Filling carboy

[MedPretzel]

Have you noticed something in the flavor of your scratch wines when you do that?

 

[AAASTINKIE]

I put my juice wine in a 6 carboy after stablizing and finning today,
but only had 5 1/2 gallons, I left it alone, after 7 days I'll rack to
a 5 gallon carboy.

 

[MedPretzel]

What was the starting SG? And now?





I don't know, but I don't have a good feel to this when I hear it. I would transfer it as soon as possible to a 5 gallon one again to avoid possible oxidation. The rest you can put in 2-750ml bottles, use a vacuvin stopper thingie until you rack again.





But that is just me.

 

[Hippie]

Stinkie, Martina is giving you good advice. When that wine stops fermenting, it is very vulnerable to O2 until topped up. You can keep 6 gallons of wine if you just top up with another wine or juice, or do as Martina suggests.

 

[Hippie]

Have you noticed something in the flavor of your scratch wines when you do that?

No, nothing adverse. It all just seems to meld together.

 

[AAASTINKIE]

you think I can go top up with grape juice, do I need to stir it in or just pour in and put stopper and airlock back on.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MedPretzel]

i usually just pour it in. I think gravity does the rest, but that's just me.

 

[AAASTINKIE]

I just topped up with a quart of welches, hey I won't have to mix it in later..lol

 

[Hippie]

Very good! No volcano? I am disappointed!

 

[Fredman]

I thought you are suppose to top up with water or the same kind of wine

 

[Hippie]

You can top up with whatever you want, Fred. Stinkie is in effect using the suss-reserve method, sweetening up with juice.

 

[MedPretzel]

I usually tweak the SG a little higher at the beginning so when I rack, I can use just plain water. That works too. Of course, if you lose a lot of liquid through racking, you could use wine or the "suss-reserve" method.





On the other hand, I usually try to make a gallon or so extra when making a 5 or 6 gallon wine, and top off with that extra gallon. So far, I haven't had any problems with that method.

 

[AAASTINKIE]

well that wine was 17% alcohol according to SG, so it's going to need a lot more grape juice for me to drink it, I think the Island mist kit at 6% alcohol is just my speed (life in the slow lane)

 

[MedPretzel]

Well, I would consider a grape-juice/water mix with your 17% wine. It might help tame down the alcohol. A just grape-juice addition might make it too sweet.

 

[Hippie]

Ihave a few wines this strong, and I just save them for when I ain't quite sleepy enough to go to bed at a reasonable time. That'll do it.