RJ Spagnols RJS German Gewurztraminer Kit

s0615353 · Aug 1, 2012

I just ordered my first wine kit, a RJ Spagnols Cru Select Platinum German Gewurztraminer Kit. Will products like Go-ferm, Fermaid-K and Opti-white help to enhanse the finished product? Or are these kits better left the way that RJ made them?

joeswine · Aug 1, 2012

Unto itself

THIS WINE WHEN DONE RIGHT IS A TASTE TREAT UNTO ITSELF ,NO IMPROVEMENT NEEDED,JUST CHILL AND DRINK.

Bacci · Aug 1, 2012

I've made this kit and have made others from Washington State, and it's bolder, better body and more real flavors of a GERWZ, the German grapes have done everything for you, plus it came with Elderflowers.

rjb222 · Aug 1, 2012

s0615353 said:
I just ordered my first wine kit, a RJ Spagnols Cru Select Platinum German Gewurztraminer Kit. Will products like Go-ferm, Fermaid-K and Opti-white help to enhanse the finished product? Or are these kits better left the way that RJ made them?

Any kit wine has been set up by the manufactuer to finish with a certain profile. The additives you mention should not be used in kit wine making.
They are used when making wine from crush to bottle.

ibglowin · Aug 1, 2012

Kits usually come with EC1118 which will pretty much start own its own every time with no need for anything to help it get going. It won't hurt to use Go-Ferm just not really needed with EC1118. Kits also have yeast nutrients added in upfront so again, no real need to add any more. About the only thing that you could potentially play with is the Opti-White. I used it on my last two white kits as an experiment. They are both bulk aging still and just about ready to bottle so I have no feedback on enhanced mouthfeel or flavor profiles just yet. I will post something as soon as I have some more info. If your just starting out it is always a good idea to make things "by the book" for awhile to get the hang of things and see how everything turns out without any tweeks. Once you are comfortable and know what to look for as far as problems etc cropping up then and only then should you think about the possibility of changing things up.

robie · Aug 1, 2012

I agree with Ibglowin. Learn to make it by the book, then start experimenting.
Spend some time learning what each of those additions will and will not do to a kit. What improves a fresh/frozen grape wine may not always provide similar benefit to a kit wine.