Bottling schedule

Nemanach · Apr 3, 2018

I am doing my first wine kit, a Cru Select Cabernet. I started primary on 2/25/18 in a bucket and on 3/10/18 I transfered to secondary in a 6 gallon carboy. After transferring to secondary I degassed, added sulphite, potassium sorbate, kiesesol and chitosan. I also topped up with another bottle of wine and small amount of water to bring the level up close to the stopper.

Per the kit instructions I can bottle this weekend. Do I need to bottle this weekend or can it sit in secondary longer? I don't expect to need the carboy for another 6 weeks and we don't plan on drinking the wine until September (preganant wife) so I'm not in a rush. I'm guessing it can sit in the secondary but I'm not sure if there is something else I should do.

homebrewer_99 · Apr 3, 2018

It can sit in the carboy as long as you want. Just make sure to check the airlock every couple of days to make sure the water level doesn't get too low to let the back stuff get it.

I have a pear mead that's been in the carboy for 3 years now. I know, I know...

Ho0sier-9 · Apr 15, 2018

I started primary on 2/25/18 in a bucket and on 3/10/18 I transfered to secondary in a 6 gallon carboy. After transferring to secondary I degassed, added sulphite, potassium sorbate, kiesesol and chitosan. I also topped up with another bottle of wine and small amount of water to bring the level up close to the stopper.

When did you add the sulphite, potassium sorbate, kiesesol and chitosan?
if you did all that the same day you transferred it appears that you only fermented 2 weeks in primary and 0 days in secondary. what was your fg reading?

I just bottled a Chocolate Raspberry that I started over a year ago.
Just make sure to keep the airlock filled you will be ok.

DoctorCAD · Apr 15, 2018

Youve got a minimum wait of 6 months before bottling...relax.

kh54s10 · Apr 15, 2018

DoctorCAD said:
Youve got a minimum wait of 6 months before bottling...relax.

This isn't true. You can bottle it after a couple of months then age it in the bottles. Or as you say you can wait for 6 months to bottle it. For this one I would cellar the wine for about a year. But I can never wait that long.