Splitting primary fermentation

I bought the wife a 6 gallon wine kit, and it says I need an 8 gallon fermentor for primary. I have several 5 gallon glass carboys, could I just split all the ingredients in half and divide it into two carboys, then mix them when the volume is low enough for my 6.5 gallon carboy, or will that cause problems?

Also, the kit was stored at the LHBS for a long time at room temp. and I haven't refrigerated the yeast pack either. Should I buy a new pack of yeast, or will this one be alright?

I spent $100+ on this and don't want to screw it up. Thanks.

What kind of primary bucket did you get? They usually include a 7.9 gal with the kits.

The yeast should be fine.

Look at the date on the yeast. If it's not expired, it'll be fine.

If you have a 6.5 gallon carboy, that's big enough for primary. Usually, we use buckets, though, because you're adding stuff or stirring the wine. If it's just a regular kit, you should be fine with a primary in the 6.5 gallon carboy, and then secondary in a 6 gallon carboy.

Hmm, I seem to remember the original volume being more than 6.5 gallons, since you're supposed to rack it off the sediment losing volume each time until you end up with 6 gallons at the end. I've never done this before, so you may be right and the 6.5 gallon might work.

And the kit was just ingredients, no equipment.

klyph said:

Hmm, I seem to remember the original volume being more than 6.5 gallons, since you're supposed to rack it off the sediment losing volume each time until you end up with 6 gallons at the end. I've never done this before, so you may be right and the 6.5 gallon might work.

And the kit was just ingredients, no equipment.

Click to expand...

No, in the kit you'll never have more than 6 gallons. In fact, when you degas, you will have a little bit less than 6 gallons because you don't top up until after the degassing step. That's when you top up to 6 gallons (about an inch below the bung to prevent oxidation) in the 6 gallon carboy.

This is the kit, in case you were wondering:

http://www.northernbrewer.com/winem...e/se-washington-columbia-valley-riesling.html

I guess I'll have to read the instructions once more. Thanks for the help.

that's a nice kit! They have good instructions, so if you follow them as instructed (with the degassing, adding the #1, #2 packs at the right time, and topping up according to the directions), you'll be fine.

Wine doesn't krausen much like beer, so you should be ok in a 6.5 gallon carboy for primary, but you'll need a 6 gallon carboy for secondary.

Well crap, now I'll need another excuse to procrastinate

Thanks Yoop.