The "extra" bag of concentrate.

[snaptin]

Hi
Quick question for those with more experience than me.
I have a 23l kit of Moselle white wine on the go and there is an extra bag of concentrate that you add later in the process. My question is : does this bag add more sweetness to the finished product or is it a flavour enhancer??

We prefer dry wines rather than sweeter ones so I need to know whether to add the bag, part of the bag or none of it.

Any ideas??

Chheers guys.

[soupdragon]

What brand is the kit? What do the instructions say about the extra bag?

Cheers. Tom

[snaptin]

Hi
It's a Wine Expert Eclipse Moselle kit and the instructions just say to add after fermentation. I did a Wine Expert Selection California Riesling some months ago and that had a second bag as well. I added it and I thought the wine finished very sweet even though FG was 0.994. I'd really prefer not to add it all if its just sweetener.

Any advice wpuld be great.
Cheers!!

[soupdragon]

Aren't the sachets/bags listed on the side of the box? Each different packet usually has its contents listed so might give you an indication? I wouldn't think it's one of those "flavour" sachets as it's a pretty high end kit you've got. I have heard of wine being sweetened post ferment so maybe that's all it is.
Would recommend emailing Ritchie products to put your mind at ease though

Cheers. Tom

[snaptin]

Thanks for your advice Tom. Yep think I'll email the makers and see what they have to say.

[Bad 'Ed]

How big is the bag? If it's added post fermentation it must contain the potassium sorbate to kill the yeast wouldn't it?

[snaptin]

It looks as though there's about 1 litre of liquid in there. The pot sorbate is in another small packet.

[soupdragon]

I take it you've not heard back from Ritchie products yet?

Cheers. Tom

[soupdragon]

Just found instructions that refer to the extra sachet as a Süsse-Reserve pack. Then found the link below

https://www.vigoltd.com/Catalogue/Addit ... et-reserve

Looks like it's a sweetening sachet made from pure grape juice. So not the usual muck that the cheap kits give you. Up to you if you add it or not

Cheers. Tom

[snaptin]

Ah, brilliant Tom. No I haven't heard back from the kit makers yet but that confirms my suspicion that the bag is a sweetening agent. . Thanks for that, it's cleared things up and I think I won't add it at all.

Cheers Steve

[soupdragon]

Cheers. Tom

[Bad 'Ed]

Ah, brilliant Tom. No I haven't heard back from the kit makers yet but that confirms my suspicion that the bag is a sweetening agent. . Thanks for that, it's cleared things up and I think I won't add it at all.

Cheers Steve

Or, given it is made from grape juice and us therefore fermentable you could add it in before the potassium sorbate and let the yeast work on it?

Or, given that it is autumn, you could use it as a base to make some hedgerow wine or similar.

[snaptin]

Hi Bad

Hmmm not a bad idea that. I like the idea of adding it to a gallon of fruit wine. Sounds good.