Yes, good point. The Winexpert site has the detailed instructions for
each kit - which I have found two mistakes in two different kits and
found corrections on the site.
For this kit:
http://www.winexpert.com/%7EASSETS/D...eserve_Eng.pdf

For when it is drinkable: they state "Try to wait at least six months
before you try your first sample—but a year is better."

Good you pointed out that, Brian. The WinExpert said they rarely update
the instructions, so it was a fluke that I had two kits in a row with
updated info on the web (one was a wrong S.G. reading). But I do check
each time now. smile.

DAve

Brian wrote:
Dave Allison wrote:
Yes, your poor Dad will have to look at your wonderful bottles of wine
for a while. Though I did this kit once, and it was very nice in 6
months.

Drill degasser - the instructions when hand stirring says "stir
vigorously for 2 minutes" and "if you don't do this right the wine
will not clear" and scary things like that. What is vigorous? I tried
this a few times and got blisters so went and bought a drill attachment.

I use a Drill attachment also - I have a 19volt cordless and put it on
high and then stir one direction until the wine is spinning and then
hit reverse and do it again until the wine is a tornado in the carboy.
I do this over and over for about 1 minute. Then I rest (snicker) and
the 2 inches of foam slowly settles. After 5 minutes, I repeat the
above. This time much less foam. Then I consider it done.

I just did this to my Zinfandel kit and it's in the last 28 days of
clearing.

Good luck. Let us know if Dad likes this better than Charles' 2Buck!
I'm guessing he'll think he has a $20 bottle of wine and much enjoy it.

DAve

wrote:
Hi gang!

I'd just like to say that I think winemakers have a great sense of
humor and feel that this was the post's intention.

Okay, I'd like to get my Dad off the two buck-chuck, but the wine kit
I bought is "Vintners Reserve - Cabernet Sauvignon." The guy at the
store tells me that I should age this in the bottle for at least a
year, before drinking. Well, I guess Dad's going to be two-bucking
for a bit longer.

I am now at the degassing stage, it's quite foamy. I have the drill
attachment, but I always feel I'm causing the foam with the motion?!?
I'm going to search for more info on this subject.

Thank you all for your advise.
Susan

Reading from Wine Experts 2007/2008 Catalog Aging Periods for Vintners
Reserve (Reds- Minimum 2 months, Maximum 1 year)(Whites - Min. 1 month,
Max 1 year).

Brian