Hello:
I have a lot of questions!
I am interested in learning to make wine, and started New Year's Eve with a Brew King Vintner's Reserve Cabernet kit. I made it according to the instructions included with the concentrate, and it seems to be doing well so far - weird how I like just sitting next to it listening to the airlock bubble.
The instructions say I'm supposed to rack to a secondary fermenter for more fermenting, then stabilize with metabisulphite and sorbate and add chitosan, top it off and then let it clarify, then bottle. I've read some references to letting the wine bulk age before bottling. Does this mean that I would stabilize/clarify, then rack to another carboy for bulk aging, and then bottling? Can anyone give me a recommended time frame for the bulk aging? Any potential mistakes to try to avoid by doing this?
My local brewstore has the Brew King Selection Series concentrates on sale, and I have heard that these are significantly better in quality than the Vintner's Reserve and worth the extra price. Have y'all found this to be true?
I'd like to purchase one of the Vintner's Reserve kits, probably a red wine. What other recommendations do you have for fiddling with these kits to possibly get a better finished product? I've heard to make five gallons instead of six for more flavor, is this a good idea? Should I try a different strain of yeast than the Premier Cuvee which is what I think the majority of this brand's kits are packaged with? Ferment at other than recommended temperatures?
I'd appreciate any ideas on how to tweak these kits, or even advice on what NOT to do!
Thanks, Theresa