****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I found a tidbit about how the kit used to come with elderflower. So I added a bit of my own in a big ol teabag during primary. Removed in secondary. Additionally I used RED STAR Côtes des Blancs yeast instead of the 1118 that came with it. Its really, really good. My alterations may not be for everyone, and the kit straight up is getting rave reviews so I can't recommend changing it. All I can say is that my edits are good for me. Probably my first competition grade wine.I purchased my first Gewurztraminer (Vino Italiano) 6-gallon kit in 2013 and it was about 43-bucks and it started to go up over the years so I switched to this one in 2019 and I’m pleased with it. it’s all but impossible to get anything near a dry wine, let alone a German wine, in my area of Idaho so this is about my only alternative, this kit was about 76-bucks April 2019 and it’s now gone up close the 80-bucks but it’s good enough to keep buying it though the price is starting to be a bit annoying. We have some long winters here, and they start early, so I had some problems with fermentation on this one when it chilled enough to stop it. I wrapped a seedling heater we use in the greenhouse around it and fermentation started again and the wine turned out fine. We’re not wine connoisseurs so once it’s ready to bottle it’s ready to drink and that’s what we do. We bottle it into 1-gallon jugs and then transfer it to 1-liter PET bottles when it goes into the refrigerator. I have no complaints about the wine… just the never ending escalation in price. We have a lot of grapes on our property but these kits are still a more viable alternative than doing our own from scratch. It is semi=sweet but it’s more dry than most of the others we’ve tried… perhaps 50-kits to date. I normally end up bottling about 5.5-gallons because I use a 6-gallon bucket and carboy but I prefer the taste more than I do when I was making a full 6-gallons but taste is relative so I will recommend it based on the quality of the kit and the consistently good results I’ve had with multiple Vintner's Reserve kits. The closest place to purchase a wine kit is about 150-miles away so I’m stuck with what’s here… and that’s not too bad.Great service, brand is well sold and wonderful white wine.I am a wine maker and these kits are excellent and easy to do as long as you have the correct equipment.I make a lot of wine, and Gewrstraminer is almost always fermenting! The taste is excellent!! Not too sweet, not too dry. PERFECT!My friends rave about this wine! Cannot keep enough on hand! LolI have purchased this multiple times. I have found that no matter who try's it, they love it. Hence me now ordering two kits at a time for the overwhelming request for more. It is imperative you follow the directions and ensure you have the warmth while fermenting correctly. I found around 72-74 degrees works best. But hey, you play with it and find your own method. I personally love this wine and find it quite refreshing no matter what meal or time of the year, or day, or night. Perfect wine kit for a perfect glass of wine. Rated 5 starsBought this kit for my wife it’s one of her favorite wines. Easy kit for beginners and great flavor wine.Gewurztraminer, always benefits from the addition of elderflowers and for some reason they are no longer included in the kit. At this stage in my production , the wine is crystal clear and two weeks from bottling.
