WineXpert Do Island Mist kits need additional aging?

[lhunkele]

My first batch may soon be reading for bottling; I have an Island Mist kit (Blackberry Cabernet) and I was wondering if it was recommended to age any longer in the carboy than the kit recommends. I'm not in a hurry to bottle, excited at the prospect yes, but I can wait if it will benefit. Not sure if I should be concerned about additional sediment (I'd rather have it in the carboy than the bottle

Thanks!

 

[midwestwine]

I bottled my blackberry cab with the directions and I do have a few bottles with sediment so I would wait a while longer.

 

[MN-winer]

Waiting is fine but I'm fairly certain the wine won't get better. Its made to be drunk sooner rather than later. I filtered mine and it cleared quickly anyway.
Good luck - I hope you enjoy

 

[lhunkele]

...I filtered mine and it cleared quickly anyway.
Good luck - I hope you enjoy

Thank you. What kind of filter do you use?

 

[Tom]

You can drink 2 weeks after bottling. No aging on these types of wines.
You should not need to filter as there should be little sediment if directions are followed. Keep temps warm

 

[lhunkele]

...Keep temps warm

Can you give me a recommended temp range? Currently it's in the basement around 65-67...

Thanks!

 

[Tom]

Bring it upstairs 70*+

 

[lhunkele]

Bring it upstairs 70*+

before and/or after bottling?

 

[Tom]

before and/or after bottling?

We are talking about clearing the wine. Once bottled put it in the cellar if you want.

 

[lhunkele]

ah, so the warmer temps will help what sediment is in the carboy fall out before bottling - Got it!

 

[lhunkele]

Ideal temp?

...problem solved, I think

Although the temp upstairs is warmer, it is not very stable and can range from 65-75 in any given day so we rigged up a warm water bath for it!

My carboy is in a milk crate which we put into a plastic tub and surrounded the tub with insulation, then filled it with water and added an old aquarium heater. There's also a plywood top and it's covered it with a blanket; snug as a bug in a rug

Currently it's 72 degrees. Now that I can somewhat control the temp, what would the ideal setting be?

Thanks again!

 

[MN-winer]

Sorry for the late reply on filtering. I used a gravity filter - Vinbrite. Its cheap and easy. It worked very well, but takes afew hours to filter the 6 gallons. Make sure the wine has cleared sufficiently otherwise the filter will clog and take 4+ hours to filter. I think the Vinbrite sells for about $35 or so at most stores. I only use it on my white wines.

 

[bstnh1]

Can you give me a recommended temp range? Currently it's in the basement around 65-67...

Thanks!

The folks at WE told me degassing would be a lot faster if you keep the kits between 75 and 80 throughout the entire process from beginning to end. I started keeping mine at 78 or so and I've had better fermentation and easier degassing.

 

[bstnh1]

...problem solved, I think

Although the temp upstairs is warmer, it is not very stable and can range from 65-75 in any given day so we rigged up a warm water bath for it!

My carboy is in a milk crate which we put into a plastic tub and surrounded the tub with insulation, then filled it with water and added an old aquarium heater. There's also a plywood top and it's covered it with a blanket; snug as a bug in a rug

Currently it's 72 degrees. Now that I can somewhat control the temp, what would the ideal setting be?

Thanks again!

This is pretty much the same system I came up with to keep things warm and cozy in my 45-50 degree basement in the winter. I use a $5 plastic rope tub from Wally World, wrap it in 3 1/2" insulation with insulation over the top when needed. I use an adjustable submersible aquarium heater ($10) and an internal, submersible aquarium filter ($10) which keeps the water clear and helps circulate it - all available at Wally World.

 

[Putterrr]

A guy was at the u-brew store loading his latest wine in the car. He was asked how long he aged his wine before drinking it. He said " Oh about 15 miles"

cheers