Wine not clearing???

[mitsu monkey]

I bought a couple of Wilko Wine kits (black cherry and Cab Sauvignon) on a bit of a spur of the moment decision before Christmas and immediately started them off. They fermented at 20 degrees. I racked them into the secondary about a week and a half before Christmas. They've not cleared, I've moved them to a cooler place about 10 degrees and still they look a bit ''milky'
What can I do? Are they ruined? Should I just bottle them?
Thank you in advance.
Glen

 

[smithsj1]

I have not made any wine kits yet but have made wine from Supermarket fruit juice. Generally, I see the wine clearing with time but if I want to get it moving I use Kwik Clear.

You could also use Bentonite - I saw some on eBay last week so I bought a couple of them so will try that later in the week after I have degassed the wine. I think this is worth you checking out as it seems a good price at just £6.48 + free postage for 800g. http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338413729&icep_item=131409994707

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I've moved them to a cooler place about 10 degrees and still they look a bit ''milky'

I have made a couple of their kits and had no clearing issues.

Was there a sachet of finings in the kit?

How long did you degas the wine and how before adding the finings (assuming the answer to the above question was yes)

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[mitsu monkey]

Yes there was finings which I added, degassed for a day or so, gently swirling the demijohn as per instruction booklet. I also drained it off the yeast into a secondary.
I will look into the Bentonite, could it be just a waiting game??

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Gently swirling will not get rid of enough CO2 all the kits i have made have advised vigorously stirring for a few minutes or for demijohns putting a clean hand over the neck and shaking them occasionally releasing the CO2 by removing your hand, CO2 traps the tiny particles and it will take quite a while for it to settle if you do not get the CO2 out.

If you are going to make wine regularly and have a drill make a degassing wand, have a look at this - https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/degassing-wine-the-quick-and-easy-way.48971/

 

[mitsu monkey]

Ok thanks, I've got a couple of beaverdale kits to do next so I'll look into it.
I'll give it until the weekend then bottle it on Sunday?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

There is no problem drinking cloudy wine we used to do this when i first started out as my siphoning technique was a bit crap if it smells and tastes fine and you are not bothered about it looking cloudy get stuck in. :thumba:

 

[mitsu monkey]

Great I'll do that!
Cheers!!!

 

[simon12]

Chippy obviously knows more than me on this but I would suggest check it smells and tastes OK (not perfect as its young but not off) before you spend the time bottling that could be ruined. Also 1 of the 1st things I ever brewed was wilko cab sav I found it very harsh until it was 3 months old but very good after that (when I only had 2 bottles left).

 

[Chippy_Tea]

There is no problem drinking cloudy wine we used to do this when i first started out as my siphoning technique was a bit crap if it smells and tastes fine and you are not bothered about it looking cloudy get stuck in. :thumba:

.

 

[mitsu monkey]

What I'm learning from reading the forum posts on here is wine kits are not to be rushed. Patience is needed.

 

[mitsu monkey]

Ok so a quick update, I bottled these earlier and to be honest they've not come out too bad at all. My wife liked them and she's a bit picky about wine.
There is a little carbonation to be honest but I now know more about degassing wine and it won't happen again!
Thank you for your replies much appreciated.
Glen

 

[Frogbrew]

I've made a couple if kits in the past which didn't clear well, one of them being the black cherry.
I reckon it's down to the finings as I did nothing different to before.
I've also found the Wilko two part finings a bit hit and miss sometimes too. The missus still sups my wine though even if a little murky.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

WineBuddy do decent kits and are at the affordable end of kit wines, they have the best finings I have used (3 part) and always clear the wine in 24 hours give one of their kits a try.

 

[Frogbrew]

Chippy right, I've never had a problem with the winebuddy kits either.

 

[mitsu monkey]

Thanks for the recommendation guys, I've got a couple of beaverdale kits on the go now that I bought a few weeks back. I ordered a better brew and Solomon Grundy fruit wine kit a couple of days ago, hope they're ok.
But I'll put the winebuddy next on the list!
Cheers

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I have made the SG kits and they are fine.

 

[stephen1546]

Hi

I have made a few SG kits and they have worked out, bottled a kit last night. They usually take 3 days to clear. Just follow the instructions and you should be fine.

 

[user 44889]

I made a SG Cab Sav which came out very nice and totally clear. Aged for 12 months before drinking. Still got 2 bottles which are now 21 months old.
I'm starting to degas 2 wilko kits today. A Sav Blanc and a Cab Sav. Wil let you know how they clear.