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Barrel wicking?

I'm using a barrel for the first time. It's a brand new 10 gal American Oak barrel. I've filled it with wine and everything seems fine except that I'm noticing a 'wicking' phenomenon at the area surrounding bung hole. This area is stained from the wine wicking out around the bung. Is this normal? Perhaps just pressure equilization?

At first, I thought I had filled the barrel too much but this does not appear to be the problem as removing wine to allow over an inch worth of headspace does not change the result. I observe this with both #8.5 and #9 rubber bungs which seem be the right size to give a good seal. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks, RD

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RD
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That's normal at first, assuming the bung stave isn't cracked. Once the barrel soaks up thoroughly that'll stop. Also, if ML isn't complete it will generate pressure in the barrel and cause some leakage, and it could even pop the bung out of the barrel. If that's the problem you may want to put an airlock on the barrel for awhile.

Top up and bung _tight_ (as long as ML is finished) and keep the free SO2 where it should be for the pH of the wine. If ML isn't finished you should still keep the wine pretty well topped up, but don't sulfite it until ML finishes..

Tom S

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Tom S

Thanks for the advice, Tom. The bung stave is in good shape and MLF completed on this batch. The situation has begun to improve already.

RD

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RD

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