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Wine kit

I have a Grande Maison wine kit, as shown here...

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I followed the instructions to the letter, however, all is not well. During fermentation, the wine expanded through the airlock and went all over our nice new ~cream~ carpet (I kid you not). So I poured some away, cleaned up the mess and left it to continue.

About three weeks ago I added the sachet of clearing agent and it has been standing ever since. The instructions say to bottle the wine once it has cleared and suggests this should happen after about two weeks. Mine is ~very~ dark and while is does not appear cloudy or murky in any way, it is not translucent. A torch-light will not pass though. Also, I left about a 3cm gap at the top of the demijohn after the accident, should I top that up with water?

I'm a bit lost with this TBH, so any help appreciated etc.

Mike.

Reply to
Mike
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I already have the 5gal Chianti (red) and a 1gal Chablis (white) just waiting to get started. What I am waiting for is warmer weather to maintain temperature during fermentation. At this time of year it is impossible unless I keep the heating on all day.

Ok, I will crack a bottle open at Christmas, then open another after a couple of months or so, and so on..

No, I started out making what I hope will turn out to be a pear wine, using the fruit from a pear tree in our own back garden. I have two demijohns and one bottle full. The two demijohns contain wine of a completely different colour, and as yet, have not cleared. Here

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105k image.

I realised this would be a long process, so I bought the small kit to try out and enjoy sooner.

I must get organised to enable me to "slowly build up a reserve of older wine" as you say.

Mike.

Reply to
Mike

At what point did it come out the airlock? Most kits suggest fermentation in a bucket until SG drops to about 1.010. Then it is put under an airlock with a head space. At what point did you put it under the airlock and how much air space did you leave?

I assume that you instructions left out the part about not fermenting on carpet! ;o)

Ray

Reply to
Ray Calvert

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