Finer Wine Kit FWK Fermentation - Reds

[winemaker81]

A recent example is a 6 gallon kit white wine I used for testing (not FWK) included 30 grams of Bentonite. A generally accepted judicious dose of Bentonite added preferment ranges from 1 to 3.5 grams/gallon with 2.25 grams/gallon being average, so do the math. It was to be included preferment. Depending on the source, the dosage can be considerably higher. This example is given to point out what Bryan mentions about bottling faster.

Barry, you are the straight man in this discussion, Bud Abbot vs. Lou Costello! This is a perfect illustration to why wine kit instructions are what work, but are not what is best.

The kit doubles the amount of necessary bentonite. Why? Because the kit instructions for bentonite will not properly dissolve the bentonite, so at least half will simply drop to the bottom of the primary. Why are the instructions not better? 'Cuz most novices won't do what is necessary (it's a process), and doubling the bentonite solves the problem.

The K&C included in kits is roughly double what it necessary, and that also ensures the wine clears.

Ditto for why the "finishing pack" (sorbate + K-meta) is included in ALL wines. Because novices may not ferment the wine to completion, and the finishing pack prevents 28+ mini-volcanoes.

When advising novices, I try to keep things simple. My son's girlfriend is ramping up to start her first ferment, a cider kit. The fear of the unknown is strong, and everything we can to do help novices reduce that fear is good, and keeping things simple is a large part of that.

 

[BPL]

This is a perfect illustration to why wine kit instructions are what work, but are not what is best.

Yeah, I've gone off the rails and paid the price, aka, school of hard knocks. I try to keep things simple but totally HATE the one line answers that don't explain the reason for doing xyz. I really try to keep things simple and an easy read, but detailed.

 

[winemaker81]

Yeah, I've gone off the rails and paid the price, aka, school of hard knocks. I try to keep things simple but totally HATE the one line answers that don't explain the reason for doing xyz. I really try to keep things simple and an easy read, but detailed.

No. Your explanations are sufficient. As a guy who's realizations of "why" is more important than anything else, you're spot on.

Your level of explanation is what is good for the forum. I follow a couple of FB groups where some of the responders are not good enough to be idiots.