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One thing that I learned from my first kit is that I added the packet in the kit and then 1/4 tsp at 3 month mark. When I finally purchased and SO2 tester, the SO2 level was 35 at 6 months which was too high for a white wine with a low PH. So my advise is to calculate the initial potassium...

I noticed that enartis has a $50 min purchase. I could not find ether Pluxcompact elsewhere for smaller quantities. However I did find another bentonite (Bentonite KWK) that was studied. Not has compact lees but better non the less. I would be interested if anyone has had experience with...

Since I don't like the volume loss with Bentonite, The following newsletter was interesting. In bench trials it showed that Pluxcompact Bentonite created less volume loss than other types of bentonite. Just wondering if anyone had any experience with this? If so did you notice a material...

Thanks! I think will go ahead and rack to a 5G carboy to reduce the headspace issue and use the remaining wine to reduce a headspace in another younger batch. The headspace eliminator has done well but as you indicated why not settle for a sure thing when I won't be wasting any wine.

The picture coloring is off. It looks like a normal chardonnay color.... light golden yellow

I stand corrected. I meant adding Potassium Metasulphite

I'm at the 3 month mark of my second batch. I'm at a quandary if I should rack. It is a cheap Chardonnay kit with a PH of 3.19 12.9% ABV. So the target Sulfide should be 20 but my cheap tester indicates that it is 50. So I don't need to add sulfides. It is clearing up and a layer of lees are...

I have been reading some articles that indicate using Bentonite post fermentation might be better, but the 5 kits instructions that I have done state mixing in the must before fermentation. Has anyone tweaked kits by postponing bentonite util after it has stabilized and aged a few months? If...

Patience is a wine makers virtue. Today I have bubbles and I did not add any new yeast. Likely reduced the yeast count when I racked and it took a while for the remaining yeast to reach critical mass. Next time I think I will aggressively stir before racking to secondary.

The instructions did not call for racking into carboy for secondary fermentation. I had done that with previous batches and had not had a problem. There were bigger oak chips which meant I could not pull it all over. There was yeast at the bottom when I cleaned out. I have not kept it in the...

I used a hydrometer

I racked to a carboy when SG reached 1.02 on a kit that came with D47 yeast. The SG has not changed and there is now visible bubbles. The initial SG was 1.09 so the alcohol cannot be too high for the yeast. I have kept the temp as close to 68 F as recommended. I think my problem was that I...

OMG. The hot water trick is so Much better and soaking and scraping! Thanks for the tip. However, I will stick to my mineral spirts for the outside glue residue. It is much cheaper and it is outside the bottle. Plus I get to eat the peanut butter all for myself.

Sorry typo. Yes SG. I had racked it to a carboy for secondary fermentation with airlock and the reading is now 0.996. It is good to know that the 3 day rule of thumb is not critical. Cause sometimes things get in the way of winemaking.

How important is it to get the same SG reading 3 days day in a row? I have a batch that is 14 days from racking to the secondary carboy. The SP is 0.96. I cannot imagine that this will go lower than that.Plus the foam/bubbles are gone from the top. From a timing it would be easier to rack...

How much pectic enzyme would be needed for a 6 gal kit?

I had another WE white wine kit that the coloring was way darker than previously experienced. Plus there was a dark caramel sludge at the bottom of the juice bag. I called WE and they told me that the coloring is the nutrients. Sometimes they get out of solution. They stated that all is...

Southern Home-brew has a sale right now on RJS kits. There is a shipping fee which brings the price up but no tax, but I don't live in FL. https://www.southernhomebrew.com

Good to know. I guess I got lucky with the first 3 kits. No discoloration.

I just had a similar experience wit Limited Release Pacifica White Wine Kit. Most of the juice was medium in color, but the dregs (sediment) were much much darker. The smell of the juice was strong apple cider and the taste was a strong sweet apple cider, so I think it is ok. But this is my...