http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ Brew UK Forum » Forum: Wine Kits - Recent Topics en Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:35:41 +0000 http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/making-wine-in-beer-stuff#post-29698 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:42:05 +0000 jamesianbriggs 29698@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hello all,</p> <p>I have two 25l fermenters with airlocks, taps and little bottler etc. that I use for beer. I&#39;d like to try a wine kit so can anyone answer me a couple of questions:</p> <p>-Is it practical to make a six bottle kit in a 25l bucket or will I end up wasting loads of wine when siphoning stuff off sediment?<br /> -Will making wine in my beer stuff taint/stain it?</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>James </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/first-wine-kit-temperature-control#post-29953 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:35:20 +0000 nw 29953@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi All<br /> I am just about to start my first ever wine kit (it’s a Beaverdale 6 bottle Rioja). It says in the instructions that the ideal temperature to ferment at is 20 degrees C (I’ll be doing this in my garage using the Electrim 75 immersion heater). What I would like to know is when the fermentation stage is over and I rack it off to another vessel do I still need to keep it warm or can I just remove the heater? </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/sediment-issues#post-24422 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:57:31 +0000 reekmaster 24422@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>JUST DONE MY FIRST WHITE WINE KIT,AFTER BOTTLING AND LEAVING FOR A FEW WEEKS TO CHILL IVE NOTICED THERE IS A LAYER OF SEDIMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL THE BOTTLES , ANYONE ANY IDEAS HOW I CAN STOP THIS HAPPENING AGAIN .OTHER THAN THAT THE WINE IS REALLY CLEAR </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/when-do-you-rack-off-wine#post-6752 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:03:14 +0000 gazzauk66 6752@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>hi,im a newbie to wine making and im unsure when to rack off my youngs 1 gallon white wine.<br /> Its nearly fermented in a dj, should i add stabiliser,campden tablet and finings to the fermention vessel or should i wait to add these until the wine has been racked off into another dj?</p> <p>cheers for your help in advance,</p> <p>Gazza </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/how-to-make-sparkling-wine#post-20141 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:32:30 +0000 thurgie 20141@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>I was in my local homebrew shop and they were selling off 30 bottle white wine kits half price as the date on them was August 2011. Now as we don&#39;t drink much white we were thinking of trying to turn it in to sparkling wine for Christmas, but i have been given two different ways and was after a bit of clarification.</p> <p>Firstly, on the internet i found this:<br /> Produce your 6-gallon (23-L) wine kit (white or rosé) in the normal way up to the stabilizing and clearing day. Do not add the sulfite or sorbate (the stabilizers). This is very important because these packages contain enough sulfite and potassium sorbate to prevent the wine from carbonating properly.</p> <p>On the stabilizing and clearing day, dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of metabisulfite powder in 1/2 cup (125 mL) of cool water and add to the wine. This amount will prevent the wine from oxidising, but will not hamper yeast during bottle carbonation. Add the fining agents, following the kit instructions. Remember: Do not add the stabilizers!</p> <p>Wait 10 days. </p> <p>Observe your wine. When clear (you may need to wait an extra few days or a week), it is ready to be made into sparkling wine. Don’t bother filtering it as it will go cloudy again in the bottle during the refermentation process.</p> <p>Bottling<br /> Rack the wine from the carboy into a sanitized primary fermenter. Avoid disturbing the sediment. Make your tirage by dissolving 1-3/4 cups (325 mL) white table sugar in 2 cups (500 mL) boiling water. Stir thoroughly and gently into wine.</p> <p>Carefully rehydrate one package of champagne yeast (Lalvin EC-1118 is an excellent choice, but there are others), following these instructions exactly: Stir the yeast into 1/5 cup (50 mL) of water at 100 °F (40 °C). Leave it to stand for 10 minutes, then stir yeast thoroughly but gently into wine.</p> <p>Siphon your wine into the champagne bottles, leaving one inch (2.5 cm) of space at the top of the neck.<br /> If your champagne bottles accept crown caps, cap them now. Otherwise, insert plastic stoppers and wire them down using wire cages and a wire-twisting tool.</p> <p>Store bottles on their sides at 65–75 °F (19–23 °C) for two months to carbonate. (While traditional champagne secondary fermentations are conducted cooler than this, field results with kit wine show that this can produce inconsistent results.) </p> <p>My local homebrew shop, however, said not to add the metabisulfite or any additional yeast, just the sugar and there existing yeast should create the fizz.</p> <p>Any help would be much appreciated. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/suggest-a-blush#post-28501 Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:13:28 +0000 powertoolpete 28501@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>can anyone suggest a good blush wine, I have only seen 2 different ones, Zinfandel Blush and Chablis Blush, which is the best out of these and what is a good make of kit for this? (looking to start with a 6 bottle kit) Thanks Pete </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/steriliser-chaos#post-19195 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:36:31 +0000 rosebush 19195@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>HI all - I was just after a few sterilising tips......</p> <p>Last night while racking off 5 gallons of wine I managed to pop the lid of my fermenter off while swirling the steriliser around, which resulted in kitchen carnage! The lid leaks anyway with the weight of the liquid if it is not upright, so my other tactic of putting it on its side and rolling it around over the sink doesn&#39;t work either.</p> <p>I am reluctant to make a full 5 gallon quantity of steriliser up for the fermenter as this seems a waste of VWP and water - but does anyone have any tips on how I can sterilise thoroughly without throwing gallons of steriliser around my kitchen?!</p> <p>Also on a separate note, I sterilised the tap for the fermenter before fitting it, ran the steriliser through it when I emptied the fermenter - but does the tap stay sterile now until use? I don&#39;t want to run the wine through it if there is a chance it could contaminate it.</p> <p>Sorry if these seem daft q&#39;s! </p> <p>Thanks<br /> Rosebush </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/red-wine-not-bubbling#post-25870 Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:28:56 +0000 Barracuda 25870@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hey folks.</p> <p>I&#39;m making a Beaverdale 30 bottle Rioja kit. As instructed, I have racked into a second FV after 5-7 days (apparently this makes a better quality wine, removing the liquid from the initial sediment and continuing fermentation in another). The Wine was still bubbling/fermenting before I did this.</p> <p>However. Having airlocked the second FV (using vaseline on the cap also) and placed in my temp controller cupboard (20c), fermentation has not restarted/continued. Even after 20 hours.</p> <p>Should I be concerned, or patient?</p> <p>Thanks. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/carafe-21#post-2652 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:18:07 +0000 jharper 2652@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Testing photo uploads.</p> <p><a href="//s570.photobucket.com/albums/ss142/jharperooney/Homebrew/?action=view&amp;current=Bottled.jpg"></a> </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/wine-hasnt-cleares#post-19406 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:16:12 +0000 zoealderney 19406@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi.</p> <p>My California Connoisseur Sauvignon Blanc hasn&#39;t cleared and is still quite dark in colour and cloudy.</p> <p>Any suggestions? I stirred it loads to get rid of the Co2, and followed all the instructions (this is the second time I&#39;ve made this wine).</p> <p>Should I try clearing it again, buying more Finings?<br /> It tastes nice so is it ok to leave it as it is?</p> <p>Any help would be appreciated.</p> <p>Many Thanks<br /> Zoe </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/wine-primary-fermentation#post-24814 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:04:02 +0000 kilconlea 24814@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Guys<br /> Just taken delivery of my first wine kit (4.5 litre). I intended to use a 5 litre mineral water bottle as an FV (seen pics on here), drilled my bung hole and grommited but then had a thought, how mental does the yeast head go and will there be enough room for it?<br /> Only done beers before.<br /> Hopefully it&#39;ll be ok?? </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/screw-top#post-24328 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:42:05 +0000 hop2it 24328@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>im just about to bottle my nicely cleared wine in to blossom hill screw top bottles... is this going to be ok? or will they not seal right?</p> <p>any help greatly appreciated</p> <p>andy </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/1st-kit-finished#post-22875 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:06:14 +0000 cjjones 22875@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Well my first ever wine kit the solomon grundy cherry red 7 day was all done and bottled last night but never made 6 and i only got 5 and half bottles, my amounts are correct and only filled other bottles to just into the neck.<br /> Even though its has nice flavour I only added half the sugar before bottleing so it was not too sweet it does taste a little acidic in the mouth after swallowing, why is this ?</p> <p>Started another the same last night after cleaning everything and today that one is bubbling away like crazy as if I was blowing through the tube.<br /> its even bubbled up into the bubbler and I had to change it, should it be doing this ?<br /> Sorry for all the questions but very new and like to have as much info as possible.<br /> O yea 2 bottles gone already hehe hic </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/niagara-kits#post-23958 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:04:03 +0000 cjjones 23958@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi guys has anyone tried the Niagara black cherry Pinot noir ? Is it similar to Solomon Grundy cherry wine kit taste wise or more subtle ? </p> <p>Also to sweeten wine with youngs sweetener instead of sugar and how much would I use ? I&#39;ve used 125g of sugar in a gallon to sweeten a sg cherry kit which is half what it say add and is sweet enough. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/measuring-alcohol-levels#post-20994 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:02:41 +0000 keren 20994@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>hello, ok, i have the thermometer ...but how do i use it to measure the alchol level? I&#39;ve been using winebuddys brands and they say they are 11%, but i swear its more! (not bad thing, just want to know)thanks :&gt; </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/its-stopped-bubbling#post-21734 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:45:25 +0000 helenharris 21734@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi all,</p> <p>Sorry Im stuck on the very basics here, complete novice, i have a 6 bottle rose and a 6 bottle merlot on the go - first ones ever</p> <p>Both stopped bubbling by about day 4</p> <p>instructions said to leave it for 7 days so i just did as it said and have now transfered to second FV.</p> <p>Both are still not bubbling again though? Is it supposed too?? The temperatures are within the brackets suggested in the instructions, albeit at the higher end of the bracket.</p> <p>Have i done something wrong?</p> <p>As for hydrometer readings... I just dont get what im supposed to be looking at, but they are both within the red band at the top if thats any help? I think thats good right??? Maybe i should take the time to try and understand the thing in the next few days.</p> <p>Anyway, off topic there, so now its supposed to sit in this other FV for 12 days.... So whats it doing? Im not finding the instructions particularly informative. Im guessing the idea is to get it away from the sediment at the bottom?</p> <p>I have tasted both, they vaguely resemble wine... so i cant have gone too wrong could i? Am i obsessing over the bubbles? lol</p> <p>Hope i dont sound like too much of an idiot!</p> <p>Thanks</p> <p>Oh they are both California Connoisseur kits if that helps at all? </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/is-it-possible-to-age-wine-from-a-kit#post-20719 Sun, 09 Oct 2011 17:44:51 +0000 bobleeuk 20719@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi all,</p> <p>I am currently doing a wine kit that says it will only age up to 6 months in the bottle, but the bloke at my local brew shop says this kit will age easy up to 2 years, so i am very confused to say the least.<br /> The kit is a, merlot selection, they arent cheap kits so i was expecting to be able to leave them a lot longer than that, anyway my question is, does anyone know of anything i can do to age the wine successfuly, or has anybody just left there wine to age with success without doing anything, cheers all, Lee </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/new-to-wine-making#post-7408 Sat, 02 Oct 2010 17:48:24 +0000 beerlover1983 7408@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Only just did my first beer kit but its enough to convince the mrs we need to make wine.</p> <p>Couple questions re eqipment i have plenty of demijohns to hand and syphons and sterliser etc from the beer kit.</p> <p>Will i be ok with demijohns for a 6 bottle wine kit or do you still need a plastic fv like the ones you get in the basic wine kits. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/sodium-metabisulphite-as-a-cleaning-agent#post-19947 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:21:27 +0000 zoealderney 19947@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi </p> <p>I&#39;ve bought Young&#39;s Sodium Metabisulphite as an alternative cleaning agent. </p> <p>Does anyone know how many teaspoons per gallon of water I use? </p> <p>Do I have to rinse afterwards or leave to dry?</p> <p>and finally.... how long do I leave the equipment in the solution?</p> <p>Any help would be appreciated.</p> <p>Thanks<br /> Zoe </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/white-flecks-after-adding-finings#post-19729 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:20:00 +0000 rosebush 19729@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi I have a quick Q - I am making a CC Pinot Grigio kit and am at the final stage where I degassed over a couple of days and added the fining&#39;s - that was two days ago but I have noticed that there are tiny weeny white flecks on the surface, and in the must.</p> <p>Is this normal or does it mean my brew has been got at by nasties?</p> <p>I know it still needs 5/6 days to properly clear but I&#39;m not sure if I need to be adding anything extra to it.<br /> Been ages since I have done a 5 gallon kit but I don&#39;t remember this ever happening! </p> <p>Any advice much appreciated! </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/chardonnay-help#post-18992 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:18:35 +0000 Jo 18992@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Ok I have committed a sin- I forgot about a fermenting bin of chardonnay, and have returned to it a whole SIX weeks later than the kit says to! It smells fine - just like a good wine. But has about fifty to a hundred small white dots on the surface (mould?). Is it still safe to stabilise and then bottle or will the mould (if that is what it is) be dangerous?. The bin was left at room temperature sealed with an airlock. Your help will be appreciated. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/filtering-large-quantities-1#post-18948 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:02:48 +0000 rosebush 18948@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi there!</p> <p>I am a big fan of filtering my wines, and have always filtered a 5 gallon fermenter of wine into another 5 gallon fermenter, by balancing the filter on a home made perspex board with a hole cut in it for the filter outlet(Harris filter). I have just started making a batch of california Connoisseur Pinot Grigio, but noticed in the instructions that it says to avoid splashing the wine when racking off, to minimise the incorporation of oxygen.</p> <p>Does anyone know if effectively &quot;dropping the wine from a height&quot; through my filtering method will be oxidising the wine too much? Will it make much difference in the long term?</p> <p>Hope the description of my set up is clear enough! (oooh pun)</p> <p>Thanks to anyone who can offer me some advice</p> <p>Rosebush </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/alternative-to-bottling-wine#post-12668 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:00:29 +0000 Southpaw79 12668@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>I&#39;m considering making a 30 bottle Merlot wine kit, but wondered if there&#39;s an alternative to bottling. I make my beer by the barrel and wondered if anyone has tried putting their wine brew into three/five litre containers with a tap for pouring the odd glass. I often buy those 3 litre wine boxes, so it might work, any thoughts? </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/california-pinot-noir-oxidation#post-18916 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:31:58 +0000 wildgeeza 18916@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>I&#39;ve just finished up bottling a 6 bottle kit of the California Conn. Pinot Noir, and had a little sampler of some left overs. I just wanted to check as to if my efforts have been dashed at all, since the sampler glass had a very sharp-almost-vinegar taste to it.</p> <p>Knowing a vinegar-y taste would mean the wine is off and oxidized, I&#39;m hoping that someone might say that further conditioning in bottles is required and would smooth the taste, and what I sampled could be more due to some left over sediments - as the glass was the remnants after syphoning?</p> <p>My worry is with trying to be clever/resourceful/(cheap) and use my original beer brew kit (50-odd litre fermenter) as the primary fermenter, and a recovered demijohn as the swap bin, I&#39;ve over oxidized the wine during swap overs and conditioning because of the amount of extra air available in the oversized fermenter bin?</p> <p>I&#39;ll give the wine a week or two in the bottles, then sample again and let you all know, but any otehr thoughts and pointers appreciated. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/out-of-date-kit#post-16345 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 23:36:28 +0000 Mark 16345@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi there in the next few weeks i will be getting back into brewing after an 8 year absence.<br /> I was a novice before and still am.<br /> To ease my way back i wanted a reasonable kit and online came accross a Youngs Favourite Piesporter 30 bottle kit which was half price at £9.99 as it was out of date end May 2011. So i bought this and am now asking do you think it will make any difference being a month out date nearly?<br /> My reasoning start cheap to re - familiarize myself with the method of making rather than buy good quality kit and make a mistake through being out of touch </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/bottling-colours-for-pinot-noir#post-17354 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:44:33 +0000 wildgeeza 17354@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hey,</p> <p>This weekend will see the beginning of my 2nd brew beer kit, a St. Peters Golden after a Peter&#39;s Ruby, but after which I&#39;m going to try out a wine kit too.<br /> It&#39;ll be my first red/pinot noir wine kit and wanted to check people&#39;s views/thoughts and experience on the bottle colours.</p> <p>I&#39;ve read mixed reports that the green bottles are used because they restrict the amount of sunlight rays and stop it &#39;fuzzing&#39; and the taste changes and potentially spoiling. Is this really so?</p> <p>I&#39;m only starting with a 6 bottle kit, but I still wanted to make sure that I come out with something half decent. Thought I&#39;d ask asap, in case I need to go find some more bottles, since I have enough clear bottles, but not enough green.</p> <p>Thanks for any help in advance!<br /> Stu </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/new-to-wine-making-for-the-wife-1#post-15835 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:38:47 +0000 gareth brew 69 15835@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>hi all,</p> <p>the wife likes a rose wine,<br /> CaZinfandel Blush Rose Wine,<br /> the starter kit ive seen<br /> <a href="http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/brewuk-s-winemakers-equipment-starter-kit-6-bottle-1.html">wine kit click here</a></p> <p>has the wine she likes but can some one explain what the instructions are before i buy and whats the maturing time for wine is it the same as beer ie 6 - 8 weeks??? for good flavour</p> <p>thanks </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/mixing-juices-to-get-a-blend#post-15248 Sun, 15 May 2011 19:01:36 +0000 Miles 15248@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Just a quick question:</p> <p>I have nearly completed my first batch of Sauvignon Blanc California Connoisseur wine. So, naturally I was thing of what to do next.</p> <p>One of my favourite wines is a blend of Merlot and Pinot Noir. So, if I buy both of the kits (Pinot Noir and Merlot) and make two batches alongside each other, can I mix the two together? If so, do I mix them when setting up primary fermentation, or do I mix them once both have finished? Or even at some other stage?</p> <p>I don&#39;t know if anyone has tried this so any help much appreciated.</p> <p>Miles. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/basic-questions-sorry-from-a-complete-beginner-home-fermenting-not-drinking#post-14640 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:14:21 +0000 Miles 14640@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hello,</p> <p>Firstly my I apologise for the basicness (invented word) of these questions.</p> <p>OK, I started with a California Connoissuer Sauvignon Blanc kit. I sterilised all the kit and got it started last Thursday. Since then there is very little bubbling through the air-lock. The lid of my fermenter has bowed out and the liquid in the air lock has been pushed away from the fermenter, so obviously there is some gas forming, I guess it&#39;s carbon dioxide. Is this going to be a problem for me?</p> <p>Next, assuming that the bubbles problem is not going to be an issue, I&#39;ll need to take a couple of hydrometer readings to make sure that the specific gravity stays the same over a day or so. This will show that primary fermentation has finished. When I remove the lid of the fermenter to take a sample to make a hydrometer reading do I need to re-sterilise the lid before replacing it? I assume that there isn&#39;t a problem with the CO2 escaping as it is a waste product of the alcohol forming process.</p> <p>I will then need to syphon the mix away from the primary fermenter to leave the sediment behind. The syphon I have is just a plain old bit of tubing. Now, to syphon from one fermenter to the other I need to create a bit of a pressure difference. When I had an aquarium I used to do this by sucking on the tube for a second and the liquid would flow. If I do this with my wine, will this cause a sterilising problem. Can I wipe the syphon tube as the wine is coming through with a sterilised piece of cloth?</p> <p>Thanks for any replies, it is much appreciated.</p> <p>Sorry again that this is so basic.</p> <p>Miles. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/kit-required-and-gas-question#post-14796 Sun, 01 May 2011 09:32:31 +0000 Keenan.md 14796@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi<br /> Just about to start my first kit, 30 bottles in 7 days. I noticed I need something (A bung)! what is this and can you not just open the lid when in the fermentation process to release the gas? </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/cantina-5-day#post-15130 Fri, 13 May 2011 21:49:49 +0000 zoealderney 15130@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi.</p> <p>Has anyone tried the Cantina 5 day White wine kit?<br /> What&#39;s it like?</p> <p>Any info would be greatly appreciated.</p> <p>Many Thanks<br /> Zoe </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/fermenter-with-a-hole-in#post-14814 Sun, 01 May 2011 18:14:47 +0000 Miles 14814@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>I recently bought the &#39;Brew&#39;s Professional Winemakers Equipment Starter Kit 30 bottle&#39; along with a California Connoisseur wine kit.</p> <p>I set it all off about a week ago and it fermented away quite happily to itself.</p> <p>I was about the syphon my wine into the secondary fermenter when (as I was sterilising it) I noticed it has a very neat hole in it, on the side, near the bottom. This makes seterilising the fermenter quite difficult and, I imagine, syphoning the wine quite messy and wasteful.</p> <p>Should this fermenter have the hole, or was I sent the wrong one?</p> <p>Many thanks for any responses. I&#39;ve noticed that you guys are very quick and very helpful, so - thanks.</p> <p>Miles. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/problem-with-wine-kit-youngs-white-gooseberry#post-14769 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:11:50 +0000 ggwillym 14769@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi<br /> Fairly new to this wine homebrew lark. Have purchased various wine kits - apple, Elderberry, etc. No problesm smell really nice and bottled them.</p> <p>The problem I have is with the Goosberry white. I have followed the instructions to the letter and have reached the stage after adding the finings and stabiliser. That was two weeks ago and the bubbling has stopped but the demijohn still has not cleared. Any ideas anyone.. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/solomon-grundy-slow-no-starter#post-8917 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:38:02 +0000 69mal69 8917@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Please Help</p> <p>I am a new starter at the home wine making process, and I have just purchased the &#39; thriftyshopper bronze starter kit &#39; containing the Solomon Grundy wine.</p> <p>I have followed the instruction to the letter not knowing what to expect ! but reading other peoples notices, Solomon Grundy is a slow starter...... I am now on my 5th day and I have compression (as the bucket has swelled up) and the wine inside the bucket is fizzing a good un I have a constant temp of 20c ........ but sadly I have no bubbles in my air lock.</p> <p>Can you please let me know if this as it should be ?</p> <p>I fear I may be a little inpatient ! but I am keen for success.</p> <p>I will proceed to the letter of instruction and wait for the 7th - 10th day before proceeding.</p> <p>Thanks </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/my-niagara-mist-not-fermenting-o#post-14289 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:13:05 +0000 Jo 14289@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Can someone please give some advice? On Friday Afternoon (3 days ago) and carried out stage one of the Niagra Mist Peach Chardonnay kit. I took a hydrometer reading and novice as I am - fairly certain it hit the target of 1.050. the brew is in a fermenting bin with a bubble airlock fitted. The bin is a 25ltr one - I have 23ltr fluid. The temp in room is between 22 and 24 degrees, but just in case I wrap it in a blanket at night. However NO bubbles coming through airlock. The lid is on tight, and there is a slight bulge in lid (showing build up so perhaps some signs of fermentation?). My elderflower champagne sits right next to it and is happily bubbling away. Should I be worried? If so what can I do? </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/magnum-wine-instructions-opinion-needed#post-13589 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:53:25 +0000 sonsieboy 13589@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>I have a batch of Magnum 30 bottle rose wine on the go. It&#39;s the first big wine kit I have made and the start part is going fine, but reading ahead to the &quot;after fermentation&quot; bit, I&#39;m a little confused with the instructions. It says on page 5, (see link), Important: Do not rack off or try to remove CO2 before adding Finings B, having told you to do just that prior to step 6. <a href="http://www.hambletonbard.com/assets/docs/1-wine-kits/11290-magnum-instruction.pdf">null</a>. Is this a typo and should read after adding Finings B, etc. or am I missing the point. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/youngs-30-bottle-merlot-kit-7day-wine-buddy#post-8589 Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:31:51 +0000 Jack1uk1 8589@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>This is for Chas,</p> <p>It&#39;s a 7 day kit mate (picked it up in wilko&#39;s for £28 I think? £0.94 a bottle is a good price me thinks!)</p> <p>All you do is disolve 2 bags of sugar (4kg in total, I used Caster) in 5ltr of boiling water, pour in the juice and top up with 17.5ltr of cold water, add the yeast and leave for 6 days.</p> <p>Clear it on the 6th day with all the chemicals provided, leave 24hours, siphon and then bottle.</p> <p>The box says you can drink straight away or leave for 3 months for best results (but drink within a year)<br /> Bob&#39;s your Uncle, Fanny&#39;s your Aunt, 30 bottles of Merlot!</p> <p>This is only my second kit, the first one I bought (also Wilko&#39;s) was a 6 bottle Cabernet Sauvignon, which had all the basic equiptment in it too, (I must point out, all the Wilko&#39;s purchasing was before I discovered Brew UK, I&#39;ll get it all from here now!)</p> <p>Next one will be a 30 bottle Pinot Grigio (Cellar 7, also a Young&#39;s kit, available at Brew.UK)</p> <p>I&#39;ll put a photo of the kit up and the Merlot that&#39;s fermenting (as soon as I work out how to!)<br /> Quite excited, it&#39;ll be ready to bottle on Wednesday! (10/11/2010)<br /> Already printed my lables and whimsical blurb for the back, this batch is going to be gifted to my friends for Christmas this year! </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/secondary-fermentation-wiyh-showcase#post-12777 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:32:21 +0000 jonti007 12777@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>I have made several of Kenridge Showcase Kits and wonder about this part of the process. Initially you ferment for 9 days, then rack off and ferment for a further 14 days, this being the secondary fermentation. Now I have often found that fermentation can be complete in the 9 days and hydrometer readings confirm this. so what is the point of this process apart from a rack off and why for 14 days??<br /> I have in the past just allowed the fermentation to complete without racking and it has been sucessfull, but more with the whites than the reds. the reds clear much more slowly than the whites and filtering reds uses more filter papers.<br /> Does anyone else have similar expeirence and concerns<br /> Cheers </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/first-ever-wine-kit-brew-hydrometer-readingh#post-12639 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:05:17 +0000 IrishCol 12639@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hiya</p> <p>Just a wee query .. I have never ever brewed anything before except my cuppa so am completely new to this. I&#39;ve started with a Solomon Grundy Rose and its been fermenting for 6 days so I&#39;ve just taken my first hydrometer reading ... not really sure how it works but it gave me a reading just over 1000 which seems from what I can make out is correct for wine??</p> <p>Oh I feel so silly asking, but would this be right....things seem to look and smell fine at this stage??? &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/bb-plugins/default/icon_confused.gif&quot; title=&quot;:?&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/started-bubbling-again#post-11051 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:51:09 +0000 andyturner87 11051@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>i thought my wine had stopped fermenting so i added the stabilizer and the finings but its began to bubble regularly again is this normal or have i just done it too early and somehow made it kick up fermenting again?</p> <p>thanks </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/cellar-7-13-days-and-still-bubbling#post-10112 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:46:27 +0000 JohnC 10112@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>I have a Cellar 7 30 bottle wine kit fermenting since 07-Dec and the air lock is still bubbling once ever few minutes (after 13 days). The temprature is around 20C during the day but probably down to around 16C overnight during the last few cold days (it&#39;s on top of a small fridge which gives off a bit of warmth). Should I carry on waiting for it to stop or draw off a sample and check the SG?</p> <p>Any thoughts gratefully received,<br /> John. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/vin-brite-filter#post-3819 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:36:32 +0000 jharper 3819@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>The muscadet has been clearing for 1 week.</p> <p>This is difference between before and after passing through a vin brite filter pad this evening.</p> <p><img src="http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss142/jharperooney/SDC10338.jpg" /></p> <p>JH</p> <p>edit. Well you get the idea!! </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/wine-kit-help-airllock#post-8955 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:36:14 +0000 beerlover1983 8955@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Right i racked the wine off into second demijon tonight added stabiliser and finings it says to agitate at least 6 times over 24 hours then leave for 7-10 days to clear.</p> <p>During them days do i keep it under airlock or solid bung i obviously used a solid bung while shaking but do i then put airlock back and while its clearing ? </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/younds-6-bottle-chardonnay-advice#post-8742 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:38:23 +0000 beerlover1983 8742@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Right currently fermenting this kit in a demijohn need to do hydrometer to check its finished.</p> <p>But i got couple question having never done wine and the instructions being bit basic.</p> <p>Once fermentation is finished it says to add the stabaliser then the instructions say to add the wine finings to the container and agitate well at least 6 times in 24hours the more its agitated the quicker it will clear.</p> <p>Here come the questions </p> <p>1.How long from adding the stabaliser do i add the finings as the instructions read as if you add them straight after the other ?</p> <p>2.Do i not need to rack the wine before doing the above steps what happens to any yeast that had settled to bottom when i start doing all this agitation?</p> <p>3.Do i need to degass the wine? </p> <p>not read up much on this as after doing my wherry kit the mrs rushed out and got this and told me to get brewing lol </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/stir-or-sprinkle-yeast#post-7647 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:02:38 +0000 jammy 7647@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi, I&#39;m new to winemaking and have just got a 30 bottle starter kit.</p> <p>I&#39;m not sure when adding the yeast to stir or just sprinkle and leave on the top.</p> <p>Any advice much appreciated.</p> <p>Thanks, </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/recommended-rose-please#post-7382 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:15:41 +0000 Bitterntwisted 7382@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Can anyone recommend a Rose wine kit, simple preferred and NOT Solomun Grundy thanks!</p> <p>I don&#39;t drink the stuff so couldn&#39;t tell a decent rose from methylated spirits! I prefer Young&#39;s kits, but open to suggestions........... </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/beaverdale-california-white#post-6973 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:28:28 +0000 gazzauk66 6973@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>hi guys,<br /> just a quick question regarding the Beaverdale california white kit.<br /> Im going away for 2 weeks shortly, would it be advisable to start this kit just before i go away?<br /> ie/ will it be ok sitting in the fv for 2 weeks?</p> <p>cheers gazza.. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/solomon-grundy-slow-starter#post-6746 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:13:52 +0000 Bitterntwisted 6746@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Put two kits on yesterday, a Calfornia Reserve Marlot and a Solomon Grundy 5-day Rose for the missus. The Merlot is fermenting nicely after 12hours, the Grundy is yet to start.</p> <p>Do all the added chemicals in the cheaper Grundy kit have an effect? Anyone experienced these ones as they are new to me. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/stopper-or-air-lock-on-racked-wine#post-6753 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:09:46 +0000 gazzauk66 6753@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>hi again,<br /> when the wine has been racked into another dj do you still use an air lock or do you use a stopper,</p> <p>many thanks</p> <p>Gazza </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/whats-growing-on-my-wine#post-5605 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:35:18 +0000 JustStarting 5605@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Humm. So my current Cal Con wine kit (Merlot - finished secondary fermentation - waiting for me to do the next step) has some white speckles on top. It looks like something is growing.</p> <p>Is this yeast? Something more sinister? Should I be worried?</p> <p>I sterilised everything, but I guess there is always a possibility some bug got in and is growing?</p> <p>Any advise?</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>Neil </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/wine-kits#post-5062 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:55:56 +0000 sterling25 5062@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi</p> <p>I am new to this and have made a youngs 6 bottle kit and 40 pint Norfolk Nog both very nice, my question is I have just bought a 30 bottle Carafe 21 red wine kit and because it is a cheap kit was wondering if anyone has added extra grape juice or other ingredients.</p> <p>I had the idea of getting a 1 litre carton of red grape juice not from concentrate from Asda 0.97p and adding this to the kit when making it to give it some extra body or do you think it will ruin it.</p> <p>Any suggestions or help would be very welcome</p> <p>Thanks </p> <p>Steve </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/making-port#post-4209 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:32:18 +0000 JustStarting 4209@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Has anyone got any recommendations for a port kit, or for turning a kit red wine into a fortified wine? (Or failing that, any advice at all on making port?!?)</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>Neil </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/beaverdale-30-bottle-chablis-blush#post-3490 Tue, 18 May 2010 19:24:35 +0000 jharper 3490@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hello,</p> <p>Well, the wife loved the 6 bottle kit so am half way through the 30 bottle kit. It took 7 days to complete fermentation at approx 20-24C</p> <p>Now have 3 days to degass then the finings. I know pics are easier to explain. Note the atomizer - videne of course &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/bb-plugins/default/icon_wink.gif&quot; title=&quot;;-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> <p>The better bottle could not quite manage 23 litres so an additional 1 gal needed. Will send pics after clearing.</p> <p><img src="http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss142/jharperooney/IMAG0116.jpg" /></p> <p>JH </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/beaverdale-30-bottle-muscadet#post-3620 Fri, 21 May 2010 18:46:57 +0000 jharper 3620@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Just arrived. Will prep tomorrow. Adding as a new topic as each one is different. Am building up a library of wine kits and how they perform/rate for future reference. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/what-aspects-of-red-from-kits-improves-over-time#post-3066 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:24:12 +0000 JustStarting 3066@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi all,</p> <p>I&#39;m new-ish to this game. My wife bought me some wine kits for Christmas, and now I&#39;m hooked &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/bb-plugins/default/icon_wink.gif&quot; title=&quot;;-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> <p>Can I ask you knowledgeable types a few questions on red&#39;s - in particular how they improve with time? The kit says the wine will &quot;improve with age after bottling&quot;. Exactly what improves - the taste? the body? the aroma?</p> <p>I made a red - a shiraz - and it&#39;s drinkable but I&#39;d describe it as &quot;thin&quot;. The colour has little depth, and the taste - whilst not unpleasant - is very light. Will these aspects improve?</p> <p>Also, roughly what timescasles are we talking here? Will I see (taste!) an improvement in 1 month? 3 months? 6 months? 1 year?</p> <p>Thanks in advance,</p> <p>Neil. </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/my-wine-kits-seem-to-be-spoiling#post-2707 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:05:23 +0000 iwatts 2707@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>HI<br /> I am quite new to this - I have successfully done a few wine kits, but that is about it.</p> <p>I have just set three kits going at the same time - a Youngs Elderflower, a Youngs Elderberry, and a Beaverdale Merlot.</p> <p>I set them all going on Sunday afternoon, and by Sunday evening all three were bubbling well. However, the Beaverdale then bubbled up into the airlock. I haven&#39;t encountered this before, so I left it. However, the Beaverdale then stopped bubbling. I rinsed and sterilised the lock, added a bit more yeast, and left it - by Monday morning it was bubbling again and still seems to be going well.</p> <p>However, the Youngs Elderberry then did the same - bubbling into the airlock. It then also stopped bubbling. I did exactly the same again, but it will now only bubble very slowly (1 bubble through the lock every couple of minutes).</p> <p>I haven&#39;t overfilled the containers - I just don&#39;t know why this is happening.</p> <p>Can anyone help please</p> <p>Ian </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/when-to-syphon-during-finning#post-1188 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:33:14 +0000 Thud 1188@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>I&#39;ve been using the Beaverdale wine kits for a few months now and wandered whether it&#39;s better to follow the instructions to the letter or to syphon the wine before finning and after (ie: ferment, stabilise, syphon, finning, syphon, mature, bottle)? I found that syphoning before finning helped speed up the process with a solomon grundy 7 day red wine kit (although despite doing exactly what it said on the tin it took 2 weeks and didn&#39;t taste that great!) </p> <p>Thud </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/recomend-me-a-wine-kit#post-450 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:35:11 +0000 dandan 450@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>I want to make a wine kit or two (6 bottle kits) Some how I dont think my Pea Pod wine would go down well with a meal!</p> <p>Any recomendations on the kits to get??</p> <p>I want a dry white somthing like a Pouilly-Fumé and a light body red?</p> <p>Cheers </p> <p>Dan </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/sheratons-white-wine#post-237 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:10:25 +0000 Nath 237@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi all,</p> <p>So basically I have been given a 30 bottle wine kit by my neighbours and I have to ask some questions as the kit came with &quot;limited&quot; instructions!</p> <p>What temp do you ferment wine at? I have a standard yeast that came with the kit but want to know what temps are good for it.</p> <p>Im gonna have to buy 30 (yes thirty!) bottles to get this bad boy done so is there any tips people can give me to soften the process? </p> http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/topic/premium-versus-budget#post-148 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:35:19 +0000 brewbabe 148@http://www.brewuk.co.uk/forum/ <p>What would you all recommend as a first attempt at wine, a premium everything included kit or a cheaper add sugar one?</p> <p>Wouldn&#39;t want to have a bad experience first time round. </p>