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I'm using natural corks. I've been sanitizing the corks in a sealed zip-loc bag with an open bottle of k-meta in the bag for 1-hr or so before bottling. I store the wine on it's side in a wine rack in the basement. I've only been making wine since last fall, so nothing is more than 6-month...

I started my second batch of Island Mist Blackberry Cabernet about three weeks ago. I wanted to up the alcohol a bit and added 7-cups dissolved sugar with a SG of 1.078. Today I took a gravity reading and it was below .990 - I haven't seen that before :< Overall everything looks, tastes and...

Has anyone tried this yet? It's from the Winexpert Selection International Series. It looks like they also have another kit with the same name under the Value Series. Both are Gold Medal Winners. This may be my next batch...

About how long does it take to ferment dry, for fermentation to complete? I started my pee on 3/13 (SG 1.070) added lees 3/15, remaining indredents 3/17 (SG 1.054) and racked 3/19. I have the carboy in a water bath at about 70F. I have not taken another reading yet, as the air-loc is still...

We inherited an old oak wine barrel that once had wine in it sometime in the 1960's. A few years ago it was stored full of water. I can only imagine since that time, the water has slowly evaporated leaving mold growing as it receded... Is there a way to clean it so it can be used again, if...

Hi! I'm making my first Orchard Breezin' Mist kit and noticed in the Bottling & Corking section it recommends that you filter the wine prior to bottling as it contains residual sugar and filtering will significantly reduce the probability of renewed fermentation. I kind of thought adding the...

Hi - anyone reading the forums on Super Bowl Sunday?! I'm making the Winexpert Selection Italian Sangiovese and I think I missed a step. During step 3, I added the packages labeled #2 (metabisulphite) and #3 (sorbate) as directed. The instructions then when on to; IF YOUR KIT CAME WITH A...

Just did my first bottling today, Island Mist Blackberry Cabernet. Overall I'm kind of disappointed, I know the mist kits are a light wine, but for some reason I was expecting more... All in all, it's fine, it has a nice flavor, sweetness, it's just so 'light', not much body to it... Any chance...

My first batch may soon be reading for bottling; I have an Island Mist kit (Blackberry Cabernet) and I was wondering if it was recommended to age any longer in the carboy than the kit recommends. I'm not in a hurry to bottle, excited at the prospect yes, but I can wait if it will benefit...

Last night my darling husband was helping me siphon the Blackberry Cab out of the primary when I said, 'now that it's empty we get to start another one!' much to my surprise his suggestion was beer! Now I like beer, don't get me wrong, but I've been focusing all my attention on learning about...

...working on a label design, I'm thinking the color blocks will change with each different wine and our initials block always remaining the same... (taking a picture of the computer screen really doesn't do it justice, but I think you get the idea ;)

...just peeked at my peach wine and it looks like it's fermentating again after adding the f-pak, it's releasing an air bubble through the airlock about once every 8-9 seconds and there's a layer of something (foam?) on top... is this considered renewed fermentation? and if it is, now what...

I'm making a fruit wine, after transfering to secondary, what comes next; Degas Add K-Meta Add Sorbate Add F-Pac Add Clearing Agent Rack Rack Back Sweeten Bottle How often do I add K-Meta, everytime I rack, everyother time? After I get the order right, are some of these done at...

When I initally purchased my supplies, I bought Super Kleen (liquid) but now see it is for 5-6 gal and I’m only making 1-gal so I guess I need to pick something else up… Any suggestions for a fruit wine? Thanks! Linda

Is there such a thing as too much patience? I'm following Jack Kellar's Peach and Grape Wine. Today is day 10, time to siphon off sediments into secondary and fit airlock. Before doing so, I took a SG and a PH teststrip reading. Not knowing if I should stir before taking the readings or...

o.k, so I'm trying to educate myself to some extent to get a better understanding of what I'm doing however, at times it seems the more I read, the more confused I am... I'm attempting to follow Jack Kellar's recipe for Peach and Grape Wine and the recipe says after 10 days in the primary...

So I bought some supplies to get started with my first batch of fruit wine and I purchased PH Test Strips (2.8 - 4.4). I thought the test strips were to measure the acidity? I'm now seeing more discussions about acid levels and they're a different scale... do I need an acid test kit as well or...

Nobody told me about the fruit flies that come with winemaking... :slp I've attempted to set a trap with some vingar and a few drops of dishsoap in a covered glass with a few small holes in the top... does this really work? Have you encountered this before? What do you do? ACK...

I'm using the recipe from the Jack Keller Winemaking site (below); So far so good, however I do have a question... during the time the must is in the primary and covered, what am I covering it with... do I use the lid that came with the container and the larger airlock? Peach and Grape Wine...

Hi! My name is Linda and I live in the metro Detroit area. The closest I've come to wine making is consuming it :D After enjoying other vintners wines, I've convinced myself I can do this too! I'm currently in the process of amassing my equipment and hope to actually get started early...