Have made about 10 various wine kits so far, primarily redcs, and decided I
would finally try one of the Port Wine Kits (Brew King in this case). Ended up
buying 2 as all my equipment if for 23 litres, and they are only 11.5 L each.

Anyone else tried these and any advice other than what is stated on the
instruction kit? I see I have to add disolved corn sugar after primarily. I
usually double at least the time to make a kit (ie 12 weeks minimum for 6 week
kit) and will try it out this way.

Any comments as to taste, aging etc appreciated.

I started one yesterday. Cellar Craft in this case. Ports are
different from wines and icewines as per aging. I plan to bulk age
for at least 2 years. 'Twill be Christmas of 2006 before I sample my
first bottle. I hope to still have a bottle or two in 20 years to
enjoy.

4nospam (Insprucegrove) wrote in message >...
> Have made about 10 various wine kits so far, primarily redcs, and decided I
> would finally try one of the Port Wine Kits (Brew King in this case). Ended up
> buying 2 as all my equipment if for 23 litres, and they are only 11.5 L each.
>
> Anyone else tried these and any advice other than what is stated on the
> instruction kit? I see I have to add disolved corn sugar after primarily. I
> usually double at least the time to make a kit (ie 12 weeks minimum for 6 week
> kit) and will try it out this way.
>
> Any comments as to taste, aging etc appreciated.

Ditto the Reisling ice wine kits. Mine is awaiting the holiday weekend to be made.

I've not seen the port kits, but when I do I'll be a buyer.

Recently I've taste the Brew King Kit from one of my vintner's friend.
His port was 3 year old in the bottle. It taste simply fantastic,
lot of fruit and just a bit of oak. So I decided to buy the same kit
this year. They are only 3 month old now but are very impressive. I
add more oak in the primary : the regular 30gr powdered oak that come
with the kit + 30 gr. american oak chips and 30 gr. french oak chip.
I plan to let it aged in carboy during one year and maybe I will add
Stavin oak bean for the last 3 month of aging before filtering and
bottling. Just buy today the Brew King Niagara Vidal Late Harvest and
a lot of Island Mist + Niagara Mist that I will start tomorrow..humm


Séb

I ordered a BK port wine kit 2 years ago. When I got it, it was leaking.
The mail order store kindly and promptly replaced it. When I opened the
second one it smelled bad, kind of rotten, but I made it anyway. After a
year of bulk aging it still smelled bad and tasted bad as well. It is the
only kit I have ever poured out.

May be just a bad experience but you asked for our experiences.

Ray

"Insprucegrove" > wrote in message
...
> Have made about 10 various wine kits so far, primarily redcs, and decided
I
> would finally try one of the Port Wine Kits (Brew King in this case).
Ended up
> buying 2 as all my equipment if for 23 litres, and they are only 11.5 L
each.
>
> Anyone else tried these and any advice other than what is stated on the
> instruction kit? I see I have to add disolved corn sugar after primarily.
I
> usually double at least the time to make a kit (ie 12 weeks minimum for 6
week
> kit) and will try it out this way.
>
> Any comments as to taste, aging etc appreciated.
>
>
>

"Ray" > wrote in message om>...
> I ordered a BK port wine kit 2 years ago. When I got it, it was leaking.
> The mail order store kindly and promptly replaced it. When I opened the
> second one it smelled bad, kind of rotten, but I made it anyway.
---snip

I certainly know the impatiens of trying to make wine out of anything,
but… why.? You don't read the signs?

SG Brix

Sorry, I'm not sure I understand your question. Why what? What signs?

If you mean why would I continue with something that did not smell good --
well because taste and smell can be fooled. If I stopped every wine that
tasted or smelled bad at any stage, very few wines would make it past a few
months old. I always give a wine a full chance and it often pulls through
these problems. This one did not.

Ray

"sgbrix" > wrote in message
om...
> "Ray" > wrote in message
om>...
> > I ordered a BK port wine kit 2 years ago. When I got it, it was
leaking.
> > The mail order store kindly and promptly replaced it. When I opened the
> > second one it smelled bad, kind of rotten, but I made it anyway.
> ---snip
>
> I certainly know the impatiens of trying to make wine out of anything,
> but. why.? You don't read the signs?
>
> SG Brix