Excess wine after racking

The best option is a double-sheet of plastic cling wrap (e.g. saran wrap), held in place by TWO rubber bands. Two sheets of cling wrap, because sometimes it can tear, and two rubber bands, because sometimes they break. Cheese cloth will let too much air in, and bacteria can grow within it's fibers over a period of time.

try a small balloon.:)

Balloons can and do detach if there is enough air pressure, and they stretch, develop holes, and break with age. If you monitor the wine 24/7 they are fine, but if the wine is in a cellar which you visit once or twice a week, it is asking for trouble.

I like the plastic wrap idea, but I'd swing by your nearest home brew shop and pick up some stoppers that fit a wine bottle. I think they are size 1, but the people working at the store could tell you.

I had to get some when I discovered I bottled too soon. Popped a cork and didn't want to lose the other 4 bottles. Stuck in the bungs and airlocks to ferment in the bottle.

Greg

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They are size #2, but I recomend using the #3 instead. The #2 stopper is the same size as a (#8) cork, and is far too easy to push into the bottle, so you can't get it out. The #3 will go about half-way in, and provide a good seal.

Besides how you stopper it, if you only have a half full 750 ml bottle, I suggest you find a smaller bottle you can fill to eliminate the headspace.

I've saved lots of different sizes of bottles from wine cooler bottles to Champaign bottles and then bought smaller sized bungs to go with airlocks. Before I had that though, I used to put the excess in a wine bottle and covered with a doubled piece of plastic wrap and rubber band. In the last few months or so, I have taken to keeping the bottle of excess top-up wine (covered with plastic/rubber band) in the fridge. Darlene

Maybe I'm the only one that picked up on this but Kim said "I have a HALF (my capitalization) 750 ml bottle excess that I'd like to use to top off after the 2nd racking."

I wouldn't store 375 ml of wine in a 750 ml bottle. There will be way too much air in contact with the wine. What I do is use 2 liter, 1 liter and .5 liter plastic soda bottles. Put the excess wine in an appropriate sized bottle, squeeze the bottle until there is no head space, then cap it.

Even if the plastic allows some O2 to go through, it still won't be as much as a wine bottle only half full.

Andy

Someone else did comment on this.

Some salad dressings, hot sauces, and vinegars come in very nice 375 ml (12.7 oz) bottles, and empty 12-ounce beer bottles are close to this size as well (you can drink the extra .7 ounce, or use it to season your eggs). Be sure to wash the bottles out thoroughly, removing any odour of vinegar before using them. Never leave more than about 1" of headspace in a narrow-mouth bottle, and avoid wide-mouth containers (there is too much surface area exposed, as well as more air in the top).

They have rubber bands at most supermarkets. CO2 is heavier than air and won't escape unless it is under pressure. If it is under pressure, you want the excess to escape. But the air doesn't escape through the cling wrap, but rather around the edges. The rubber bands will stretch a bit under pressure, and allow the air to escape. It works just as well as an airlock, but it doesn't make that lovely bubbling sound. :(

I got my bungs from midwest supplies, and they are hollow on top. they actually fit OVER move pop or beer bottles, yet still fit in the

1-5 gallon carboys. they call them "universal bungs" and they work great. only 99 cents (plus shipping....)

email: dallyn_spam at yahoo dot com please respond in this NG so others can share your wisdom as well!

I've been using those for years, and never knew they would work on the beer bottles! Thanks