RJ Spagnols kits past their expiration date?

[Paulc]

anyone do a kit that has past its date? I had a chance to get a chenin blanc, 3 gal kit for $20...but I passed on it since it was well past its date. I believe it was a vino vida kit...? How much time past an expire date would you give a kit wine? TIA, paulc

 

[Wade E]

I guess it depends on how it was stored. Most of the time a year past the date woul be fine with maybe the exception of the yeast and that usually has an expiration date on the back of the package.

 

[cpfan]

anyone do a kit that has past its date? I had a chance to get a chenin blanc, 3 gal kit for $20...but I passed on it since it was well past its date. I believe it was a vino vida kit...? How much time past an expire date would you give a kit wine? TIA, paulc

Vino del Vida kits make 6 US gallons. But according to the RJS web-site, there isn't a Chenin Blanc in the Vino del Vida range. Grand Cru perhaps.

Regardless, I wouldn't want to make a white that was much older than a year old. And then I would expect a good discount from the retailer. Do you recall the manufacturing date. On an RJS kit, it should have been with the variety name.

Yeast age? Check the expiry date on the package. But unlike Wade, I expect the yeast to be good long after the kit is no good. That's from years of making RJS, Vineco, etc etc kits.

Steve

 

[Wade E]

I didnt read the whole post. I dont know of any kits besids dessert wines that make 3 gallons. I agree that the yeast is most likely good though and not the way I meant to word it. If the juice in the bag is brown it is most likely oxidized but may still taste good, just look unsightly. If its brown though Id probably take it back. Id probably open it up rightthere on the spot to check it all out.

 

[Minnesotamaker]

I got a deal on an old kit once. It was on a gewurztraminer icewine kit. There were two bags in the kit, one to ferment and one fairly large f-pack. The juice HAD turned brown, so it didn't look at all like a white wine. What I did is bump the volume up to 5 gallons by adding crab-apples to the batch to make a blend. I then threw in a few tea bags for the added tannin. It fermented fine, and it ended up tasting ok. I labeled the wine as "Crabapple Gertz Tea". The F-pack made it more like a desert wine, the crabapples added a "zing" to offset the sugar and the tea accounts for the color. Those who have tried it, admit that they've never had a combo like this with tea in it, but they all seem to like it and they don't seem to take issue with the color.

 

[Paulc]

That was kinda my idea Lon...add something to the kit in case it was off color or taste. I have to go back in a couple weeks to get a 3 gal carboy so maybe if it is still there.

Paul

 

[roblloyd]

I got a winexpert Pinot grigio kit from someone. Box still sealed. The yeast expired in 09. Is the juice still ok to use or should I toss it? The juice looks ok color wise - nice yellowish golden and clear.

I tried calling Winexpert but had to leave a message.

 

[Wade E]

Id let her rip myself, just get a new packet of yeast or make a starter yeast to see if it is good and if so use that.

 

[roblloyd]

I got a call back. They have a very good customer service! I learned what they codes mean: 0334606 0495
03 - process number for the day
346 - day, late December in my case
06 is the year
0495 is the box number for that series.

She said she wouldn't bother but since the color was ok give it a try with new yeast. Can't hurt ya!
She also mentioned the isinglass would also need replacing come clearing time.

So as usual Wade is correct!

 

[Wade E]

Wow, 06 huh, actually close enough to say 07. We have the answers fir the date codes right on this site. Just had to look under Winexpert area.

 

[Wade E]

Id bail on the Isinglass and just get SuperKleer, actually if your still coming over tomorrow I have plenty of that on hand so dont bother getting any!

 

[cpfan]

A white kit from Dec 2006 (over 4 years old), and the yeast expired 2009. If you're sure that the juice/concentrate colour is good, go ahead. Hope it turns out well.

At the moment WE makes two different Pinot Grigios. Not sure what they made 4 years ago. Which brand did you get?

Steve

 

[roblloyd]

Wow, 06 huh, actually close enough to say 07. We have the answers fir the date codes right on this site. Just had to look under Winexpert area.

Yeah I saw that after I posted.

 

[roblloyd]

Id bail on the Isinglass and just get SuperKleer, actually if your still coming over tomorrow I have plenty of that on hand so dont bother getting any!

Wouldn't miss it! Got the calendar SuperKleer

 

[roblloyd]

A white kit from Dec 2006 (over 4 years old), and the yeast expired 2009. If you're sure that the juice/concentrate colour is good, go ahead. Hope it turns out well.

At the moment WE makes two different Pinot Grigios. Not sure what they made 4 years ago. Which brand did you get?

Steve

It's the World Vineyard so I don't have high hopes for a fabulous wine. Anything I can do to improve it and give it a fighting chance?

 

[cpfan]

It's the World Vineyard so I don't have high hopes for a fabulous wine. Anything I can do to improve it and give it a fighting chance?

Personal opinion ... buy a fresh kit.

A 4-year old white wine kit is roughly 2.5 years too old for me to expend time & energy on.

Steve

 

[cpfan]

It's the World Vineyard so I don't have high hopes for a fabulous wine. Anything I can do to improve it and give it a fighting chance?

Paul:

There is a product called Polyclar that is supposed to remove oxidized compounds from wine.

When I ran a Ferment on Premises store, two customers brought in old kits that they wanted me to make for them. I tried to talk them out of it, but in the end took their money, and charged them extra for the Polyclar (it's a bit expensive). As far as I'm concerned, it did no good. The first time, I probably only used one dosage. But I learned afterwards that multiple dosages are OK. I know that I did two (maybe three) dosages on the second kit. The wine was still tinged with brown. That customer actually had a second old kit that she decided not to make after trying the results of this one. BTW both were reds.

The real problem is "how oxidized is the wine kit?" The answer to that involves a BIG unknown...how has it been stored, specifically temperatures.

Good luck with the kit. Steve

 

[Minnesotamaker]

So is it safe to assume that the plastic bags that the juice comes in is "air permeable" and therefore, the juice oxydizes over time? Some people claim that the big plastic water bottles are permiable. Is anyone aware of long term scientific studies on permability of water bottles or Better Bottles?

 

[cpfan]

So is it safe to assume that the plastic bags that the juice comes in is "air permeable" and therefore, the juice oxydizes over time? Some people claim that the big plastic water bottles are permiable. Is anyone aware of long term scientific studies on permability of water bottles or Better Bottles?

Have you looked at the Better Bottle site? I believe that they made some claims, but it's be quite a while since I went to their site.

I doubt that any independent studies have been done on wine in water jugs or Better Bottles. It's just not mainstream enough.

If you're going to persue this, may I suggest a separate thread. It will get lost in a thread dealing with a specific expired kit.

Steve