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I've done this kit a couple of times. While a regular port is good, the Orange Chocolate and Chocolate Raspberry are better. So far, I haven't even fortified the regular version, preferring to drink it "straight". I've got a batch of Jack Keller's Blackberry Port aging right now, and I've been...

I've been thinking about doing some experimenting with a WE Port kit, and I was wondering if maybe it's something that someone else has already tried or not. Since the WE kit requires water at the beginning and chapitalization in the middle, I was thinking about using juice, specifically...

To answer your question and not tempt you, I've had a handful of kits for a year or so and have brewed them without problems. The common thing that I've heard is that at a certain point, the concentrate will start to oxidize, but so far I haven't found any of mine with that problem. As for...

I was looking for good suggestions about the hobby and I haven't really found anything that's stuck out as a "bible" like Papizan's "The Joy of Homebrewing" is to beer making. Is there anything like that for winemakers? I've been doing winemaking for several years and have a few dozen kits under...

I store my port on its side as well. I haven't noticed any floaters in any of the port kits(WE Speciale x1, RJ Spag Orange Chocolate x2, WE Choc. Rasp x1). I have noticed that when I used one set of the tasting T-corks, that I had a couple of leakers due to a burr on the rim of the bottle, which...

Going back to the speed thing, back in the old days before I started using my drill attachment, I did have a couple of batches of wine that were funny smelling, however it usually corresponded to a batch that wasn't fully degassed, with the funnier smells associated with the less degassed stuff...

For the IM kits, I think there's a double shot of K-Meta, so if you're sniffing from the carboy, you might be getting a whiff of that. Or it could be the exotic fruit and the white zin smell that needs a little mellowing. How quickly did you go through the fermenting process? I just started my...

I've been giving out about 25% of each batch. Some of my earlier batches have been more widely distributed, but that's more of a case of whether someone else has a barbeque party or if some friends from out of town visit. I'm working with a friend who's going to be giving away some of last...

I did the Feb 2006 Limited Edition Petite Sirah Zinfandel from Winexpert and really liked it. Between consumption and distribution, I'm down to my last 5 bottles. I'm going to try and recreate a similar blend using the Mosti Mondiale Alljiuce series, but my notes from the original batch don't...

I feel for you I lived in Japan for almost four years. It was fun while I was there, but it would take a LOT to get me back. I loved some of the stuff that goes on over there. I got the brewing bug after I came back to the US, but I liked the 1% ABV rule. It's only slightly stronger than...

Last year, I did one of the Amador County Petite Sirah Zinfandel LE kits from Winexpert, and I thought it was one of the best reds that I've made so far. However, I'm down to 5 bottles, and I was interested in trying to recreate this blend, and I was wondering if anyone has tried this yet...

I've made some kits from both series, but I haven't made any of the similar ones. So, for example, I can't say the Lodi Old Vines Zinfandel is better than the generic Zinfandel. I don't think you'll go wrong with either series. You do get a little more juice with the Estate series, but...

I went out and got one of the Fizz-X things, and despite making several batches of wine since, I've always just grabbed my spoon and stirred until my arm fell off, then switched arms. If you're not rushing your batches, and you're willing/able to stir for a couple of minutes at each racking...

Better Bottles After inheiriting glass, I switched to the Better Bottles. I'm sure this will be a long thread, and everyone has their sworn allegiances to either glass or plastic. If you read the BB website, there's nothing really bad that can be said, except price. If you go the cheap route...

Still needs some items but ... Grape and Granary has this kit. You still need a corker, but this does have pretty much everything else, all for less than $65.

I use this tool.

If smurfe's link is the one you have, good luck with it. I got one of those because I was tired of my regular bottling wand. After playing with it a bunch, I kinda got it to work, but it was slower and leaked/dribbled more than my wand, so I just went back to that. I do agree with Egham...

I'm with cpfan on the lazy part. My wines are about a 50/50 split with the generic stuff, and semi-custom labels. If I like the generic ones, that's what I'll use(but some are pretty stupid/ugly). If I go the semi-custom route, I use the 4th & Vine labels, picking something that goes with the...

Between the friend who got me started, and the stuff I've done solo, I've got a couple dozen kit wines under my belt. So far, I haven't filtered any of my wines. Unless you're in a rush to free up the equipment(or drink the wine), I've found that letting everything sit in the carboy after...

I got the same ones(probably got the same kit from ECKraus). When I bottled a port, I used them. They go in fine, no mallet needed. The only problem that I had was using the shrink capsules over the them. The capsule sat funny, and some shrank a little strange.