Recent content by Cellar_Dweller

Winemaking Talk - Winemaking Forum

Help Support Winemaking Talk - Winemaking Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
  1. C

    5 gal wood barrel recommendation?

    Anyone know if Vadai in CA is still in business? They used to sell a whole range of Hungarian oak barrels. I've had very good luck with them. Greg
  2. C

    Other white wine kits poll

    One of the first wines I made, like 25 years ago, was a Chardonnay/Semillion blend. It was very good and is a blend that I'd like to see. Roussanne is another that didn't make the list.
  3. C

    Wine bottle shortage?

    Like a lot of you, I'm into recycling/reuse. I reuse my own bottles (triple rinse, drain and dry), and delabel certain commercial wines that we buy. The best way I've found to delabel is using heat. After my wife is finished with baking in the oven, and it cools to about 300 deg. F, I will...
  4. C

    Santa Barbera wineries- Need advice

    One of my favorite varietals is Pinot Noir, and though I've tried, I can't make one that I really enjoy from a kit. Some have been drinkable, but not very complex. So, I spent a lot of money trying find "affordable" commercial pinots that measured up. Only found a few. Then we traveled to...
  5. C

    New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Atmosphere or Eclipse?

    It may be a bit early, but does anyone have a comment about the LE18 Fume Blanc versus the Eclipse S.B.? How do they compare? My Fume Blanc is just finishing clearing and I am a bit underwhelmed. I've added a small amount of oak cubes and may add some acid blend down the road.
  6. C

    Petit Verdot

    I thought the same thing, and scoured the universe last fall until I found one. It is in bulk aging now. However, I noticed that S.H. in Florida has them listed again! It is the Australian P.V.--International Selection from Wine Expert. I had to abbreviate the name, as to mention it is...
  7. C

    winexpert eclipse australia

    I don't know if it is the same here as there, but many LHBS shops here do not carry the higher end kits (ie Eclipse), but they will order one for you with their next shipment (saves on shipping charges). I would contact both the west and east coast shops, and see if they can order for you...
  8. C

    winexpert eclipse australia

    'Not an Aussie, but couldn't believe that there weren't any outlets for WE kits down under. So, I pulled up the WE website and they show stores from Taz to Townsville on the east coast. Only one in the west, so I hope you aren't out there. Take a look.
  9. C

    WineXpert Selection Luna Bianca

    I've noticed Chardonnays (and other whites for that matter) getting a touch sweeter over time too. The sweetness hasn't faded with more aging, unfortunately. No explanation.
  10. C

    Vadai Barrels

    They have answered my email request, stating that they will get back with me on Monday. It would appear that maybe they were out this week? I think I read somewhere that their daughter is taking over the business, so hopefully, all is well. I really like their barrels.
  11. C

    WineXpert Australian Petite Verdot

    Jumby, I guess you realized that Walmart lied to us. There was no inventory, and they cancelled my order. So I started a thorough search and found, what I think is the last Petit Verdot kit in the country. 'Just got it yesterday, so I'm really anxious to see how it comes out. Any...
  12. C

    Other Oak Additions - Need to Boil?

    I've never been overly concerned with the oak that I add, but if I was, I think that I would spritz with vodka or Everclear, and allow it to evaporate for half an hour before adding to the wine. I agree that boiling the oak would extract too much of what you are trying to add. Naturally...
  13. C

    Other What's the longest you can age a kit wine?

    I made 3 kits of Merlot for my daughters wedding about 10 years ago. I think that it was Cellar Craft, and it had a skins pack, which wasn't that common at the time. I only had about 8 months to age it before the bells rang, and it turned out pretty good, but nothing special. Like a decent...
  14. C

    WineXpert Australian Petite Verdot

    Oh POOOOOH! I just got a bottle of Petit Verdot from a wine club in the Santa Ynes valley, and it is wonderful. I told myself that I would have to make a kit. Then I saw your message, so I did a quick search, and sure enough of my regular sources, and I couldn't find one. A little more...
  15. C

    WineXpert Selection Luna Bianca

    Thanks guys for your reassurances that this "fakey" taste with go away. I'm a little leery of kits that come with an F'pak now though. Greg
Back
Top