Wilkinsons Cab Sau starter kit

[awalton007]

i bought the starter kit from wilkinsons and im 24 hours in and its bubbling away. but I've been reading many websites and they pretty much all have a second demijohn but i have only 1 in my kit and the instructions aren't very good or descriptive. has anyone else had these kits and are they any good?

 

[cnelsonplumber]

The most likely reason for the second demi-jonh is so that you can separate the wine from the sediment before adding the stabiliser and bottling.

Any sanitised container will do, plastic PET, bucket, etc.

Sure it will taste great :

 

[Jeltz]

Welcome to the forum.

I would try to get hold of a 2nd demijohn keep an eye on freecycle/freegle in your area or visit the local charity shops.

It will make your life easier but I think it should be possible with 1.

Have fun

Nic

 

[Frogfurlong]

A clean and sterilised 5l water container works well for racking off.
You can buy them for about £1-£2 (depending on the supermarket) and you get free water with it :grin:

Drill a hole in the top to fit the airlock and bob's yer aunties live-in lover.

Froggy

 

[awalton007]

when do i rack off to the other container and does it go back into the cleaned demijohn.

my instructions say on day 3 top up to 4.5l and wait for 7 days once fermentation is complete and the stabiliser and the finings over 24 hours swirl it to get rid of the co2 then transfer the demi to a cool place for 10 days to clear.

when do i rack off?

 

[GREBO75]

With those wilkinsons kits you only really need to rack once. Wait for the 10 days or so after you've added the finings and rack then. When using finings a good test is to hold a newspaper or similar behind the DJ, as it clears you'll realise you can read more and more of the type and you should be able to read some pretty small type through the DJ by 10 days after adding the finings.

At that stage you can either syphon straight to bottles, or into a sterilised DJ. Most people think that wine ages better in bulk, so the latter is preferable. When you've syphoned it into the new DJ top up to base of neck with boiled water (not too hot though, just water from kettle should be fine as long as it's cooled a bit).

 

[awalton007]

its been 11 days after i added the finings and its not very clear. i obviously cant see a paper through it cos its a red wine but i put a light behind it and i can barely see the light its that cloudy

 

[Eric_S]

The timings on a lot of kits is somewhat ambitious - I find you just have to leave them and they'll get there eventually. I also have never needed to use the finings as it should clear by itself given enough time.

As a guide, I make up the initial must, add yeast etc and then leave for at least 2 weeks, often 3 or 4. Then I'll rack into another container and leave for at least another month or so (even more is ok). Then bottle up and enjoy after leaving for a further few months.

The wine will be drinkable sooner but will improve massively the longer you can leave it.

 

[awalton007]

I tried a bottle tonight and it smells so vinegary but tastes quite good with no vinegary taste

 

[extremedalek]

Hi

I've got one of these on the go at the moment - just the kit though as I already had the equipment at home.

Its been on a week now with no signs of a slowing in fermentation, so the timings in the instructions are most definitely optimistic!

I'd be interested in your thoughts on how the taste develops in the coming weeks and months, always assuming it lasts you that long :

 

[awalton007]

Ive had a bottle a week and it actually tastes ok. 1 bottle smelt vinegary but tasted very nice

 

[extremedalek]

Ive had a bottle a week and it actually tastes ok. 1 bottle smelt vinegary but tasted very nice

I take it from your username that you're a Bond fan? I am too and really looking forward to Skyfall!

 

[IThinkINeeedHelp]

I have picked on of these up. Do i need a campden tablet in the 2nd DJ ??

cheers