DutchK9
Well-Known Member
I have been trying to read up and learn something about wine making. One article I read stated that for the first 48-72 hrs of the must going into the primary, you should not use an airlock but instead cover the carboy opening with a fine cloth or put cotton in the bung hole. Then after this amount of time, put on the airlock. Another said to use this method through the whole primary process. Which is more accurate?
Also, do you strain the wine kit when putting it into the primary? Or just when it goes into the secondary?
And finally, when racking to the secondary do you use a smaller carboy or just top off with some store bought wine? My six gallon carboys actually can hold 7 gallons of water. Is this too much head space? Do I need a 5 gallon carboy and if so, do you still top it off or is the head space okay?
Also, do you strain the wine kit when putting it into the primary? Or just when it goes into the secondary?
And finally, when racking to the secondary do you use a smaller carboy or just top off with some store bought wine? My six gallon carboys actually can hold 7 gallons of water. Is this too much head space? Do I need a 5 gallon carboy and if so, do you still top it off or is the head space okay?