" > wrote in
ups.com:

The Vinters reserve kits specifically say to stir up the lees very well
into the wine.

Read the instructions.

Some of the original packet #1 is part of the fining process.

-ET

> Thank you for your patients and helping me!!! I love wine and I still
> have a few years left in me, I would like to produce a quality
> product.
>
> I will try and be more specific. The kit I am using is a "Vitners
> Reserve" kit. It is a 6 us. gal. kit. I did the primary, then the
> secondary, now my specific gravity tells me I should follow the
> instructions with the kit and add potassium sorbate, potassium
> metabisulphite and ininglass, and stir vigorously to "drive off co2".
> I was just questioning stirring up all those lees that have settled in
> the carboy in the last few weeks. Should I fine or just rack??? any
> help is appreciated, I will also check out the web sites you mention.
> Thanks
>
> Norm
>
> pinky wrote:
>> Wine kits do differ in their instructions a bit on this issue but the
> main
>> theory is that you stir the lot in and the fining agents need the
> lees so
>> that they react at a molecular level causing them to cling and bundle
>
>> together forming ever larger "clumps" which fall the to bottom of
> your
>> carboy in a more solid fashion. If you go to the Winexpert website (
>> www.winexpert.com) and look in "The Answer Box" you will find a more
>> detailed explanation.
>> Different kit producers do vary a bit -- some ( Winexpert) say stir
> in
>> vigorously others ( like Beaverdale in UK ) say stir in gently --
> just like
>> folding in an ingredient when you are cooking.
>>
>> I confess that I use both methods and indeed, more frequently than
> not,
>> neither, -- in that I do not fine at all and let gravity and a
> subsequent
>> racking do the job on its own -- this just takes more time and
> patience!
>> Might I just add an extra bit of advice. On here, for a good reasoned
> answer
>> to your questions, it is better to give as much information as you
> can. For
>> instance, in this case, it would help to know which type of kit is
> being
>> used and who the manufacturer is.
>> There are an amazingly large number of winemakers on here, who have a
> huge
>> amount of knowledge and even more experience, to cope with just about
> every
>> conceivable question. Most of them are only too willing to give
> advice and
>> only a few ( I have been known to do so!!!!) get impatient.
>> So always ask away but do read up on the subject as well and, if you
> have a
>> few hours to fill in, do visit Jack Kellers web site
>> (http://winemaking.jackkeller.net) which contains more information
> than you
>> will ever need. He is also very helpful in person when he appears on
> this
>> NG.
>> Also don't be afraid to ask you local "Home Brew" shop for advice ---
> most
>> of them will give you excellent service and lots of free help -- and
> won't
>> try and oversell to you.
>> My only final comment is to buy a "quality" 5 gallon wine kit -- as
> much as
>> you can afford. In UK they start off at about £17 ( Solomon Grundy)
> which
>> are somewhat basic(!) and go all the way up to £100 ( Selection
> Estate
>> Crushendo). Also do buy 5 gallon/23 litre kits -- doing a one gallon
> kit
>> takes just as much work and you only get 6 bottles!!!!!! ( All
> gallons
>> Imperial for you colonists!)
>> I have no axe to grind but I find that the Beaverdale whites at about
> £34
>> give very satisfactory results but For a reasonable red I go to the
>> Selection International and Limited Edition series these run at
> about£55 £62
>> per 5 gallon kit.
>>
>> I could go on but I have rabbited on too long already.
>>
>> Welcome to the club!!
>>
>> --
>> Trevor A Panther
>> In South Yorkshire, England
>> Remove "PSANTISPAM" from my address line to reply.
>> All outgoing mail is scanned by Norton
>> Anti Virus for your protection too!
>> > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>> >I am new to this so forgive my ignorance... I am doing a wine kit.
> I
>> > did the primary, then racked to carboy, now it's almost time to add
> the
>> > other ingredients in and "stir vigorously". Won't this stir up all
> the
>> > crap that has settled to the bottom of the carboy?? Will the fining
>> > agent (isinglass) make this crap all settle down again???
>> >
>
>