bottling and storing wine

[tonictone]

Hi all,

I am a week or so away from bottling my first 30 bottles of wine and have a few questions regarding bottling and storing.

The wine kit I used is Reisling from the winexpert selection range (free wine equipment if ordered at hop and grape).

So far everything is going as the instructions, and it should be ready to bottle in the next 7 to 10 days.

I have read that people put a campden tablet in each bottle when bottling to help preserve the wine and extend the shelf life longer? is this correct as there is no mention of this in the instructions I got with the kit, also if this is right will it effect the taste? and what would happen if I did'nt put a tablet in?

When the wine is bottled the only place I can store it during the summer that keeps a constant temp is under the stairs, the temp stays at around 18 -20 celsius. Is this OK to store the wine or does it need to be cooler? also this question applies to beer as well.

On tasting the wine at the moment, it has (according to the missus) a twang to it, rather like the after taste of grapefruit but not as strong, would this mature out of the wine or could I add sweetner to the wine to counteract the twang. To me its fine, but the wife likes German wines as they are generally sweeter and not as dry as French, and says it has hints of the dryness to it at the moment, (hope that makes sense).

[Horden Hillbilly]

I have read that people put a campden tablet in each bottle when bottling to help preserve the wine and extend the shelf life longer? is this correct as there is no mention of this in the instructions I got with the kit

Please, do not put one campden tablet in each bottle of wine or you will spoil it! If you read the bottling part of your instruction leaflet, IIRC on the selection kits it recommends that you add 1/4 tsp of campden powder to the wine if you wish to age your wine for at keast 6 months. I would recommend that you leave some of your bottles for that long to enjoy them at their best. I have made quite a few red wines in this range, the twang that you mention will mature out in time.

Have you visited my website? If not click on my link below, I have shown how to make, bottle & store a wine on there.

[tonictone]

Thanks Horden Hillbilly - just looked through instructions again and seen the section you mentioned and have now realised that campden tablets are potassium metabisulphate. So will follow instructions, when I bottle.

Nice website and set up, looking through the site another question has arose.

I notice that you don't use glass when making wine, from reading up and looking on forums I was under the impression that glass carboys must be used on the 2nd fermentation, stabilising, clearing, racking and clarification, as plastic spoils the wine? If plastic is OK are the better-bottles good to use instead of glass the link is http://www.better-bottle.com as I want some smaller demijohns and thought I could only use glass.

Also what temperature is the room you store your beer and wine.

[Horden Hillbilly]

I do use glass demijohns on my 1 gallon (6 bottle) kits, however there is nothing to fear by using plastic containers providing that they are food grade. I can honestly say I have never had any of my 5 gallon kits being spoilt using my plastic 5 gallon wine fermenters.

Regarding storage temperature, my wines are stored around the same temperature as yours during the summer months, 18c-22c and much cooler during the winter months. This is something I have no control over, but up here in the frozen north it does not last very long! This may be slightly higher than recommended, again I have not had a wine spoil at these temperatures.

There is a good range of wine fermentation equipment, both plastic & glass available Here

I am pleased that you liked my website & I hope you found it useful, good luck with your winemaking.

[tonictone]

Now I know plastic is OK to use I will order some gallon sizes (they don't like to mail out glass for obvious reasons) as I want to try some six bottle red kits just to see how they come out.

The link you gave is the same place that I ordered my wine and beer kits and equipment from, very good service.

[DRB]

Why not go to the supermarket and buy some water in the 5lt bottles.Then all you have to buy is a grommet to fit in the hole you that you drilled in the lid to fit the airlock,also you can use the water that came inside the bottle .

[tonictone]

I'm glad someone is on the ball!! Thanks for the tip