Recent content by Vinman

And what if the little bottle IS gassy? If that's the case, i'm wondering what to do.

I just tried to begin bottling my first kit (Vintners Reserve Cab) and when i put the siphon in, a bunch of bubbles rose to the top of the carboy. Seemed to me to be more than normal, though I don't know for sure. I put the airlock and bung back on and ran to this forum. I have a whip...

It seems the more I read on this forum, the more confused I get! Lots of different products are mentioned, so it's tough to keep things straight. Last night I racked an Old Vines Zin and used K-meta (3tbsp per gallon) as the sanitizer and it stinks (as in smells bad). I've also used One...

One Step I do have one step, which is what i've just started doing my sanitizing with. Should i soak the bottles (as suggested above) in One Step and will that serve as cleaning and sanitizing the bottles?

Still stumped So, I'm still confused as to how i should prep the corks. I've read in a couple places that using a floor corker means you don't have to do anything, but I want to do what's right. Help!!!

The bottles i plan on using to bottle my first batch are all used. They've been washed out with hot water, but have never been washed with soap of any kind. My gameplan is to "sanitize" them in the dishwasher (without using soap). Then I'll sanitize the bottles just before bottling. Am...

Corks Prep I'm using a brand new Portuguese floor corker

My first kit (Vinter's Reserve Cab) is due to be bottled tomorrow and I'm wondering how to prepare the corks.

I'm scheduled to bottle my first kit (Vintners Reserve Cab) on Jan 4th and i'm wondering how long i should keep the newly filled bottles upright. The instructions say 3 days, but I was told at the local wine making store that they should stand for a couple of months. Based upon the vast...

At this point, I seem to have decided on the Cru Select Platinum Amarone. I don't remember reading that the kit contains grape skins and i'm wondering if that'll ultimately matter to the taste and body of the finished product. OR, should i go with the Cellar Craft Amarone? decisions, decisions..

I'm getting ready to purchase my 3rd red wine kit. I'd like to make either Amarone or Montepulciano wine. I'm looking for suggestions as to which kit brands people have used and would feel comfortable recommending. Thanks very much!

Just topped off Thanks for all of the replies! I just topped off my cab with 3 750's, which frustrates me to no end. That's an extra $45 to top off my 6 gallon carboy! Any potential ways to ensure i don't need so much wine next time? I know 3 750's sounds like a lot, but there was a...

Just racked into a clean carboy Just racked the cab and there's a bunch of space between the bung and top of the wine. What should I do? This is the second racking and the third vessel the wine has been in.

I just racked my cab from the seconday fermenter into another 6 gallon carboy. Due to the sentiment that was in the secondary fermenter, there's a lot of space between the bung and the top of the wine. Should i top off and if so, with what???

I'm about to bottle my first kit. The wine has been in the secondary fermenter (glass carboy) for 15 days and is crystal clear. The kit says to bottle after 14 days if the wine's clear. Is there a general rule of thumb, people use to go from the secondary fermenter, into a bottle? Thanks...