Cellar Craft Old wine kits, what should I replace?

[MissouriRhine]

Life comes at you fast and our 2 yr old coupled with a newborn put me on hiatus just as I was getting heavy into winemaking.

Soooo...now I have 4 old wine kits 2 white (Cellarcraft Showcase) 2 red (Spagnols RQ) that are anywhere from 18months to 28 months old from mfg date.

Am I hosed? I took the yeast out immediately when I purchased them in 2013 and it's been in the fridge. I'm going to try these regardless, spent too much $$$ not to.

What things should I replace from the kits as far as kit "ingredients" that are very likely bad?

I greatly appreciate any and all advice!

 

[richmke]

Replace the Yeast and K-Meta.

If you are going to backsweeten, then the K-Sorbate.

If you are going to clarify (vs time in carboy), then the Chitosan/Isinglass. I think the bentonite is stable, but that is cheap to replace too.

Actually, replace the juice too. Give it to me, and I'll dispose of it properly for you.

 

[vernsgal]

all the additives should have an expiry date stamped on pkgs. I wouldn't use the yeast if expired even if kept in fridge.It's not worth the headache if your ferment stalls. Definitely the sorbate if you're going to sweeten or you could get a few bottle bombs.

 

[MissouriRhine]

Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like my EC-1118 yeast are expired, my RC-212 expire 6/2015.

My whites are a Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, so no sweetening.

 

[cpfan]

all the additives should have an expiry date stamped on pkgs. I wouldn't use the yeast if expired even if kept in fridge.It's not worth the headache if your ferment stalls. Definitely the sorbate if you're going to sweeten or you could get a few bottle bombs.

I don't recall ever seeing an expiry date stamped on anything except the yeast.

Steve

 

[vernsgal]

I don't recall ever seeing an expiry date stamped on anything except the yeast.

Steve

Most of all RJS are stamped. They're hard to see, but they're there.

 

[cpfan]

Most of all RJS are stamped. They're hard to see, but they're there.

That's good news. I haven't made an RJS kit in quite a while. The local retailer didn't seem to like at-home wine makers (and the second closest didn't seem to like me). Fortunately, the local store has a new owner who likes to sell wine kits, if I ever get back into wine making.

Steve