Kits

[DasK]

So, I've been contemplating making a snootier wine than I'm accustomed to. Something like a peach chardonnay? And as I'm browsing the Austin Homebrew Supply they state that the kits are 6 gallons. I have a 5 and a 6.5, but I thought these kits were typically suited for 5 gallons?

Is .5 gallons too much headspace if I rack into a 6.5? I'm getting ready to start another skeeter pee, so I have to figure out which carboy I'm going to rack that into.

 

[robie]

Nope, those kits, are generally 6 gallon.

You really can't find true 6 gallon carboys, unless you find some older, used Mexican carboys. When you order a 6 gallon glass or Better Bottle, they are closer to 6.5 gallons.

So, 6.5 is standard; you just have to top off with a like wine. Merlot works to top off any red. Chard or Riesling for most any white, depending on sweetness.

 

[buddy]

You can make the kit using the smaller carboy. Some people use a smaller volume for their kit wines because it kicks up the alcohol and taste of the wine.

 

[Rocky]

You have a number of options. If you start your kit out in a 7.9 gallon fermenter filled to the 6 gallon mark, when you rack you will no longer have 6 gallons (with the lees that are left behind). You will be able to fill a 5 gallon carboy and perhaps a good part of a 1 gallon jug. Just put an airlock on both and you will be fine. As was pointed out above by Robie, you can top off with a similar wine (a Chardonnay in your case). Further, with the first racking, you would probably be safe in the 6.5 gallon as there is still a great deal of CO2 coming out of the wine. The second racking, when fermentation has slowed, should definitely be into the 5 gallon with a small amount in a smaller jug, as this is the time to minimize "headspace."

 

[DasK]

Ahhh, I hadn't even thought of racking into two containers. I've done that a couple of times in the past with my one gallon jugs and racked extra off into a half gallon.