first batch first mistake

[jdmyers]

Im new to this site and new to winemaking. I started my first kit a vintners reserve reisling when i went to rack from my primary to my carbouy i realized that i had filled the prim. up to the 7gl mark not the 6gl mark. i racked all that i could fit in the 6gl carbouy. have i trashed the kit and how do i save it

 

[Julie]

Welcome to winemakingtalk, jdmyers.

I won't say you trashed your wine but you have weakened the flavor. If you have the carboys, I would buy another kit and make that 5g and blend the two.

 

[djrockinsteve]

That's a smart idea or back sweeten with a concentrate. You'll get a good flavor but reduce the ABV

Don't dispair and welcome. We have all made errors along our way.

 

[Rocky]

JD, just wondering, what was the initial and current SGs? What did you do with the part that would not fit the 6 gallon carboy? I don't think you trashed the whole batch and there are ways to fix it. I hope you still have the part that did not fit. I would cook that down to about 1/2 or 1/3 its volume and use that for your "concentrate." You could also add alcohol if the ABV is not to your liking.

 

[Angelina]

Note to self: Remember this if I ever get in this situation. I like your answer Rocky.

JD, just wondering, what was the initial and current SGs? What did you do with the part that would not fit the 6 gallon carboy? I don't think you trashed the whole batch and there are ways to fix it. I hope you still have the part that did not fit. I would cook that down to about 1/2 or 1/3 its volume and use that for your "concentrate." You could also add alcohol if the ABV is not to your liking.

 

[jdmyers]

OK so its not so bad. i didnt keep the extra. the sg was 1.070 when i started and 1.010 when i racked to carbouy. when i rack again could i just top it up with vodka for my alc % as for back sweetening for taste when and how much sugar shoud i add.

 

[Rocky]

JD, you could also buy a product like this:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/wine...ing-alexander-s-sun-country-concentrates.html

It would add both more flavor and sweetness to the wine if you add the right amount and add it at the right time, that is after you have fermented your present wine to dry (SG = 0.995 or so) and stabilized with K-meta and K-sorbate. At that point, your ABV should be about 10%. You could add Everclear or Grain Alcohol to increase the ABV. Pearson's square will tell you how much to add or there is a calculator somewhere on this site. I don't know about Vodka. I suppose an unflavored type would work. With whatever concentrate is left over, you could make a small batch of Riesling.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

I have done that one before but when I took the SG I just added more sugar to the must to bring it back to where it was supposed to be, I also keep gallon jugs around for extra stuff.

When you diluted it you lowered the starting SG to 1.070, you can add more concentrated grape, or cherry, or apple or any other kind you like juice to raise the current SG values is by .025. It might be easier to just rack it back to the primary taking with it any stuff from the bottom of the carboy or slowly and carefully adding it to your carboy - SLOWLY - if you add sugar to fast it can foam up like a volcano, so in your case going back into the primary might be the best idea.

Crackedcork

 

[wvbrewer]

Remove some wine and add a similar wine to bring the taste back. Everyone has had to do that atleast once

 

[Bailey]

I like the idea of adding some concentrate to the primary. Using the 'winecalc' app. featured here: http://www.xs4all.nl/~mpesgens/thwp/winecalc.html you can figure out how much sugar you would have needed to bump the original 7 gallons to 1.085. Then take 6/7 of that amount and add to your 6 gallons. Calculate the amount of sugar in the concentrate and add that amount directly to the secondary. It will keep the fermentation going to raise the ABV as well as bring in some flavor.

As far as concentrates, something like Welches 100% Niagara would probably work. I've fermented it with good results.

 

[winemaker_3352]

Welcome to winemakingtalk, jdmyers.

I won't say you trashed your wine but you have weakened the flavor. If you have the carboys, I would buy another kit and make that 5g and blend the two.

Welcome aboard!!!

I agree with Julie on this..