In my ever continuing quest for knowledge about making wine or should I say making good wine my biggest hurdle has been disseminating the often contradicatory information I find about techniques, procedures, equipment, etc. Thus dilema brought about the birth of this topic. I have read much about the perils of using plastic carboys until I read the following on Jack Kellers Advanced Wine Making Basics web site a little while ago. http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/finishin.asp
Now I am not going to advocate the use of plastic but would like to hear from any who have and what were your results.
"Many stores sell drinking water in 5-gallon plastic bottles. The water costs $4 or so and the store requires a $6 deposit on the bottle. These bottles are made of food-grade plastic and are ideal for wine undergoing bulk aging. If you use bottled water anyway, this is a pretty good deal. If you're willing to forfeit the deposit, you can acquire 5-gallon aging bottles for only $6 each. Be advised, however, that some people are of the opinion that oxygen can permeate this plastic and oxidize wine thus aged. I have looked in vain for scientific evidence of this and have not yet found it. Use your own judgement."
Now I am not going to advocate the use of plastic but would like to hear from any who have and what were your results.
"Many stores sell drinking water in 5-gallon plastic bottles. The water costs $4 or so and the store requires a $6 deposit on the bottle. These bottles are made of food-grade plastic and are ideal for wine undergoing bulk aging. If you use bottled water anyway, this is a pretty good deal. If you're willing to forfeit the deposit, you can acquire 5-gallon aging bottles for only $6 each. Be advised, however, that some people are of the opinion that oxygen can permeate this plastic and oxidize wine thus aged. I have looked in vain for scientific evidence of this and have not yet found it. Use your own judgement."