I've made a few of the Vinter's Reserve wines from those $60 kits. I have been told that while good, my wines are strong. I don't necessarily think so, they seem fine to me.
Anyway I'm paying special attention to the directions and oddities I've noticed. I don't have the instructions in front of me now, but I think I can paraphrase... I'm trying to make sure I'm making the right volume of wine.
At the start of the instructions, it says to use a fermenter capable of handling 8 gallons. I'm using 6.5gal carboys. I don't know why it says to use an 8 gallon fermenter, in five wines I've never seen a violent fermentation which would require that much headspace.
Anyway, I think around the stage of stabalizing and clearing, the instructions say to top up the fermenter to within 2 inches of the bung. The bung is the stopper/airlock holder, right?
At this stage, I do not top off to within 2" of the bung. I make sure I'm topped off to a total of six gallons.
This leads me to the following discrepencies: 1) Why does it say I need an 8 gallon fermenter? 2) If I use a 6.5 gallon carboy, and only make six gallons, I can see the wine being strong if I am supposed to top up to within 2" of the bung on either a 6.5 or a 8 gal fermenter.
Can someone explain? I think I'm doing it right, but just not sure.
Thanks.