First Wine Kit Bitter AfterTaste

[RecoTPD]

I just finished my first island mist kit. Today was the day I was supposed to bottle but I decided to rack the wine one more time to get rid of all the sediment. I took a gravity reading and could not help myself I had to taste it. The wine had a good taste but had a very bitter aftertaste on my tongue. Any suggestions before I bottle this wine?

I will say that when making the wine I wanted a higher alcohol so I took a suggestion from the guy at the wine shop and he told me to add 2-5 lbs of sugar in my wine when I started it. I did use about 3 lbs of sugar that i dissolved into hot water when starting my kit.


I am not sure if I need to do anything to this or if it just needs to age a bit more.

 

[Justibone]

So, have you added in the F-pack? After using metabisulfite and sorbate to prevent additional fermentation, you're supposed to add the F-pack to sweeten the wine and give it the final flavor. You said you're ready to bottle, so I assume that you have.

I felt my Island Mist got much better with more time in the carboy, and then again with more time in the bottle. What you do is up to you, though.

 

[RecoTPD]

Yes I have added the f pack. The only thing left to do is bottle. I am going to let it sit in the carboy for at least another 2 weeks to see if it gets any better before I dump it down the drain.


Any other suggestions?

 

[Justibone]

Do NOT dump it. You already made it, you already have the bottles... just go ahead and bottle it, then try one bottle a month until it gets good.

If you really, REALLY hate it, you can always find out how to turn it into vinegar... it would make pretty good vinegar, probably.

 

[RecoTPD]

Would it be better to leave it in the carboy or to bottle at this point?

Also how ling can these island mist kits sit?

 

[Justibone]

I'm not sure, but I'd leave it in the carboy. If you added metabisulfite at any point it should be protected against oxidation for a while. It can sit for a year or more, potentially. If it starts to turn brown, it's oxidizing and it's sitting time is at an end.