Maybe next time I'll get the calculator out before I start getting
things ready. I can NOT understand why I couldn't remember that one gallon
of wine will fill five 750 ml bottles. Well, I planned for only four per
gallon -- with one extra bottle and cork -- for a five gallon batch. So I
have 21 bottles corked and about a half-gallon in a jug. The young wine is
very drinkable, so it is not going to waste.
The final SG of the wine came out at .992. The color is a very nice red,
as clear as the glass I poured it into. The bouquet is mild, but I expect it
to grow with aging. I probably should mention that this is a Selection
International kit.
I did not do a good job of estimating head space to I've got four corks
creeping out of the bottles. I've got some fresh corks soaking now, so that
won't be a problem. I might even clean up a couple of bottles for the left
over in the jug. That is, unless my sweetie-pie vetos it. She likes the
flavor.
I use spring loaded tube/valve thingy on the end of my siphon tube for
filling the bottles. I usually add a little to the bottles because when I
remove the filler, the displacement brings the wine down to the shoulder of
the bottle, maybe a 1 to 1-1/4 inches below the cork.

All-in-all, the Selection International kit worked very well for me. The
only deviation I made from the instructions was stretching the bottling out
for five weeks after the final racking instead of the recommended two
because of conflicts with other things. All conventional wisdom says that is
no problem.

Casey:

A Selection kit usually yields about 30 bottles. There may have been
other messages that I have forgotten explaining why you are getting
26.

Not sure which type of corks you are using, but soaking corks is not
recommended these days.

Steve

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Casey:

A Selection kit usually yields about 30 bottles. There may have been
other messages that I have forgotten explaining why you are getting
26.

Not sure which type of corks you are using, but soaking corks is not
recommended these days.

Steve

It goes back to when I didn't have a 6-gallon carboy to do the first
racking. I have one now. As for soaking the corks, the last thing I read
said soak 'em. Point me to a different reference, please.

Also, the op talks about 75cl bottles. Standard size is 70cl.

"Casey Wilson" wrote in message
news:a1gYh.3525$1M1.1103@trnddc01...

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Casey:

A Selection kit usually yields about 30 bottles. There may have been
other messages that I have forgotten explaining why you are getting
26.

Not sure which type of corks you are using, but soaking corks is not
recommended these days.

Steve

It goes back to when I didn't have a 6-gallon carboy to do the first
racking. I have one now. As for soaking the corks, the last thing I read
said soak 'em. Point me to a different reference, please.

On Apr 27, 7:25 am, "JR" wrote:
Also, the op talks about 75cl bottles. Standard size is 70cl.


No, it's 75cl, check you botttles.

Pp