The kit manufacturer has created a product that is balanced when reconstituted to 6 gallons. They guarantee their product and deviating from the instructions may be at your own risk. If it is more body you seek, I suggest the Estate line of kits. With these, you can get the body and the balance. For the new kit maker, follow the instructions. You should understand the process and your goals before you begin to alter the instructions.
<?
amespace prefix = o ns = "urn
chemas-microsoft-com
ffice
ffice" />
With that being said, I can see that there may be some improvement to body by reconstituting to 5.5 gallons. Have you had a chance to make the same kit, one to 6 gallons the other to 5.5 gallons and compare the results?
Some thoughts:
The reduced volume will have a corresponding increase in the sugar content. The yeast provided with the kit should handle this without a problem. However, the hydrometer should be consulted to ensure you are still within the range for a table wine. The additional sugar will result in about a 1% to 1.5%increase in the alcohol content.
The reduced volume will also increase your acid concentration about 0.5 parts per thousand (0.005%). This increase will give your wine a slightly more tart taste. There will also be about a 10% increase in the tannin concentration, which increases the perception of dryness.
I am also curious about the procedure. When the wine is transferred from primary to secondary, is a 6-gallon carboy used? If it is, how is the headspace managed after stabilizing and fining? Do you immediately rack to a 5-gallon and some smaller bottles?
For anyone thinking about trying this, first make the kit to 6 gallons according to instructions. Then make the same kit to 5.5 gallons. Compare the two to see if there is a noticeable difference. Make sure it is the procedure and not a different kit that has accounted for the difference. I would definitely not try this with a kit containing an F-pack since these are balanced for 6 gallons. Personally, I believe the solution to lack of body is a kit with more juice and less concentrate.
For those that may be thinking if making the kit to 5.5 gallons improves it, would 5 gallons be better? At 5 gallons the alcohol increases by 3%, the acid concentration by 1 part per thousand (0.01%) and the tannins by 20%. A wine like this takes a long time to age and may never mellow into a drinkable wine.
It is your kit to do with as you wish. When you alter the instructions, there are no guarantees. I believe a tweak here and there, in pursuit of the perfect wine, is what winemaking is all about. However, it is essential that the winemaker know why he is tweaking the kit and the desired outcome.