Thanks for the company & brand name corrections, If I can't get the
names right, how could I have followed instructions? smile. haha. I see
now the instruction sheet was just listing the brands of Vineco, and
KenRidge is one of them. So this is a Vineco California Connoisseur
Pinot Noir wine kit.

I have gone back and re-walked through my notes and realize some steps
that may have caused my problem: (no surprise, ugh?)

1. I use Better Bottles (plastic) and when I measured up 6 gallons long
ago, it was just to the bottom of the beginning of the narrowing neck
(down a full 6 inches from the top of the bottle), so when instructed to
fill to 6 gallons, I did, leaving a lot of open space, thinking I would
top it up later, but the instructions never had me top up later. So when
I thought about letting it clear itself for another month, I knew I
needed to "top up" to get rid of the space.

2. NOW I remember what I did different (blush, this is embarrassing), to
add more "jammy-ness" to the Pinot Noir, I had added 1 oz of dried
elderberries during primary fermentation. Now this makes sense that I
did not clear, as I did not add anything to break it down, like pectic
enzyme. Plus I left the kit instructions and went out on my own, thus I
can't complain.

So, I humbly apologize for bashing the kit for being cheap. sigh. Your
other suggestions: I did add Bentonite at the beginning and mixed it in
well. Also I did degas with an electric drill attachment, over a 3 day
period (twice a day) as the instructions read.

I assume at this point, after Sorbate and Fining agent added, it is too
late for pectic enzyme to be added. So I'm set to let it sit and clear,
hopefully. Otherwise, I know I did it to myself!

Any other suggestions, are welcome.

thanks again for the two inputs I received so far.
humbled,
DAve

Steve wrote:
> Dave I run a small FOP (Ferment on Premises) and we sell Vineco kits
> Thus we make California Connoisseur kits all the time. However, Pinot
> Noir is not that popular in this area, and we have not been carrying
> the Pinot Noir.
>
> First the company name is Vineco. The brand is California
> Connoisseur. Ken Ridge is another brand from Vineco.
>
> Second Winexpert is also a Canadian company. Both Vineco and
> Winexpert are owned by the same company Andres Wines. If fact all
> major kit brands are Canadian including Spagnols and Cellar Craft.
>
> The California Connoisseur kits are roughly the same as Winexpert's
> Vintners Reserve kits. If you are comparing to WE's Selection kits,
> yes they are a lot cheaper.
>
> We don't have problems making Calif Conn kits. The instructions seem
> clear to me, but then I make Vineco kits all the time. What exactly
> was unclear or lacking? BTW, WE instructions are different in a few
> spots, so may not be appropriate for this kit.
>
> If the kit didn't fit your carboy either you didn't add enough water
> to the primary (15.5 litres needed) or your carboy is too large.
>
> Did you add the bentonite at the beginning? Did you thoroughly degas
> the wine before adding the isinglass clearing agent?
>
> Steve
>
> On Wed, 08 Nov 2006 20:53:51 -0500, Dave Allison
> > wrote:
>
>> Hi, all.
>> Daily reader of this NG, have learned a lot from pro's and newbies. Here
>> is my current situation:
>> (well, first, this is my 8th wine kit, and I've also done many Jack
>> Keller based-recipes as well as the kits, have bottled over 400 bottles,
>> so I'm kinda new, but not first time at this)
>>
>> Maybe you get what you pay for... I purchased the above wine kit for a
>> real bargain, compared to WinExpert kits, this was real cheap. As I
>> moved this kit along, I got to the final stage - clarifying, and well,
>> it's not clarifying. The instructions says, "filter it", which I don't
>> have a filter machine and don't plan on purchasing one for this kit. I
>> experimented with a coffee filter - no change to the clarity. I've never
>> had a wine not clear. It makes 23L (6 gallons), so here is what I've
>> done, any other suggestions are welcome!
>>
>> I decided to be patient and let it sit longer in the carboy (this kit is
>> a 4 week kit and ready to drink when bottled, they say).
>>
>> However, the kit didn't fill my carboy - yes, I followed all
>> instructions to the letter! - , so I split into two 3 gallon carboys and
>> topped up one with 4 1/2 bottles of Pinot Noir (Rex Goliath 47 Pound
>> Rooster, since I like this)My rationale was, experiment with one as is,
>> and one topped up with good wine. That means one 3 gallon carboy is
>> almost 30% added wine. So now I have both ready for aging.
>>
>> I added 1/4 Tsp of Potassium Meta, and 1 Tsp of Carbonite to each. Mixed
>> both well and added airlock to each. My plan is to let it sit another
>> month and see if it has cleared up. If not, another month of wait. Then
>> decide if another clearing agent might help.
>>
>> Anyone with experience on this wine kit? I was amazed how the
>> instructions were lacking much info, luckily I have done many kits, so
>> checked WinExpert instructions to ensure I was doing it right.
>>
>> Ken Ridge Connoisseur Pinot Noir - out of Canada. Did I get what I paid
>> for? smile. I think it was $47 US.
>>
>> DAve
>