Winebuddy Chardonnay too sweet

[Ray1314]

I'm very new to this, so am hoping an experienced member will take pity on me and answer my stupid question :)

I've now bottled my second batch of winebuddy Chardonnay, and they've both turned out very very sweet.

I've also bottled two batches of the winebuddy Merlot, and they both turned out ok.

Have any of you guys ever used this kit and made something drinkable? Failing that can you recommend a Chardonnay kit that will turn out dry?

Cheers

Ray

 

[Toredan]

I made this kit a few weeks ago and I actually sweetened my chardonnay a little as it fermented out completely and was a bit dry for my liking (for a chardonnay anyway). Did you take a FG before bottling? Did you use the fermentation stopped included in the kit? When you open a bottle is there a slight hiss and fizz in the bottle? Wondering if perhaps you stopped it too early. If you followed the instructions and bottled after 5 days the wine most definitely wasn't done. Mine took around 10-12 days.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Ray if you haven't got one buy a hydrometer and don't take any notice of times in instructions, it sounds like you have finished it before it had finished.

 

[chewie]

You defo need a hydrometer, a sudden sharp temp drop can give the appearance that fermentation has slowed or stopped and as chippy says don't rely on instruction times as they are affected by temp as well.

For a dry wine from a kit maybe using a different yeast rather than the supplied one might help?

 

[Ray1314]

Cheers guys, good to know that better results are possible with the kit. Although I do have a hydrometer its possible that I might be a bit optimistic when I'm reading it. Just have to learn a little patience I suppose!

 

[Chippy_Tea]