Search results

What BPL said^. Another option to add to the list is a Speidel 30L fermenter. Can be used for fermentation and racking back into it after bulk aging makes for super easy bottling. Upgrade to the stainless spigot. Still not sure why they bother offering it with the plastic p.o.s.

Y Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make all three using the exact same process and get back to us in a couple years with the ratings. :b

My FW Super Tuscan was just bottled a couple months ago, so I don't have an apples to apples comp just yet. At this point the RJS is better, but I 'm certain the FW will improve significantly with a bit more time. It's also considerably less expensive than WE or RJS.

Scratch the $154 price, that was for a different Private Reserve kit that didn't include shipping. The Super Tuscan is $187.25 shipped. For that minor difference I would definitely recommend the RJ Spagnols Super Tuscan.

https://www.homebrewohio.com/wine-ingredient-kit-en-primeur-winery-series-italian-super-tuscan/ Looks like Label Peelers is offering free shipping on the WineExpert kit: https://labelpeelers.com/wine-making/wine-kits/free-shipping-wine-kits/private-reserve-italian-super-tuscan-wine-kits/

$154 plus shipping from Label Peelers. If you're interested in Super Tuscan, RJ Spagnols has been the best example I've made, but it's a bit more expensive. Homebrewohio has it for $195 shipped.

Commercial wineries are the ones that supply the juice that kits are made from. Do you think they reserve their best juice for kit manufacturers? Seems you don't understand business and economics. Wine prices reflect quality and value as with any other product, otherwise the competition...

I'm basing the taste off what myself, my friends, and my family prefer. That is all that matters to me and all that should matter to you and yours. Do whatever you like. I've never had a commercial tomato compare to home grown, but I've had plenty of commercial wines blow my kits away by a...

I've tasted plenty of other kit makers wines and they're all similar to varying degrees. Wine competitions are mostly useless. Try hosting a blind tasting with friends and family, with a few of your wines and an array of commercial wines from $10 up to whatever you're comfortable spending, to...

Started making kits back in 2011. Found this site in 2014. Have been trying various tweaks and such for 10 years now. Kits simply won't produce a product comparable to better commercial wines. If you're happy with $10 - $20 commercial wines, then you won't be disappointed aside from the lack...

Kits just plain lack aroma and varietal character, especially reds. Probably due to the concentration process. They've gotten better over the years with newer methods, but still a ways off.

https://www.winemakingtalk.com/members/rice_guy.30637/

Haven't used it since I started making kits back in 2011. Always cleared over time.

This ^^^ is the most obvious issue with kits at this point. Little to no nose, and lack of varietal character are my two biggest complaints. Kit taste seems to have been resolved for the most part.

At this point I only make select RQ's from RJS, and select LE's from WE. The bulk of my production is from FWK.

If you want a sweet dessert wine, as this kit is intended to produce, add it after fermentation is complete and sorbate has been added. If you want a big dry red, add it at the start. I would recommend adding a bit at a time post fermentation and sorbate, until you reach a sweetness level that...

Nice! I was worried about adding too much, but now I know 8 is a-ok.

I add about 2-6 ounces per 6 gal carboy, depending on the boldness of the red.

It did make top Zin. Regardless, I wouldn't put much value in these types of mass tastings. Nothing beats a blind tasting with a group of friends and/or family.

Yes. Don't recommend it. Get some muslin bags and save yourself a headache.