's on the truck for delivery to my house already! I figured a couple weeks but it's going to show up today, that's pretty cool. Especially since it's my birthday today, nice unexpected present.

I wonder if anyone has any tips for a first time winemaker using a kit? Anything to shove me in the right direction for the best quality. I'm a beer brewer too so the process is not completely new to me. It's their white kit by the way as I figured it would be better to start with a white then try my hand at a red. Hoping to make a Norton and get a real barrel soon too.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/winemaking-essentials-kit.html

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Bottled: Caribou Slobber, Robust Porter, American Amber Ale, Bass Ale clone, Oatmeal Stout, American Cream Ale and Pumpkin Ale
Primary: English Ale
Primary 2: Blonde Ale
Next Up:
Brewed This Year: 25 Gallons
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Wine Section:
Primary: Coastal White - Oaked
Secondary: Empty
Bottled: Coastal White
Next Up: One more Kit then wine from Chambourcin grapes this fall
Wine Made This Year: 5 Gallons

Photony

Recipes 

Follow the directions exactly. Use your hydrometer to monitor SG. Pay attention to cleanliness and sanitation. And enjoy!

DoctorCAD

Recipes 

Yep...follow the directions.

Swifty

Recipes 

Very cool man! Grats! I hope to hear about your experience here. I bought one of these for my brother's birthday gift. He hasn't made much so he'll probably be in your shoes. Did you get the red or white? There is a ton of info on this board that will serve you well from guys n gals who are glad to help. Best of luck man!

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"Woop Woop Mother fker.... Unless you're a base player, you cn.. fkin, move your ass on.. Cops.." Maynard

mmarty1

Recipes 

Thanks for the advice and info I'm quite a fanatic about sanitation so that won't be a problem. Swifty I got the white kit, figured I could have a better shot at a decent wine if I went with the white first. I do brew beer and used to making beer that is as good or better than store bought. Hoping my experience is the same here. Excited to get started but have to wait until I get back from vacation.

__________________
Bottled: Caribou Slobber, Robust Porter, American Amber Ale, Bass Ale clone, Oatmeal Stout, American Cream Ale and Pumpkin Ale
Primary: English Ale
Primary 2: Blonde Ale
Next Up:
Brewed This Year: 25 Gallons
--------------------------------
Wine Section:
Primary: Coastal White - Oaked
Secondary: Empty
Bottled: Coastal White
Next Up: One more Kit then wine from Chambourcin grapes this fall
Wine Made This Year: 5 Gallons

mmarty1

Recipes 

Just wanted to thank everyone who had commented on my post mid last year and here are the results. Sorry though I'm not too good at following the directions exactly as I had found the article below that directed me to an extended schedule.

I started my wine in August of 2012 and bottled it end of December 2012 using the extended time schedule in the article I've posted below and plan to age it in bottles for at least 2 months. The difference between the kits 7-21-28 and the extended 5-20-40-90 schedule had a huge impact on taste, clarity and aroma. (mine was more like around 120 days just because the busy holiday schedule) I noticed around the 30 day mark the wine was still far to young to drink (tangy is the best way I can describe it) and hadn't cleared enough to put in bottles as it would have probably settled more in the bottle and added sediment.

Extremely happy with the extended schedule as I've found the same with my beer brewing, patience results in a better product and cures most presumed problems that newer brewers are concerned with.

http://www.winemakermag.com/component/content/article/26/850

__________________
Bottled: Caribou Slobber, Robust Porter, American Amber Ale, Bass Ale clone, Oatmeal Stout, American Cream Ale and Pumpkin Ale
Primary: English Ale
Primary 2: Blonde Ale
Next Up:
Brewed This Year: 25 Gallons
--------------------------------
Wine Section:
Primary: Coastal White - Oaked
Secondary: Empty
Bottled: Coastal White
Next Up: One more Kit then wine from Chambourcin grapes this fall
Wine Made This Year: 5 Gallons

DoctorCAD

Recipes 

You did it right, I only follow the instructions exactly, except for time. I have gone to 6 months instead of 3. It gets rid of the degassing issues.

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Just because something CAN ferment, does not mean it SHOULD be fermented.

mmarty1

Recipes 

I did 4 months and letting age for a couple more in bottles. Did you do any substantial aging after bottling? Just curious what the limits are age wise and when aging this white any further doesn't give any additional advantage.

__________________
Bottled: Caribou Slobber, Robust Porter, American Amber Ale, Bass Ale clone, Oatmeal Stout, American Cream Ale and Pumpkin Ale
Primary: English Ale
Primary 2: Blonde Ale
Next Up:
Brewed This Year: 25 Gallons
--------------------------------
Wine Section:
Primary: Coastal White - Oaked
Secondary: Empty
Bottled: Coastal White
Next Up: One more Kit then wine from Chambourcin grapes this fall
Wine Made This Year: 5 Gallons

DoctorCAD

Recipes 

3 years is not out of the question.

__________________
Just because something CAN ferment, does not mean it SHOULD be fermented.

novalou

Recipes 

Short answer is tannins. They soften as they age. Tannins also preserve wines, that's why reds age better and longer than whites.