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Paul: Just wondering what yeast came wit hthe kit. Thanks, Steve

I had some trouble finding this book. So to simplify things for others, here is the link... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AEEFSAO/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 Steve

That's good news. I haven't made an RJS kit in quite a while. The local retailer didn't seem to like at-home wine makers (and the second closest didn't seem to like me). Fortunately, the local store has a new owner who likes to sell wine kits, if I ever get back into wine making. Steve

I don't recall ever seeing an expiry date stamped on anything except the yeast. Steve

IMO, any review of a kit should include a description of the additives, ie which yeast, oak quantity and type, any other 'oddities' (elderberries, elderflowers). For example, the RJS Cru Select Okanagan Meritage (RQ March 2009) contained EC-1118, Elderberries (40g), oak pieces (60g), Hungarian...

The first thing I do is open the box. Two reasons...first make sure that the contents are complete. Second to start thinking about any alterations. IMO can't plan to change things without knowing the starting point. Steve

What yeast came with each of those kits? Steve

The plastic rods can be used to take up space in a carboy rather than topping up with water or wine. Some people use marbles. Steve

Generally speaking, it is not necessary to dabble with the PH of a kit. Is this something that you have done with the previous kits? The sg is down to 1.100?? What did it start at, and how long did it take? Steve

freqflyer: Winexpert makes a Blackberry Cabernet wine kit in their Island Mist line. Making the kit would not require TA or PH testing. Steve

Pittgrad: What is the temperature of the wine? Cool temperatures inhibit degassing. I assume that you added the bentonite that came with the kit at the beginning. As I understand it, a second dose of bentonite has little value. Steve

I think it could be the bentonite. The only times I have used bentonite post-fermentation, it was followed with another clearing agent (sorry I forget what the clearing agent was), so that probably helped it to settle. BTW, those times were with RJS kits before they switched to...

Vineco's web-site says that this kit makes a 13.5% wine. I don't know where the sg will end up, but Vineco kits have tended to hit .992 for me. 1.096 - .992 = .104 * 133 = 13.8% 1.096 - .992 = .104 * 131 = 13.6% Sounds like it's bang on to me. BTW, I have made THOUSANDS of kits (I ran a...

The question is...how do you like your wine? The Ken Ridge Showcase German Gewurztraminer comes with a Suss Reserve (fancy term for a juice F-pack). We are diabetic and like the wine dry anyway, so add the Suss Reserve to the primary. I would probably add that extra juice to the fermenter...

I'm going to say that almost all of the decent kits will be "pleasant" by then. The real question is what wines do you like? For example, I like Rieslings & gewurztraminers but don't like chardonnays. So I'll recommend Vineco's Ken Ridge Showcase German Gewurztraminer (we make it dry by...

The large F-pack may contain juice, and the small one liquid invert sugar. The juice would need to be larger to sweeten the same amount as the invert sugar. (At least in terms of some of the F-packs that I have seen.) Sorry I have made neither of these kits. Steve

If you buy the right kit, it will have dried elderberries in it. Steve

Well I didn't buy the book, but the first chapter is "Wine Kit Selection", so the book seems to be about making wine kits, thus not useful to some wine makers. It's only 99cents US so you won't go broke buying it. FYI, you do NOT need a Kindle to read this. There are Kindle apps for most...

Singlepole: Some wine kits are designed to be bottled in 30 days (although I personally don't advise it). Heck in the UK there are 7 day kits. I'm not sure what all the reasons are but here's some guesses. 1) juice is processed. this removes the fruit and pulp. 2) enough yeast energizer...

Looking at the fact sheet, the wine that you liked was aged in oak. https://www.columbiacrest.com/our-wines/2012-grand-estates-chardonnay Steve