Introduce Yourselves here

[SiSandrine]

Hello Everybody !

Starting with a cheap Carafe 21 classic red kit just to give me a bottle to drink in the evenings which hasn't cost me very much, which is the whole point of me geting into this in the first place.

I would go for a Wine No1 with various variations and then WN2 etc. You will not be disappointed.

Welcome.

[Ted.B]

I would go for a Wine No1 with various variations and then WN2 etc. You will not be disappointed.

Welcome.

I am in agreement with you here. Infact I chose to join this forum because of the excellent step by step guide but before I try those I felt that a quick kit would enable me to work through a checklist of sorts which would see me reach the stage where I had all the basic kit I need and a rough idea of how to use it. And also I would have 30 bottles of something that might at a push be described as a wine.

Well I promised a question wouldn't be long coming and here it is. I got my fermenter up into the airing cupboard about three hours ago now( after pitching the yeast) but I have yet to see my airlock go through a 'bloop' cycle. How many more hours to go before I should start worrying about it ?

Followed the kit instructions to the letter as best I could. Perhaps my must was a degree over the recommended 25 and again, the temperature in my airing cupboard is showing as 27 celcius. Ambient temps have been quite high today as I am sure you are all aware of, and thankful for.

A quick glance at the instructions for wine#1 has shown me that I ought not worry until 48 hours have passed and I suppose that the same sort of timeframe would apply to most kits.

Beginners panic I guess.

[lockwood1956]

Hi

we all worried and fretted just as you are doing over our first batches....

worry not, give it a little more time.

Airlock activity however is not always a good indicator of fermentation, look at the surface of the must.....is it fizzing? if it is, and the airlock isnt blooping, check how good a seal you have with the bung.

another indicator is to remove the bung and have a listen at the mouth of the DJ....is it fizzing?

other than that....get your next batch on the go


regards
Bob

[Ted.B]

Well after posting last evening I popped off to the pub to sample a few and by the time I got back my airlock was blooping away in a very healthy looking fashion, and remains just as healthy this morning.



Time to get those demijohns cleaned and sterlised now.

Ted.

[Bassman]

Just Joined

Hi Everyone

Have lurked for a little while and really like the site. I live in Northampton, and have returned (in recent enforced retirement) to winemaking after a 30 year absence. Determined to continue to drink well and deprive Osborne of the tax. Have made a few kits with some satisfactory success at the cheap end. Had a nerve-wracking experience with 'connoisseur' Barolo, but after lengthy struggling turned out ok in the end. WN1 (a gallon) for Xmas lasted about 3 days with my 3 adult daughters back home. Made a 5 gallon WN1 (with a Young's Red Wine yeast - I know- I know!) and got my two young granddaughters to do the mixing - Holly and Emily. They call the wine 'EmiHol' and gave a talk on it at school! I trust you will forgive them the transgression; they are not yet really ready for trademark , copyright and intellectual property rights lectures. The 5 gallons have gone already and as daughter No 2 (their mother) pointed out - Kir season is almost upon us. I shall be making up more kit wines, WN1 and possibly WN2, and some experimenting once I have a decent stock built up.

I will watch and read, contribute where I can, possibly mainly with sarcasm, but I recognise from lurking that there are skills in this forum which greatly exceed mine. For which I thank you all.

I drink mostly Red!

Cheers

Lawrence

[lockwood1956]

I recognise from lurking that there are skills in this forum which greatly exceed mine. For which I thank you all.

Hi Lawrence,

welcome aboard, your skills will catch up in no time at all

I kind of like EmiHol, and they made it, so they can call it what they like.... i wonder what the teacher thought when they posed the "what did you do this weekend" question, and the answer came back...we made wine!

regards
Bob

[norman]

Where did the real world go?

Hello world ... Just put down two gallons with a mate. He asked me to help him to try out winemaking. I'm sure I've only been out of the loop for a year or two, but my old wine shop's closed and now they're only doing the market once a month. Only "real-world" place in town to get supplies now is the local ironmonger, who has a few bit's and bobs, mostly dusty. Thankfully the supermarket's still selling oranges and lemons or I'd just give up now ;-) Gripe over, for now :-) All the best to all you cyberspace brew-peeps ...

[Rich]

Hi Norman! Welcome to wah.

[Cellar_Rat]

I drink mostly Red!

Cheers

Lawrence

Hi Lawrence,

Welcome aboard. I can see Holly and Emily enjoying making grape wine in September. A great family fun event. You will never look back.

Cheers,

Brian

[goldseal]

contribute where I can, possibly mainly with sarcasm ...

You'll fit in well here, then

Only "real-world" place in town to get supplies now is the local ironmonger

Our very own Duffbeer runs http://hobbywinesupplies.co.uk/ - a good place to try if you are partial to a bit of mail-order.


Welcome aboard both.

[norman]

... DuffBeer

... good looking site. With PayPal, of which I am a great fan.

[Rich]

... good looking site. With PayPal, of which I am a great fan.

Duff's service is excellent,

Paypal I'm wary of.

[gmjh]

Hi there

Started wine brewing about 4 months ago. Some of you may recognise my name as I ask a load of probably annoying questions at the Home Wine and Beer Making Forum. Now I'm here to ask a new load of annoying questions (the kit making forum looks particulary interesting here) G

[Rich]

Hi gmjh,

Welcome to this forum.

'sorted' your other thread out for you

Rich

[Runningwolf]

Hello from Lake Erie

Hello, I have been making wine for a few years now mainly from kits and juice. I just discovered this forum the other day and I am always looking for new idea's from friends far and near. I am on the South Side of Lake Erie in Erie, PA, USA. I hope to learn some new tricks and respond to others when ever possible. Below is a list of what I Have made to date:
Primary
Island Mist Cranberry Melbec
5 Gal Maple Syrup
Carboys
6 gal Chilean Carmenere
6 gal Chilean Malbec
6 gal Chilean Red Zinfandel
6 gal Chilean Muscato
6 gal Chilean Pinot grigio
6 gal Gewürztraminer 5B
6 gal Riesling 5B
7 gal Candy Cane
6 gal Niagara
5 gal Plum
6 gal fredonia
7 gal Blackberry/Isabella
7 gal Labrusca

Made and Bottled
From Juice:
- Late Harvest Vignoles w/ chocolate
- Late Harvest Vignoles
- cherry/chocolate
- cherry chocolate/almonds
-Catawba
-Vignoles
-Tall Ships (Niagara 80% & Cayuga 20%)
-Cayuga with 20% Niagara blend
-Meghans Vista (Concord 2/3 & Dimond 1/3)
-Steuben
-Diamond
-Traminette
-Sweet Harvest Blend (Niagara/Concord 50/50)
-Isabella
-Vidal x3
-Raspberry Blush x2
-Rhubarb x2
-Rhubarb Strawberry
-Strawberry
-Blackberry Isabella
-Niagara x2
-Cranberry
-Mystic Sky (Niagara/Cranberry Blend) x2
-Vidal Ice Wine
_Vidal Ice Wine with chocolate blend

-Skeeter Pee
-Skeeter Pee with Raspberry/Apple concentrate
-Apple/Jalapeno Wine
-Country Apple from Cider

RJS Cru Select
- German Riesling Traminer
- Italian Chianti Riserva
Orchard Breezin:
-CranApple Chardonnay
-Sangria w/Seville Orange
-Watermelon White Merlot
-Acai Raspberry Cabernet Sauvignon
-Calypso Bianco
-Pomegranate Wildberry Zinfandel
-Raspberry White Zinfandel
-Green Apple Gewurztraminer
-Cranberry Chianti

- RJS Orange Chocolate Port


Wine Expert:
Island Mist –
-BlueBerry Pinot Noir
-Blackberry Cabernet
-Peach Apricot Chardonnay x 2
-Black Raspberry Merlot
-Wildberry Shiraz
-Green Apple Riesling
-Strawberry White Merlot
-Exotic Fruits White Zifandel
-Mango Citrus Symphony
-Kiwi Pear Sauvignon Blanc
-White Cranberry Pinot Gris x 2

Vintners Reserve-
-Merlot
-Liebfraumilch x 2
-Piesporter

Selection White Zinfandel
Selection Estate – Washington Columbia Valley Riesling x2
Selection Original – Piesporter
Selection Viognier
Selection Symphony
Selection Vieux Chateau Du Roi
Selection Original White Merlot x2
World Vineyard South African Chenin Blanc x2
World Vineyard – Washington Riesling
Limited Edition –
-New Zealand Gewürztraminer
-Australian Riesling
-Trio Blanca
-Pacific Quartet
-Pacifica White


Heron Bay:
Ultra Gewurztraminer
Ultra Cabernet Merlot
__________________