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No expert but here are my thoughts. I believe the increased surface area will allow for faster extraction, very beneficial for the oak added during primary fermentation. Once in bulk aging, I would prefer a slower, more controlled release. Ilike the spirals when adding additional oak beyond the...

Welcome Greydog. Glad to have you on board. There are some great folks on this forum to answer yourquestions.

God bless America, land that I love....... We do have a lot to celebrate. Happy 4th everyone.

Jim, I have made the OVZ but the Syrah is still on my to-do list. I like your idea with this blend and barrel aged. I think it will make a great wine.

Gary, Any updates on this Masters AJ Cab? Noticed it is on sale this month so am tempted to purchase. Just wondering what you or others think of this kit compared to others such as the CC Red Mountain cab or the EP Delu Ranch cab.

Now that's just downright mean. I haven't been able to concentrate at work for 2 days now since seeing these pics. Think I'll just take a couple days off work. Vcasey, thanks for bringing me back down to reality. Do I live to work or work to live...

Happy birthday. Party time.

Mike, I definitely want to follow your journey with this one. I have it flagged as a "want to make" kit. Whichand how much oak came with this one? I realize using the barrel you may skip the kit oaks but just curious what it comes with.

Happy Birthday. Gave a great one.

I have bought them at Sherwin Williams and Ace Hardware. Most stores that sell paint should have them. That said, I have not found them at Walmart yet. Your kits with grape pack will come with a bag. Not as large as the 5 gal strainer bags but they will work just fine. I would not reuse one. Too...

Is it 5:00 yet? Oh yeah, it is somewhere. Happy Birthday.

Here's my top mistakes but there are many more. Hoping for a great wine from a low-end kit. Sorry, it just isn't going to happen. Buy as high a quality of kit as you canafford to buy. You get what you pay for. Price per bottle will not be much higher. Not degassing well. Not degassing...

I bought one at Autozone. In the second year of use the plastic handle broke so I would avoid plastic if possible. That's when I switched to a vac pump. Wow am I thrilled with that change. Brake bleeder is definitely better than the spoon but your hand will get tired on some wines.

happy birthday Pablo. Cheers.

We love a good zin. Earthquake and Titus Zins (same company) are our favorites. If I ever duplicate these I will be a happy little winemaker. I look forward to my first trip to California to tour some of these.

The ABV for both was about the same.Starting SG for the RJS was 1.1 and 1.095 for the CC. Both fermented to 0.994. However, in my notes I said thatI was not sure that the grape pack was completelydispersed on the CC kit.That pack is more jammy and thick. I stirredthe bag around for about 30...

That is a good idea. I also agree with using wine bottles. With these higher end kits you always have more than a carboy will hold and you don't want to waste anything. I usually have a 1.5L, 750 ml, and 375 ml clean,sanitized, and begging to be called off the bench. With the heavier...

Here's a head to head comparison of the RJS Winery Series OV Zin and the Cellar Craft Showcase Lodi OVZ. Sorry for the delay but we just opened a 375 ml ofboth at 18 months since fermentation was completed. We started these 2 weeks apart so were under nearly identical conditions. Both fermented...

Happy BD Smurfe.

Cindy, I have the same printer as you and printed my last batch of labels using the Avery software. Sprayed them with polyeurethane a couple times before applying. Seemed to work well. Haven't had any problems yet but will know more later once I really break into these.