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I am just experiencing what a barrel can do with a small 5L gift. I am sold, but am really new to this - when scheduling kits to keep it full (I am thinking of cellar crafts washington state red, with skin pack) do you transfer to the barrel starting at secondary fermentation, or after...

Thanks Mike!

We are headed to Santa Fe, NM for our anniversary. I am researching wineries, and thought I would ask for recommendations from the forum? Thanks for any suggestions!

I was searching for this on the UC Davis sight after listening to the Cellar Dwellers first podcast, and finally located it. Thought I'd provide a link in case anyone else is interested in reading this book - downloadable in .PDF format here -...

Thanks Julie, that makes sense - making it easier to stir is a great point! I have another question posted on SG, but if you are doing the method you've noted, do you decide on when to transfer and use the airlock just on the bubbles, based on SG, or just a certain amount of time?

I understand the process of taking SG readings and it's use in determining if fermentation has completed and in calculating ABV, but have a question on it's use in regards to managing fermentation. I'm doing kits now - learning, but hope to move to real grapes some time in the near future...but...

I'm sure I'm opening a can of worms, but I'm three kits in now and am starting to learn a bit - and have a couple of questions - this one is about primary fermentation and the use of the plastic lid on my bucket with airlock. I read some people that say to just put a towel over the bucket...

I'm leaving this thread up for my wife to see. The images on this thread prove that I have not gone too far - by a long shot! Awesome stuff!

Thanks for the info everyone - I was hoping that it was just a degasing issue. Yes, by no water, I meant a larger kit...sorry, I was a bottle in! Looking at this one: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/winemaking/wine-ingredient-kits/cellar-craft-showcase-red-mountain-cabernet.html Thanks again!

We have had a few bottles of our first batch - a vinters reserve French Cab. 4 weeks in it was a bit flat and had a heavy plum tone to it, but tonights, at 5.5 weeks in the bottle had a real change - it got me excited enough to get moving on the second kit - no water this time - i will be...

Wow - thanks for all of the great advice and ideas - the how to with corks is great advice, but even pointing out simple options like working out bottling with water...yep, makes sense...but I hadn't thought of it, so thanks again. If I am going to wait on bottling, I do wonder if I need to...

Well, we jumped in with a kit and it is time to bottle. Checking for clarity yesterday and it looks great...taste is starting to be ther, but its got a long way to go! One thing i noticed at this stage is that the wine is like water in the glass - swirling it around, ther are no legs. I...

I am new...so much to learn. I liked the cork-a-dor storage idea in the link above....i hadn't even thought of the issue of cork storage until reading this - great forums! I was wondering while reading this if a zip lock with a cigar humidor element soaked in a k meta solution would be an easy...

I just read about using marbles to top off for the first time. I understand when making with fruit, but with kits, I have this strong urge to follow instructions, and it sounds like they say to add water. I am new, and this is interesting to me...I assume this is to keep the wine strong and...

Thanks for the advice everyone! I just purchased my equipment kit, so I've got one foot in the door. Just incase any other new people are reading, check out the vendor forum for deals. Northern Brewer has a 40% off code for their equipment kits that is good until the 4th, I believe.

Awesome - thanks David...this might help my wife catch the bug with me more than a 1 year wait!

Alright - thank you all for your input - much to consider!

I am new to wine making - still putting my initial equipment together, in fact. I am beginning to research kits for my first run. I would like my first kit to be a cab, but i expect that I have a lot to learn, and hate to put a lot of money into a kit that might not go so well just because...

Yeah, i think i am going to just start off building my shed around the all in one pump - it seems like it really helps and will reduce the other equipment I will need to buy. I have sent steve a pm on this, but since it keeps coming up, i will just go ahead and ask it here. Given no equipment...

Thanks VPM -awesome, and on my list! One last comment on what Cindy and Oldwhiskers said about how easy it is...I woke up thinking I have had my brewing/making priorities backwards so far - my wife and I brew beer and buy wine. I have brewed beer for some time' and while easy, brew day is...