Finer Wine Kit FWK - Tavola vs Forte red wines

[winemaker81]

A recent discussion with a friend got me thinking about Tavola vs. Forte.

I've made 2 Tavola kits, which produced a lighter style of red. Both were drinkable relatively quickly and the shelf life is good. The Pinot Noir is holding well at 2.5 years, and the Barbera's last bottle was good at 2.75 years. Both are a lighter style than I normally drink, but were made to be lighter, so mission accomplished.

In 2021 (when I made the Barbera) I also made two triple Forte batches (1 - Super Tuscan, 2 - Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah) which were barrel aged. Both batches turned out well and are holding fine. Assuming any is left, I expect they'll be good at the 5 to 7 year mark.

Since I have great access to grapes, I have not been making kits, but I'm thinking in the future if I'd want to make.

Given my likes, I'd probably not make Tavola again. Or ... make it with 1 skin pack.

Anyone who has made Tavola both with zero and 1 or 2 skin packs, what do you think about the differences?

 

[Bmd2k1]

as a fan of a less tanniny vino -- I tend to make more Tavola -- either with typically Zero or occasionally 1 skin pack.... and will continue along that path. ;-)

Cheers!

 

[wineview]

A recent discussion with a friend got me thinking about Tavola vs. Forte.

I've made 2 Tavola kits, which produced a lighter style of red. Both were drinkable relatively quickly and the shelf life is good. The Pinot Noir is holding well at 2.5 years, and the Barbera's last bottle was good at 2.75 years. Both are a lighter style than I normally drink, but were made to be lighter, so mission accomplished.

In 2021 (when I made the Barbera) I also made two triple Forte batches (1 - Super Tuscan, 2 - Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah) which were barrel aged. Both batches turned out well and are holding fine. Assuming any is left, I expect they'll be good at the 5 to 7 year mark.

Since I have great access to grapes, I have not been making kits, but I'm thinking in the future if I'd want to make.

Given my likes, I'd probably not make Tavola again. Or ... make it with 1 skin pack.

Anyone who has made Tavola both with zero and 1 or 2 skin packs, what do you think about the differences?

I made a Tavola kit with two skin packs I had in the freezer. Because the Tavola kit has a bit less juice than the Forte, I made five and a half gallons instead of six. The wine turned out really good.

 

[A14ES]

I wasn't able to find a table at labelpeelers that would allow one to compare a lineup of the FW kits (not sure if price would be the only guide?) Also - labelpeelers have after-Christmas sale on FW kits. Also - I did order a kit from them today but intend to freeze it until I could get some pomace from Temecula wineries next September. What would be the best way to preserve FW concentrate and skin-pack for a year? Thank you.

 

[wineview]

I’ve never froze the juice but I have kept the skin packs in a freezer for 6-8 months.

 

[winemaker81]

What would be the best way to preserve FW concentrate and skin-pack for a year?

The only way to save the concentrate is freeze it

 

[A14ES]

I’ve never froze the juice but I have kept the skin packs in a freezer for 6-8 months.

My last kit - FW Pino N., Forte, was shipped to me in summer, and I kept in the modified fridge, at 42F, until this November. When time came to use it, the bladder was bloated, and there were some white developments on skins, like crumbled stucco. I pulled away the biggest affected skin clusters, and proceeded per kit instructions. Thinking back I should had hit the mast with a tablet of Campden first.

 

[ratflinger]

I usually make Tavola for my table wine and Forte for longer term. I made one Tavola w/o skins and did not like the lightness, so every other Tavola has had at least one skin pack. Depending on the varietal made I also add raisins, etc.

BTW - I have made Tavola with 2 skins packs and it adds to the wine, but after adding 2 skins packs one is approaching the price of the Forte series and I do find that to be a better kit.

 

[winemaker81]

I usually make Tavola for my table wine and Forte for longer term. I made one Tavola w/o skins and did not like the lightness, so every other Tavola has had at least one skin pack. Depending on the varietal made I also add raisins, etc.

BTW - I have made Tavola with 2 skins packs and it adds to the wine, but after adding 2 skins packs one is approaching the price of the Forte series and I do find that to be a better kit.

This is pretty much what I'm thinking. The plain Tavola came out good, but were just a bit too light for my tastes. For folks that prefer lighter, a good experiment is to make the same Tavola kit twice, once with 1 skin pack.

It's unlikely that I'll make kits any time soon, given my current access to grapes. But ya never know!