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Alright, the Merlot has settled in at .996 for 3 straight days, so I racked out of the 5 gallon carboy into a 6 gallon carboy. There was a good layer of light purple mud on the bottom, but nothing funky. I added the potassium sorbate and the metabisulphite to the racked wine. I know I didn't...

Not going to add any sugar. I plan on racking this weekend. I will put it back in glass with sulphite. I'll certainly take the opportunity to borrow the vacuum pump! Thanks as always John!

So, I'm now at 21 days since starting my first kit. I racked to secondary on day 11 and the wine has been in secondary for 10 days. There is still a bit of C02 bubbling, but it's pretty slow. I'm planning on leaving it in the carboy for another 4 days, then will proceed to stabilizing and...

Ok. I think that’s what I’ll do!

My kit directions tell me to punch down my skins twice a day for 14 days, then rack to a secondary. I put the skins directly into the must with out a bag. I’m now on day 8 and am considering closing the lid and keeping it closed for another 3 weeks. My SG measured 1.000 tonight. For those of you...

That was insane! I've never seen that before!

Man, I'm feeling spoiled!

Wow! That's a nice looking piece of equipment. I sure hope I'll get to play assistant when you fire that bad boy up!

I had to read this thread as I just started my second kit and its the WE Lodi Cab. Clearly this one will need some serious time and I'm excited to know my new buddy JohnD has kindly offered me one of his oak barrel's for me to bulk age this one. I'm only 3 days into fermentation, so i've got a...

Day 11, SG at 1.000. I decided to go ahead and rack the Merlot to secondary.Now I'll let her sit for another 7-10 days before stabilizing and clearing. Feels good to be moving forward! .I think my head space is good and the sediment in the bottom seemed to stay and I don't think I picked up too...

Alright, my SG reading tonight was at 1.01! I'll check it again tomorrow and Saturday, with the plan to go ahead and rack on Saturday afternoon. The wine is very cloudy as I guess it would be. A quick sip gave me a strong alcohol taste. I'm not sure what its supposed to taste like at this early...

I've been thinking about bottles. I haven't finished making my wine yet, but I've been thinking about how to get bottles. Glad to know it might be possible to get some from a restaurant. I also have my neighbor saving some for me and of course, I've set aside of couple from our family...

What winemaking podcasts do you recommend? I listen to podcasts when I travel, so I'd like to check out a couple.

Thanks Joe! I'll go take a look at the other thread. I haven't gotten to that one yet!

Joe, if I add fruit to the secondary, would I cut that back to a 1/2 lb per 5/6 gallon?

I'm surprised no one has responded. Maybe you should post this question in the Tweeking Cheap Kits thread. It's extremly active!

So I read this thread, all 1291 posts, over the course of multiple days and I have really enjoyed it. I'm getting close to moving my very first attempt at home winemaking, a Fontana Merlot, into the secondary. I'm hesitant to tweek my first attempt, but I want to make sure I get a nice wine. I...

Thanks jgmann! The smell certainly isn't a rotten egg smell, just a yeasty, bready smell but not like that terrific first whiff with the oak, new yeast and grape juice. That was a great smell! I'm not too worried. I will do as you suggest Ajmassa and take a reading each day. I'm hopeful that...

Took a SG reading this afternoon and its now at 1.030. The instructions say it needs to be at 1.020 or lower, so I'm getting close.I'll let it go for another two days and check again, or should I check it each day? On another note, the wine doesn't smell as good as it did early on (day1-3) Im...

Thank you ajmassa! I appreciate any help I can get!