Brewing from home grown grapes.

[mark walton]

Hi, I have enough grapes to produce 2 gallons of wine. Can I use a 5 gallon barrel, or is it better to use two 1 gallons jars?

 

[winemaker81]

Welcome to WMT!

For fermentation, use an open container as yeast need O2 for reproduction in the early stage of fermentation.

Post-fermentation, O2 switches sides, becoming your wine's enemy as it will oxidize the wine, so you want to put it in smaller containers with minimal head space.

 

[sour_grapes]

Agree with @winemaker81 . So a food-grade 19-liter bucket (5 gallon US, ~4 gallon UK) would be a good choice.

 

[Hazelemere]

What type of grapes do you grow? How many wines?

 

[Rice_Guy]

welcome to Wine Making Talk

 

[NorCal]

Welcome. As others have said, oxygen is your friend during fermentation and your enemy after. For aging you will want full containers.

 

[distancerunner]

Welcome to WMT.

 

[Jovimaple]

Welcome to WMT!

 

[Christopher Anderson]

Hi, I have enough grapes to produce 2 gallons of wine. Can I use a 5 gallon barrel, or is it better to use two 1 gallons jars?

The size of the Fermenter is not important as you would be using open fermentation, so IMHO, a 5 gallon bucket would be OK. You would need the head room to push down the grape skins (if making red). After the fermentation, put it into two 1-gallon carboys, or a 2 gallon one (if you have it) with the wine up to the neck for minimum oxygen. put a bung(Cork) with an airlock. Test the SG. If good. let it sit for 2-4 weeks. then taste it.

 

[FlamingoEmporium]

“Ferment” in the 5 gallon and move to 2 one gallon containers when fermentation winds down

welcome.