Recent content by Jwatson

Most of the equipment you use for wine (fermenters, airlock, stopper, hydrometer, tubing, sanitizer, etc.) is used for beer. You need to decide if you will bottle or keg. The only real expense is a good stainless steel brew kettle. They range from simple to very elaborate. I recommend an...

Thanks for all the help. I will let it bulk age for 6 more mos and then bottle. The filter came in a sealed wrapper. Does it really need sulfite solution to be run thru it to sanitize, or is that step to prep the cartridge for filtration.

I am definitely in no hurry to bottle and will just let it bulk age longer. Any approximate guess what the sulfite level will be, say, in 3 mos? Thank you for the prompt, informative feedback.

With the Vinmetrica SC-100. I may have not let the filter drain enough.

All of my wines so far have been reds, so I have yet to filter. I filtered my 1st MM Outback Chardonnay with a whole house filter and vacuum pump setup. I ran sulfite solution thru the setup and filtered the wine. Results were great...crystal clear wine. After I tested the sulfite level, it...

I soak the inside of the carboy with oxyclean and water for 2-3 days followed by another soak. I brew beer and this dissolves the leftover krausen that really sticks to the sides. I follow up with a little brushing around the former residue line. oxyclean is great, much cheaper than other...

If racking from a bucket to a carboy for secondary fermentation, use the 6 gal carboy and there is no need to top. Much CO2 will be released during the racking (and you will see CO2 bubbles rise for sometime thereafter. Furthermore, since fermentation is finishing, some CO2 will still be...

I use iodophor for sanitizing..never had any off tastes. I use the oven for sanitizing my wine bottles.

If you don't mind spending a few dollars, I recommend a vacuum pump and a whole house filter setup. I copied the link below from allinonewinepump.com. http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/f3/review-allinonewinepump-15976/index31.html I already had a stand alone vacuum pump purchased from ebay...

I received the filter housing and filters from filterfast.com after only 2 days from placing order. I ordered what allinonewinepump recoomended. Even with shipping, it was much cheaper than what I would have bought at Ace, Wal Mart or Home Depot

Thanks. I was concerned about 'oversulfiting' the first few bottles, but like the technique of pouring the 1st few bottles back.

I just want to polish the wine. Since the filters come sealed in the package, do they need to have sulfite run through them? If so, should I run sterilized water through again or is that overkill? Thanks!

I am going to filter and bottle MM Outback Chardonnay. I performed battonage with D47 yeast and it has bulk aged for 8 months. What micron size is recommended for a whole house filter/vacuum pump setup? Thanks!

I am thinking of doing an RJS Amarone and adding the leftover skins and raisins to a Valpolicella. When do you add the used skins?

How did the primary and secondary fermentation go with your Super Tuscan?