Recent content by chrislea

Thank-You for your expert advice Interesting aspects of barrel aging that I was unaware. Very helpful and even more encouraging! Thank You all! Regards C.

Happy New Year! So, I have been busy last year and have 3, 6 gallon kits ready (bulk aging in carboy) for oak barrel (5 gal. barrel) aging and one in the barrel right now (barreled yesterday). I'm planning on 2 to 3 weeks duration for the barrel's first aging. Questions: I am looking...

Thank-You I miss spoke..it is a 5.0 Gal oak barrel.....So you recommend adding oak to the primary...if different species than America oak (new barrel is American Oak)....this is intriguing...and I very much appreciate you sharing your expertise!

I am looking for specfic instructions (based on your opinions) on how long to "oak" the WE "LODI RANCH 11 CABERNET SAUVIGNON" kit in a brand new 7.5 Gal. medium-toasted oak barrel. Specfic questions: 1. Should I include any of the "oak-packages" in the primary fermentation phase? 2...

Thank-You and another question(s) Thank-You for your advice and encouragement! If I'm able to get the Winexpert Nero D'Avola kit, how would you recommend the oak cask aging...i.e. what step?, bulk aging?, for how long?, how much to hold in reserve to account for oak cask absorbtion?, any...

New to wine making...working on third 6 gal batch; 1 Vineco and 2 Winexpert kits. All has gone well so far and am gaining confidence. Just bought a med toasted 5 gal American Oak cask. Looking for recommendations for my next wine-kit to take advantage of the cask. Specfics welcome and the...