Recent content by JakeSnow

Thanks for the advice everyone! Just checking my suspicion. As far as the crabapple wine, I am not sophisticated with testing a wide range of things. I followed a recipe similar to one posted by Wade on this board but for one gallon, then back sweetened it. Crabapple taste different than...

Hello all. I'm used to making wine kits, but have made a crabapple wine before from fruit. My neighbor gave me 12 lbs of black plums last summer and just found them in the freezer and decided to make wine from them. Started them in the primary on 2/11 and added yeast on 2/12. It's been...

to increase the alcohol you can do one of two things. 1.) You can add part of the F-pac upfront with sugar to get the specific gravity to 1.085 (I think that's correct, search the forums to be certain). However beware, the F-pac contains sorbate and other preservatives which may slow...

The Selection Original will be similar to the Sutter Homes and Berringer White Merlot. Like others have said, if you want to drink it this summer do a mist kit. I like sweet but not overly sweet wines and I found that 3/4 of the F-Pac keeps it flavorful with fruit and sweetness but not over the...

wow!! I'm curious if you know what the SG reading was when he pitched the yeast. I might guess that the yeast may die off before the alcohol gets too high, but I'd see what the experts would suggest.

I did the cab/merlot blend before. It wasn't anything to write home about. I've heard the flavors of the trinity blend are good, but it can be a bit thin. I'd save up and buy a higher end kit, or an international selection. If you like blends, I'd look at the Luna Rosa. I did the Mezza Luna...

I wanted to try the watermelon one like you. I just looked at the RJS website and they did away with the watermelon! Looks like they are now following suit of WE and doing Mocktail kits (Mojito, Cosmo, Pina Colada) which are all very easy cocktails to make yourself and are far less work than...

The ones I have made tend to taste better after ageing for at least a month, but are still enjoyable straight out of the carboy. I had some WE Island Mist wines that didn't taste quite as crisp and bright after 1.5 years. Maybe it just depends on white or red kit and the artificial flavor?

I've had a 95% torrontes and 5% pinot grigio wine blend before and it is amazing, especially with a squeeze of lime. That's a common drink in Argentina. I asked WE if they had a torrontes kit and their response was: "Thank you for your interest in our products. We did offer this one as a...

This is a common question. I think it might be helpful if one of "the experienced" made a youtube video on degassing with a drill and post it in the tutorial section. It would be nice to see stir speed and techniques to tell when you're done. One Island mist kit I didn't stir enough and you...

the brew people at my old brew shop in Alaska would ferment these kits following the instructions, then keg them in small pony kegs. They turned out amazing. Please let me know how the cherry pinot turns out, I almost bought that one but I got he cranberry chianti instead which I will bottle...

I was just reading the instructions and notice they are quite different. I am supposed to leave it in the primary for 14 days for step 1?!

Just got my Cranberry Chianti and Super Tuscan yesterday. My first RJ Spangols! I've made 2 WE Island Mist kits before. I am going to add some sugar upfront with this kit. It's been awhile, what is the specific gravity I should shoot for? 1.08? I think I added about 6# (or 6 cups?) of sugar...

OK thanks. I had a gut feeling to pass on it. I don't think they have a high turn over on wine kits. Mostly beer. I'll ask them to order some other ones. I've made only WinExpert so I'm eager to try RJSpangols.

There is an Italian Super Tuscan and Valpolicella Cellar Classic Winery Series at my local brew shop with the code: 20090521D. Do you guys think that this kit is too old? I have always wondered what the shelf life is for the wine skin grape pack and the actual juice concentrate. Maybe it's...