30 gallon primary

[DaveL]

The Rubbermaid 32 gallon brute trash can is the can safe for use correct?

 

[markosz]

It's good for trash
Doesn't mean is good for wine at least check bottom what it says?

 

[Norske]

If it says NSF it is food grade.

 

[MeadowCreek]

thats what I use ........ordered from zoro tools....10-20 and 32 gallon

 

[jamesngalveston]

its food grade..good for a primary, wouldnt use it for a secondary.

 

[DaveL]

I thought so. I have a line on Norton grapes, if the rain hasn't ruined them, and 3/ 6.5 gallon carboys I hope to fill after going through the primary in the can then pressing. Oh yeah need to build a press.

 

[jswordy]

Ha, what you really need is a crusher/destemmer, Dave. Have fun.

 

[DaveL]

Ha, what you really need is a crusher/destemmer, Dave. Have fun.

Or the man selling me the grapes will crush/destem them for me! BAM
Question is how many gallons with grapes in must = 20 gallons after removing/pressing the skins?

 

[cmason1957]

Generally, assume 100 pounds of grapes gives you a bit more than 6 gallons. That is a more or less rule of thumb.

 

[DaveL]

Generally, assume 100 pounds of grapes gives you a bit more than 6 gallons. That is a more or less rule of thumb.

OK but after destemming what is that? 80lbs?

 

[cmason1957]

OK but after destemming what is that? 80lbs?

I don't know, I have never weighed it at that point. I just destemmed 300 pounds of grapes and the stems probably didn't weigh much over 20 pounds, they were easy to carry out to the trash bin.

 

[JohnT]

Stems weigh next to nothing. FORGEDABOUDIT!

 

[DaveL]

I just did 2 buckets of concords 51 lbs before 40 after. Oh well it is what it is or as they say downtown it are what it are.

 

[jswordy]

EDITED TO CORRECT POUNDAGE MISTAKE

On your question about volumes, I find that ~ 60 pounds of de-stemmed grapes with no added water will finish with 5 gallons of 100% primary fermented juice wine to go into a carboy for secondary.

Another way to guesstimate is that, for every 8 gallons of juice AND grapes in primary, you will get ~ 5 gallons of wine to go into secondary.

The size of the grapes matters, but these approximate rules have worked out for me through several batches now. Hope it helps.