swalker:
Instructions vary from company to company, and even from brand to brand. It is always best, as a beginner, to follow the instructions. In this case I would say wait till the 14 days are up, and test the sg. I would expect it to be about .995 for that kit.
You can then bottle after a further 14 days. Personally I would probably rack off sediment after 14 days, and wait a while longer. A month? Sure. BTW, my experience with Grand Cru whites (mostly Chamblaise rather than Chardonnay) is that they set a LOT of sediment.
Your reading indicates racking out of primary when the sg is between 1.010 and 1.020. You are correct, there are a lot of places that recommend that. However, I think that every time I have racked to carboy at 1.010, the wine has started fermenting more vigourously and wine has come into and perhaps out of the air lock. Not too bad if it's a white, but probably very annoying if a red. Personally, I do not take out of primary until the sg is below 1.005. The Vineco kits that I like to make are usually below 1.000 after 7-8 days of primary at the temperatures that I like. That's perfect for my habits.
As an example, here are the timelines for the last kit that I bottled..
16 Nov started - temperature a bit cool for my liking (problem fixed about a week later)
24 Nov sg 1.010 - wine stirred
28 Nov sg .994 - wine to carboy
16 Dec sg .992 - wine racked to another carboy, additives added, wine degassed
24 Jan wine racked off sediment to another carboy
9 Feb wine filtered into a carboy
10 Feb wine bottled
That's almost three months start to bottling of a four week Ken Ridge Classic Merlot. Now it will sit at least a month before we start drinking it. Oh, and I should say that this was intended to be an early drinker, at least by my standards.
Steve
