I am making a couple of 6 gallon reds from kits (cellar craft international
and Selection Estate series.) Is it ok to rack them into 5 gallon carboys
after primary and secondary so I won't have to top them off with water to
make up for losses? I am concerned that water would dilute them. I want
full-bodied wines.
thanks

It's perfectly fine to rack into smaller containers. In fact, that's how
you're supposed to do it.

Carboys are cheap, so if you're doing a six gallon kit, you could get some 3
gallon carboys, as well as some 1 gallon carboys. I don't recall where I
read it, but you can expect to lose about 10% of your wine at each racking.
(On my first batch myself, so I'm giving you book knowledge, not real world
experience!) If you have 6 gallons on lees, you'll rack 5+ gallons.

I'd rack to a 3 gallon carboy, and two one gallon carboys. As you keep
racking, you could keep topping off with one of the one gallon carboys.

It's also ok to top off with a commercial wine that is close to what you're
making. Better than water, or air.

Cheers,
Will

"asdfasdfg" wrote:
I am making a couple of 6 gallon reds from kits (cellar craft
international
and Selection Estate series.) Is it ok to rack them into 5 gallon carboys
after primary and secondary so I won't have to top them off with water to
make up for losses? I am concerned that water would dilute them. I want
full-bodied wines.

Yes, of course. That's why there are so many different size carboys. I never
top up with water.