Other Tweeking Cheap Kits

[Khristyjeff]

Did you ever add golden raisins to a white wine?

Go for @wineview and let us know how you like it. I’ve added green table grapes to a white wine kit before which turned out great. The golden raisins seems to be a low risk experiment. I may try it myself. Good luck.

 

[Christopher Anderson]

Have you ever tried the Fontana kits sold by Amazon?

Hello Chris,
Thank you for reaching out with your inquiry!

The main difference between the ABC Crafted Series and the Fontana Series is in the sourcing and blending of the wine concentrates. The ABC Crafted Series uses blended concentrates from various wine regions around the world. For example, a Crafted Series Cabernet might combine Cabernet from Chile with Cabernet from California.

On the other hand, the Fontana Series is more region-specific, with concentrates coming from well-known wine-producing regions such as California or Australia, staying true to the origin of the grape.

If you have any more questions or need assistance choosing a kit, feel free to let us know.

Best regards,
ABC Cork Co Customer Support

 

[wineview]

Probably. The amount of change depends on the wine and the amount of raisins.

Although this is a kit wine thread, a lesson from white grape wines applies. Last fall I fermented Vidal juice as one batch, and the remainder of the grapes on the skins, producing 2 different wines. The two wines are quite similar, but the on-skins wine has an orange caste to it, and it's heavier bodied. We like it a lot, but it is different from the juice-only wine.

I expect that if you add golden raisins to a white kit, you'll get a similar result, depending on the varietal and the amount of raisins used. Tannin, color, aroma, and body elements will be extracted from the raisins. It's not going to be as heavy bodied as a red, but more so than the typical white.

The next question and I know this is all personal, but how many ounces without going overboard for a five gallon batch. I believe raisins come in 12 ounce boxes.

 

[winemaker81]

The next question and I know this is all personal, but how many ounces without going overboard for a five gallon batch. I believe raisins come in 12 ounce boxes.

I have no firm answer, but if it were me, I'd try 12 to 16 oz in a batch. After that, adjust other batches based upon your results.

 

[Jovimaple]

The next question and I know this is all personal, but how many ounces without going overboard for a five gallon batch. I believe raisins come in 12 ounce boxes.

Be aware that the raisins will add to the sg because they do have sugar in them.

 

[joeswine]

Would dark raisins change the color in white wine.

They add a depth to the structure of the base .16 ozs per 5/6 gallon batch.

 

[joeswine]

Thompson seedless grapes are a good idea for whites also.

 

[wineview]

Thompson seedless grapes are a good idea for whites also.

Do you crush them a bit first or leave them whole?

 

[joeswine]

What I do is sauté them with 2 cups of the base wine to start the breakdown and release of the sugars and structure of the greats themselves , once the start to break down and get soft dump them direct into the batch .
The pic show blueberries you get the ider

 

[joeswine]

something to think about

 

[kevinlfifer]

I did a Fontana Sav Blanc recently and added regular raisins for more body. Turned out more like a Chenin Blanc. Was really good for a white.

I use a glass rock to sink my bag of stuff I add.

Just ordered 6 Wild Grape kits during Amazon Prime sale days. Any recommendations?

 

[Christopher Anderson]

I did a Fontana Sav Blanc recently and added regular raisins for more body. Turned out more like a Chenin Blanc. Was really good for a white.

I use a glass rock to sink my bag of stuff I add.

Just ordered 6 Wild Grape kits during Amazon Prime sale days. Any recommendations?

ordered 3 at the $60 price, 2 reds and a white. plus BestwineAmerica grape extraction. red and white. will be posting how they work out. Will be comparing CS from Wildgrapes and BestAmerica

 

[joeswine]

ordered 3 at the $60 price, 2 reds and a white. plus BestwineAmerica grape extraction. red and white. will be posting how they work out. Will be comparing CS from Widegrapes and BestAmerica

Sounds like a plan to me
I looked on Amazon $60 ??

 

[Christopher Anderson]

Sounds like a plan to me
I looked on Amazon $60 ??

59.99 during Amazon Prime daze early Oct. Specials changed daily. They will probably do it again during Thanksgiving weekend. Last year Wild grapes went for 35.99, 38.99, 49.99 depending on item, day and hour. Pays to watch hourly.

 

[joeswine]

59.99 during Amazon Prime daze early Oct. Specials changed daily. They will probably do it again during Thanksgiving weekend. Last year Wild grapes went for 35.99, 38.99, 49.99 depending on item, day and hour. Pays to watch hourly.

Thank you

 

[joeswine]

Ok , this is a wild grapes Merlot kit ,
24 bottles at a 13% abv. That’s the average Ive yielded , sometimes a bottle less .
The consistency of this kits aren’t always the same , fact.
That’s why o watch the water level and let my hydrometer be may guild .
Adding fresh grapes or fruit to the primary or oak and tannins makes a difference overall.

 

[joeswine]

Just received 2 more today from one of my customers it never ends.
All theses cheaper kits make a decent everyday wine .now one of the ones I just received was a Zpino Grigio I’m going to add tangelo zest to give a a twist make it light and refreshing

 

[joeswine]

Remember what I said about theses kits , doing the same process over and over the Sharaz yielded 13% abv 21 bottles, 12% /24 bottles .( Merlot)
Theses kits are unto themselves , don’t take them for granted , use your hydrometer when added the water .

 

[Christopher Anderson]

Best Wine America verses Wild Grapes Cabernet Sauvignon. Plus adding 16 oz of Blackberry to each kit.
Both were bought during Amazon Prime days for about $60.00 ea. The Best did not come with oak so I am adding 20 grams of American Oak. Otherwise, I am following the directions to see how they turn out. Originally, I was going to follow directions exactly, but I like adding Blackberry to many of my CS kits. There is a large difference between the amount of juice. The Wild Grapes weigh almost 3 times the Best. Plus the Best requires the addition of sugar 8.8lb. The Best yeast smells like bread yeast.The SG on both measured 1.092. Did not check Ph as these are kits. The Pdf is the scanned BestWine instructions. 10/24/2024. Will let all know how it turns out.

Used cane over beat sugar.

Best with oak stirred then yeast added

Wild Grapes with oak and yeast added


Wild Grapes Cabernet day two. Has a cap


Best day 2 very red

 

[joeswine]

Best Wine America verses Wild Grapes Cabernet Sauvignon. Plus adding 16 oz of Blackberry to each kit.
Both were bought during Amazon Prime days for about $60.00 ea. The Best did not come with oak so I am adding 20 grams of American Oak. Otherwise, I am following the directions to see how they turn out. Originally, I was going to follow directions exactly, but I like adding Blackberry to many of my CS kits. There is a large difference between the amount of juice. The Wild Grapes weigh almost 3 times the Best. Plus the Best requires the addition of sugar 8.8lb. The Best yeast smells like bread yeast.The SG on both measured 1.092. Did not check Ph as these are kits. The Pdf is the scanned BestWine instructions. 10/24/2024. Will let all know how it turns out.
View attachment 117141
Used cane over beat sugar.
View attachment 117142
Best with oak stirred then yeast added
View attachment 117143
Wild Grapes with oak and yeast added
View attachment 117144

Wild Grapes Cabernet day two. Has a cap
View attachment 117153

Best day 2 very redView attachment 117154

Outstanding I love blackberry fresh in most reds