Storing In Carboy

[Cannew]

If one wished to leave wine in a carboy, how long can it sit? Assume you would leave the airlock on.

 

[BobF]

As long as you like, topped up properly with airlock and maintained sulfite levels

 

[Repsolal]

Probably indefinitely as long as you keep the airlock topped up and maintain
the sulfite level.

 

[corntassel]

I have a cherry and a Key lime wine that have been in the carboys for over a year and a half. Will bottle this week end. Both are fine but I maintained them properly with air lock and good sulfite leavels.

 

[sully]

how do you measure sulfite levels and why is it important??

 

[TonyP]

how do you measure sulfite levels and why is it important??

Sulfites have several uses in wine making and very few wines are made without them as an additive. The earlier posts refer to using SO2 for freshness beause SO2 is important as a preservative. Without SO2, wines have a shorter shelf life, perhaps 6 months to 1 year. Thus, when you ask about storing wine in a carboy the answer is 6 months or so without adding sulfites, longer with them. Note that differences apply depending on whether you're talking red or white. Also, the same rule applies whether you're storing in a carboy or a bottle.

There's several ways to check the sulfite level in your wine, the easiest being with a titration kit. If you're not into doing that (and some wine makers aren't) you can add 1/4 tsp per 6 gallons of wine for every 6-9 months you intend to store the wine. If you do this and also sample some wine before six months, bottle what you want to drink earlier and add sulfite to the rest, making sure to adjust the sulfite level accordingly.

 

[olusteebus]

I use glycerin in my airlocks as it will not evaporate.