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I use the spoon to trap the bag with skins under the surface using the lid to hold it down. Will need something on the lid to hold it down as the bag will push upward a bit. I still stir twice a day as well.

Fine vine wines

Great looking label.

I usually use 375's with a few in 750's for larger events.

Cellar Craft Showcase Collection Red Mountain Cab, Rosso Fortissimo, and Zin. Bit too early to know but at bottling my RJS EP Amarone seemed great. In my opinion it has to have skins.

First time I have seen a caution about carrying full carboy with the handle. Is this an issue? I do it all the time but don't want a neck to break off.

I made this kit and added 1 med toast French oak spiral during secondary. Also fortified with VSOP. Ended up with a noticeable vanilla tone. It's is a very nice kit.

I find that a brew belt will get the primary a bit warm so use door stop or wooden wedges to get some separation of the belt from the bucket. You'll have to adjust daily a bit to control the temp but this seems to work well for me. I use 3-5 wedges letting the belt contact the primary between...

Dave, totally agree that this is a great wine. We recently did a family tasting of this vs a red mountain cab. Both 19 months old. The Rosso was everyone's favorite.

I added brandy at bottling using Pearsons square calculation to hit 20% target. I would recommend using calculation instead of guessing. If I had bulk aged longer I would have considered adding earlier. I made 2 kits together so never had room in my 6 gal carboy for the brandy.

I fortified to 20% ABV.

Also expect this kit to ferment slower than others you have made. The last time I made this one it took over 3 weeks to end fermentation. Be patient with it. Once I got it in carbon for secondary it bubbled along very slowly. I have made it both ways and prefer it with brandy. It won't be as...

No I have not made the WE kit.

Derunner, I made both of these kits 2 1/2 years ago. Based on the description of taste preference I suggest the CC Showcase OVZ. I find it to be more fruit forward and less tannins. Slightly lower ABV also. I found it to take 2 years for these to hit their stride and at 2 1/2 are getting pretty...

Does this kit use wet grape pack or dried skins? I ask because other kits I have made with dried skins the SG didn't change after addition.

I have done this kit both ways. First time I followed instructions. Turned out great and is basically drinkable at bottling. Second time I wanted higher alcohol so fortified with brandy to 20%. I prefer it this way but the brandy does take away some of the chocolate and raspberry flavor. Also...

I have made both and prefer the Cellar Craft but both are good kits.

I trap the mesh bag underneath the surface with a long sanitized plastic spoon. I place the lid on without snapping at first and put something on the lid to keep the spoon from pushing it off. Seems to work well for me. I have seen others say to use a shot glass.

Fine Vine Wines for me. Great customer service and prices.

When fermentation is complete for me.