Any recommendations for a port kit?

[SpudtheBinx]

Hi, I am thinking of making a port style desert wine for over christmas, but I wont be able to buy it untill the start of december. I only want to make one gallon. Is there any recommendations for a good port type dessert wine that can be done in 3 weeks? If they cant be done in three weeks, then any recommendations for a good kit that takes longer? ( I can always buy a bottle or two of good port and keep the bottles )

[StockeyDAW]

I am afraid not SP to short a time for a home port wine. I think you will need at least 6 months to 1 year for a port kit and possibly even longer? There have been two port kits that have done very well at this years WineMaker International Amateur Wine Competition. One won best in show dessert wine and the other the most medals awarded to any one kit. The best in show dessert was a Cellar Craft Porto Corinto (black Currant) and the most medals by a kit was a RJ Spagnols Kit "Orange Chocolate Port (28 medals). Each kit is a 3 gallon kit and costs in the area or $80 each in Canada. Cheers --hope this helps. Pick one up and prepare it for the 2008 Christmas. DAW

[Rich]

Spud, I've not seen any kits for port that are just 1 gallon. Doesn't mean there aren't any though. Kenridge do a port kit, as do Winexpert, (they have also just released their ltd ed choc rasp port over here!) I believe both these kits are 11.5 litres, (2.5 imp gallons)so you'd need a half size secondary or buy 2 kits Better Bottles come in 11.5 litre size and are reasonably priced.

I did get a couple of bottles of port at Morrisons last week I think, Dow's midnight port, on offer at £5 a go. Tastes good too!

[Rich]

Not really a recommendation, but I did find this earlier on.

http://www.easybrew.co.uk/product_detail.php?id=1962

Hope the link works.

I've never used this place for any order, nor have I ever used a Butler kit. IF it was ready for xmas, I doubt it'd be at it's best...

[Richard S]

I have had loads of stuff from them BUT the last time (and it will be the last) I ordered from them, it took a month to arrive.

[Duffbeer]

I have done the Butlers kits and they are quite good, not the one Rich has a link to, I did a Hock in their kit and it was very good quality. As for the website... never used them, bought mine at M&D in Wakefield.

[SpudtheBinx]

Nice one that looks like it will do for me just perfectly, only takes a couple of weeks too

[lockwood1956]

The WinExpert port kit is good.....

it makes 11.5 litres, around £45

they have just released the chocloate raspberry port...again 11.5 litres (I have two on the go)

regards
bob

[Rich]

Nice one that looks like it will do for me just perfectly, only takes a couple of weeks too

Can't wait for the review of that kit Spud! If it's ok at that price I might be tempted to have a go.

Dropped some hints to the Mother in law about the Kenridge kit I saw at Brewgenie in Hall Green. Pretty sure she went to get it

just released the chocloate raspberry port...again 11.5 litres (I have two on the go)

Greedy when will it be ready? I'm on my way...

[lockwood1956]

Well thats one of the reasons I doubled the Kits up, so there would be some "samples" at Christmas time, it will be better next year, but I'm having some this year, it's at 1.030 at the minute, I will be chaptalising (adding sugar if anyone didn't know) when it reaches 1.010

regards
Bob

[Hippie]

That's the one I would do, the choc raspberry or the other one I think maybe another brand is the choc orange, right Bob? I have read the literature on both, and am sure they are both great.

[StockeyDAW]

My opinion is the Spagnoles Orange chocolate Port or the Cellar Craft Porto Corinto (black currant). I have them both fermenting right now. I have chaptaized both of them. The Porto Cortino seems to be the best so far at this early stage. The recommendations for this one are to rack from the primary fermenter at 1.090 to the secondary fermenter (10 days) and then at 1.030 the fermentation should be complete - at least according to the written directions. Seems a little high but I am still going through the various stages. I changed the yeast in both of them as I do not like the 1118 or the non defined yeast in the Spagnols. Cheers DAW

[StockeyDAW]

http://www.intowine.com/port.html

For anyone interested in some port wine history click the above link. For you all in the great GB you are only a few k's from Protugal - you are all fortunate in that way. Port has to be aged! You can not expect a good port in a few months some are up to 30 years old but, who would want to drink something that age? Cheers DAW

[Hippie]

I will! I will!

I love port. I have topped up alot of fruit wines several times before bottling with brandy of the same flavor. Peach wine-peach brandy, blackberry wine-blackberry brandy, etc. It is usually that really cheap brand of brandy.