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Hi Everyone! Ok, I had a quick question. I had a gallon of Cherry Wine that had no body to it so I wanted to do something with it. I've seen assorted recipes for Chellos with wine bases, everclear, simple syrup. (There was an orange creamcicle recipe I saw w/ heavy cream in it but I don't have...

Since the summer season is upon us, I wanted to give everyone a heads up about their air locks. Don't forget to check them! I went and checked on my carboys today and saw that a few of them were a little low on water. (I used other stuff in the past in the airlocks but for the most part I use...

I was looking for fun, wine-related things to do in my area and found a bunch of wine festivals coming up in the next few months. I thought I'd share them here for anyone looking for fun stuff to do in the S-Eastern PA/S-Jersey/Delaware area. Cheers! Katie:b:db:b:db 2012 South Jersey Wine...

Hello, I had a question about making blackberry port. I recently started a batch of Wineexpert Blackberry port but I also had 2 gallons of Blackberry Wine that I started at the same time. I decided that since the kit was only 3 gallons that I would make the 2 gallons of Blackberry Wine into port...

Hi! Ok, I don't know how I lost them but they are gone... I can't find the instructions that came with my latest kit. I started a "Selection Speciale Blackberry Port" from Winexpert last week and I think I am supposed to do something to the kit tomorrow. Right now it's sitting in the primary...

Hello, I was wondering if anyone still uses melting wax for dipping the tops of their wine bottles before storing them away. I've used the heat-shrink plastic type ones and they are fairly easy to use. The melting wax seems like a pain in the butt. I was wondering if anyone still does this or if...

So, I just racked a red zinfandel kit into a clean carboy and had a great idea.. I hear a lot about people using the left over sludge/yeast from one wine and making SP out of it or other wines. I had 2 bottles of organic cranberry juice laying around so I figured why let a good yeast slurry go...

I was wondering... The directions for Sparklloid is to dissolve 1 tbsp in 1 cup boiling water and boil for 5 minutes, then add to 6 gallon batch of wine. What if I had a 1 gallon batch of wine I wanted to clear? Could I use 1/2 tsp of Sparklloid and 1/2 of a 1/3 measuring cup of water (that...

Hi again, I have a question about clearing agents. Does it matter which clearing agent I use? I have a kit that I am in the step where I am supposed to use Chitosan, which is derived from shell fish. I am making a Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel kit. I've read that usually people with shell fish...

I was just wondering, I finally got ink in my printer and I was going to print a few labels for some bottles I have aging. However, it's pretty tricky coming up with a name for my wine. Everyone here seems to find something unique to name their wine and they all have neat labels. Is it bad if I...

I thought this was an interesting way of presenting this information so I figured I would share. ~Kate

Tonight my wine helper and I broke out the wine kit that my husband got me for my birthday. It's a Selection Estate Series- Lodi Old Vines Zinfandel kit that won a silver metal. I'm excited to see how this is going to turn out! It's my second red kit that I've ever made. Has anyone else tried...

Ok, I realized I goofed after I did it but I added too much Kmeta when stabilizing a 6 gallon batch of Skeeter Pee today. Instead of 1 tsp of kmeta I accidently added 1 tablespoon. I stirred it in and just by the over sulphity smell I realized I goofed up. So what do I do? I was going to put the...

Hi, My batch of SP is finally done. I racked it into the primary bucket so that I can give it a good stir and add the kmeta and sorbate. I then transfered it back into the carboy and mixed up the batch of sparkloid and added it. After looking at it.. I'm thinking that there may be too much air...

Hi again, I was hoping for some opinions about this cherry wine that I have in the primary. I used this recipe that I found on your forum somewhere. Cherry Wine [Dry] (1) 4-5 lbs fresh or frozen sweet cherries 1-3/4 lbs finely granulated sugar 7-1/2 pts water 2 tsp...

Hi, I had a quick question about what to do with my latest SP batch. I started this batch last week with a slurry instead of adding new yeast. It took off and after a few days was ready to go into the carboy. Now that it's in the carboy it keeps bubbling up into the airlock and over the sides...

Hello, I know I saw this somewhere on this forum but I am unable to find the link now. Does anyone know off hand what the formula for bringing the SG up to the desired level? (How much more sugar I need to add to raise it a few points?) I currently am at 1.076 and want to have it in the...

Is it just me or is bottling wine the most dreaded part of the whole process? I just got done bottling 6 gallons of SP and between scrubbing old labels off recycled bottles, sanitizing, bottling, and corking, I am pooped! I have another 6 gallon carboy of SP that is ready to be bottled. I think...

I have a few batches of SP that all got done fermenting dry around the same time this week. This morning I added the sorbate, kmeta, and sparklloid to all 3 batches that I have. I have (2) 6-gal carboys and (1) 1-gal carboy. I mixed sparklloid up like it said- 1 tbsp per cup, let it boil for 5...

Hello, I think I am ready to add the last 3 ingredients to my first batch of Skeeter Pee. (K-meta, Sorbate, and sparkloid). I just realized that I don't have any sorbate on hand. Is it really needed? I really don't feel like making the 40 minute trek to the brew shop to pick up a bottle but if...