Noob question on adding additives

[Larryh86GT]

How do you physically add the various additives to bottles when you are racking or bottling the wine? Sugar I would guess disolved in heated distilled water. But how would you add items like sulfite or sorbate into my little gallon
secondary fermentor? Is it just dumped in and left to disolve on it's own?
Thanks
Larry

 

[djrockinsteve]

You should mix the Potassium Metabisulphite, sorbate etc. first with water, tablespoon or so, then add to another carboy. Rack your wine into the carboy as this will mix the ingredients.

Be careful not to add too much P.M.

 

[Larryh86GT]

You should mix the Potassium Metabisulphite, sorbate etc. first with water, tablespoon or so, then add to another carboy. Rack your wine into the carboy as this will mix the ingredients.

Be careful not to add too much P.M.

Great, sounds simple enough. Thank you.

 

[Luc]

You can also take a bit of wine out the carboy, mix the ingredients in and then proceed as above mentioned.

Luc

 

[Larryh86GT]

That's a good idea also. Thank you. The mechanics of doing this was just escaping me.

 

[Larryh86GT]

1 more quick question:

When adding a campden tablet does this get crushed and mixed with water or wine first also?

 

[Luc]

Yes, crush the tablet between two spoons and then dissolve in some water or wine.

Luc

 

[Larryh86GT]

Thanks again Luc.
Larry

 

[Larryh86GT]

I am puzzled now - I looked at my little 3 liter bottle with the airlock in place this morning. I could swear that I initially filled the airlock 1/2 full but now the water level in it is almost at the top. The water is still clear, the wine level is still a couple inches from the top of the bottle. Strange.
Larry

 

[kiljoy]

Barometric pressure… Did the weather recently change in your area?

 

[Larryh86GT]

Ahha. Well it's Bufffalo NY area weather, and that explains it, it's always changing from snow and cold to snowier and colder.

 

[djrockinsteve]

It may still be fermenting a little. Relax. Be patient.