Explain this please

Aug 13, 2003 6 Replies

Folks,



I am making my first batch of wine (a cab from a kit). I would like an explanation of something I have observed. Don't know if it is something I need to worry about or not.



I started the 6 gallons of juice primary in a 12 gallon stone crock. I covered it with a trash bag (fairly air tight). The bag buffed out for a couple of days (CO2 I guess). Then during the later stages of primary, the bag actually sucked into the crock. Kind of like a vacume was being created.



After 7 days, I racked the 6 gallons into a 5 gallon glass carboy with an airlock and a 1 gallon glass jug. I did not have an additional air lock so I used a ballon on the gallon jug. Once again, the ballon inflated for a couple of days. I released the built-up gas once. Then over the next several days, the ballon was sucked into the glass jug. What is going on here? I rack again in two days.



Michael


You did not say whether the wine was done fermenting. What is the SG? When you racked it you probably released a lot of dissolved CO2. If it is forming a vacuum, I would suspect you have some temperature fluctuations. When it cools, the volume will decrease.

--Greg

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Greg, Thanks for the reply. I do not know what the SG is because I do not yet have a hydrometer. I have one on order and should be here any day. I would imagine that it is done because the air lock is not giving off any bubbles and the balloon is not inflating.

Good thought about the temperature. I will check it tonight. It is in my basement and the temp has been between 68-70 F. I can't imagine a change of a degree or two making that much difference in volume to account for what I am seeing with the balloon and before the trash bag. I thought maybe there was some chemistry involved that I don't understand.

Thanks, Michael

I have a different concern for you to consider. Many garbage bags on the market have chemical stench inhibitors added to them. I can only see it as a potential danger to have such a bag touch the must.

Jake

Adding to Jake's comment, if the balloon sucks down into the wine and makes contact it can add a really nasty rubber taste and smell. Neither of those are good items to use in wine making. A clean cloth or bath towel would have been better during primary. Air is not a problem at that stage. Your primarily trying to keep beasties out.

Ray

Hi Jake, I have used plastic trash can liners in plastic milk crates to transport grapes for many years without any problems. I have seen the warning about a potential chemical hazard many times, but I have not been able to confirm the problem. Can you give me a reference? TIA, lum

Thanks Jake. I appreciate the info lum

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