Today I bottled the blend. Thanks for your inputs, this is a good wine,
now.

The original problem was: After making a Vino-del-Vida kit, bottling and
aging, it tasted really "weak". So I blended.

78% Shiraz and 22% Cab. Sauv. from Trader Joe's $4.99 list. :*) Though
input for Box wines, and other low end wines, I decided to go all the
way up to a $4.99 Cab. :*)

It clouded when blended and I left it set for a while, including sitting
in the garage for coldness (30-50, not that cold, but hey, it's global
warming!), and now it's clear and tastes great.

woo-hoo, thanks
DAve

Dave Allison wrote:
> Well, it appears to be clearing a little already, from reading above,
> I'm setting outside in 40-60 degree weather for colder storage. Maybe
> that will help. Unfortunately, here in Raleigh we are not getting as
> cold as a good cold snap would help with clearing.
>
> I'll check on it in a week and update ya all.
> DAve
>
>
>
> Dave Allison wrote:
>> I pulled the 28 corks. Blended and sure enough it had a haze. No idea
>> why, but Luc was correct on my blending, it hazed. So I have a 6
>> gallon carboy and a 1 gallon topped and sitting. I hope it doesn't
>> take a month. I'll try a laser pointer into it - to see when it clears.
>>
>> BTW, the blending has made the wine taste much better. woohoo. Now if
>> I can get it clear. :*)
>>
>> thanks, all.
>> DAve
>> p.s. I assume I should add nothing to make the clearing happen quicker.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Jake Speed wrote:
>>> I've never had a clear wine form a haze after blending. Any idea what
>>> would cause that? How do you clear it?
>>>
>>> Bryan
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 08:24:23 +0100, Luc Volders >
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Blending can give some unpredictable results.
>>>> The blended wine may produce a haze after a while.
>>>>
>>>> The best way to go would be blending in a carboy, waiting for a
>>>> month or
>>>> so and then botlle.
>>>>
>>>> Luc
>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, 27 Dec 2006 18:23:53 -0500, Dave Allison
>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi all.
>>>>>> Happy New Year to each of you. Thanks for a fellowship around wine
>>>>>> making.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I finished a Vino del Vida Shiraz wine kit. I follow directions
>>>>>> for a 6 gallon kit, and after bottling and waiting 6 months...
>>>>>> it's a little light. Not bad, but kinda light in nose and taste.
>>>>>> So I was thinking about blending.... but I've never done that.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have 30 bottles. I have done the recommended blending test
>>>>>> (several glasses, then mix different proportions until I find what
>>>>>> I like.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I find an Australian Cab Sauv/Shiraz commercial wine - mixed to
>>>>>> 40% to the kit 60% is a good taste.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Do I:
>>>>>> 1. empty 29 bottles (took a bottle to figure this out) into a
>>>>>> carboy and mix as above.
>>>>>> 2. open each bottle and remove 40% and recap.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm thinking (oh, that is dangerous!) if I empty all the wine into
>>>>>> a carboy, I'm adding exposure to air, I could damage the wine.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I guess a third option in my head - is to decanter each bottle as
>>>>>> I go and add 40% of the commercial wine. Of course this makes
>>>>>> giving bottles away impossible. (don't drink this as is, add this
>>>>>> other bottle to a proportion of ... no no no).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Suggestions?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> DAve
>>>>>>
>>>>>> p.s. Not sure I'll do another VdV kit, my wine store mentioned
>>>>>> many make it to a 5 gallon carboy. So many think this is a weak
>>>>>> kit? just asking.