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Those are the only kits my local store sells. I have made 3 of them successfully so far, and this was to be my last one before I started trying to put the ingredients together myself. I recently started reading about doing yeast starters, but the instructions provided have never mentioned...

A week ago today I started a Better Beer 'Witbier' kit. At the time, The wort ended up measuring slightly below two gallons and the SG was 1.035. The instructions said that it should be between 1.044 - 1.050. I did not see any bubbling all week, and today I opened the lid to see that nothing...

Masta I know you told me that I could add the k-meta and oak at the same time, which I am going to do tonight. When you add the k-meta do you just measure and drop in or dissolve it first then add the slurry? Do I stir the wine at all after adding the k-meta or just let it disperse?

masta, I have heard that the wine can foam when adding oak and was told to remove some before adding the oak to the wine. I'm not sure how much to remove but I was planning on about taking 750 ml. Then add it back to the carboy after 24 hours or so. Have you ever heard of this?

Lodi I think that is cool that you live so close to Jessie Groves. I just went and bought another three bottles of the Earth, zin and fire. Where is Lodi in relation to NAPA, is it fairly close by? I might have to stop into the winery next time I'm in NAPA. Masta thanks for the information...

Aging question. According to my wine kit directions I should be bottling my zin now which is ~ day 42, however, I want to add oak which has not arrived yet. I believe the oak should be in this week-end. I also plan to age my wine for a year, of course only a month or so with the oak. When...

I just tried a bottle of zin called "Earth, Zin and Fire" from Jessie Groves vineyard. ~ 13 dollars a bottle, a very nice wine. Sobon Estates has a very nice Primatovo for about 25 bucks. Also if you ever get the chance try any wines from Titus vineyards. They are a bit pricey but off the hook...

Yes I do have wine thief. If I taste from the carboy do I have to top off. I didn't realize the tannin aspect of the bulk aging vs bottle, so in that case I will most likely bulk age for more than 6 months. I better order more carboys!!!!

If you want more oak then age for a few months in the carboy with the chips. I'm going to age my zin for several months with oak then remove and bottle. I have been told there is no difference in aging in carboy vs bottles, although in bottles its easier to sample. When I bottle I'm...

When I degassed I stirred it initially for 5 minutes, waited 15 then stirred another 5 minutes. I don't know if that was enough or not. I have no action in the airlock so I guess I'm okay. My kit says to bottle on day 42 but I'm waiting a few more months. I'm still waitning for my oak...

Harris I just started the stabalizing and clearing on Sunday. SG was about .992 for a Cellar Classic zin. I sure hope it improves with time though

What is the current SG? I believe you need to know this before you calculate. The equation is starting SG - Ending SG * 131.

Hey Jim, 3 to 5 years is pretty wild for a home kit. Somehow I think we will all be here reviewing our crushendo successes. If not at least we'll be enjoying or crushendo successes. I'm gonna look up the article now and do a little lite reading. Thanks Jim and enjoy your wine.

Delaware is kinda of a strange bird. The laws are strict for shipping wine into the state. Some wineries do it but most won't. V. Sattui that was one I didn't get to. I belong to Goosecross cellars and love their wine.

I live on the East Coast in Delaware. We do not have many wineries in this neck of the woods, at least none that suite my taste.

I live in north Delaware and have a beach place in Bethany Beach Delaware. aobut two hours south. Since our winters are a lot milder then yours we do go to our beach place in the winter time. Not quite as nice but the crowds are a lot thinner. My wife and I want to take an extended...

Thanks for the tips. My taste busd certainly enjoy the 20+ bottles and you are right Napa has some expensive stuff. Since I can't afford to drink the 20+ everyday I have been trying stuff under 10. I have found some that aren't bad, but boy I sure do like the 20 - 50 bottles. I went...

I'll do that but I plan on aging a long time. I have some american med. oak ordered that I will put in for a few months. I'm just starting to get into the Wash. Wines. Moving up the coast from Napa. I have a few bottles from chateau st. michelle that have been very good. can you...

hosted that's hilarious!! Welcome EastCoast and where on east coast are u from?

I'm new to this as well. Smurfe, first I loved your tutorial. 2) I also DO NOT have to go to the bottom with my wine thief. MHarris, I was faced with the same question of quality when I started. I just racked to secondary 3 days ago. I decided to pony up a few extra bucks and purchase...