Hi Steve,
The kits I have are:
Port: Selection Limited Edition 2008 Chocolate Raspberry Port:
This is why I think I botched this kit:
From what I've read lurking on forums, I was going to follow the directions to the letter. My wife, meanwhile, looked online and saw that there was an updated version of the directions. This new direction had me add a 1/2 GALLON of water for the initial packets (1 & 2, I forget what was in them right now) and then add the juice. I did so without much thought, but then realized that I was FAR over the 3 gallon mark that the kit was supposed to make. When I re-read the directions that came with the kit, it said to use 1/2 a CUP of water. Sure enough, when I took a gravity reading it was way too low. Now, foolishly panicking, I fell back on my brewing knowledge and tried to think of a good way to add fermentables to get it up to the right SG. I used turbanado (sp?) sugar to get it closer, but it was still too low. I pitched anyway. Then, when it was time to add the included pack of corn suger in a later stage, I upped it with some more of my own to make up for more of the lost sweetness. When the fermentation finally stopped, it was now much higher than the instructions said it should be.
In hindsight, I should have just let it go as it was and hoped for the best. I think my meddling probably made things worse. Either way, it is at bottling stage now, so I'm just going to bottle it and see how it turns out.
Riesling: Selection Estate Washington Columbia Valley Riesling:
I am going to start the primary fermentation for this kit this weekend. I am going to follow the instructions and not attempt to "save" the wine if I make any more mistakes along the way.
