I have come to enjoy making wine from the various kits that are
available. The questiion I have is with bulk aging, does it make
that big of a difference?

I mean I dont really have the space to have carboys sitting around my
house for months at a time. I have a small spot where I do my wine
which gives me enough for 2-3 carboys. I ususally go 1/2s or 1/3s
with family members so the wine gets split up (we each get 10-15
bottles form a given kit). This usually keeps the 3 carboys I have in
use with no space for bulk aging.

Depends on the wine, but I think my country wines benefit from bulk aging as
well as bottle aging. There's less chance of temperature and other things
to affect the wine, if you bulk age for a bit. I generally do 1 gallon
batches, so it is a bit easier for me to hide a 1 gallon container for 4
months, than it would for a 3 or 5 gallon container. I hide then in a
closet, behind a couch, you'd be surprised by how creative one gets when you
want to bulk age. I've been surprised by how the wines change, really, I do
taste tests and write down my observations. My pumpkin wine in particular
tasted like rocket fuel at 3 months, but after bottling at 7 months, I was
surprised to find it had mellowed into a Riesling-like wine. I'm going to
be very good at letting it sit in the bottles until it is 2 years old, like
they say to do - should be very nice then. The wines I make from frozen
juice concentrates are good at 7 months, but very, very nice at 18 months.
Darlene

"pontiacgagt" wrote in message
om...
I have come to enjoy making wine from the various kits that are
available. The questiion I have is with bulk aging, does it make
that big of a difference?

I mean I dont really have the space to have carboys sitting around my
house for months at a time. I have a small spot where I do my wine
which gives me enough for 2-3 carboys. I ususally go 1/2s or 1/3s
with family members so the wine gets split up (we each get 10-15
bottles form a given kit). This usually keeps the 3 carboys I have in
use with no space for bulk aging.

I think Darline is right on. Bulk aging withstands temperature fluctuations
better than bottle age wine. As far as the space, it is sort of 6 of one
and half a dozen of the other. A 5 gal carboy takes up a lot of space but
so do 25 individual bottles of wine. I think bulk aging is beneficial but
if you do not have the space then you live with reality.

Ray

"Dar V" wrote in message
...
Depends on the wine, but I think my country wines benefit from bulk aging
as
well as bottle aging. There's less chance of temperature and other things
to affect the wine, if you bulk age for a bit. I generally do 1 gallon
batches, so it is a bit easier for me to hide a 1 gallon container for 4
months, than it would for a 3 or 5 gallon container. I hide then in a
closet, behind a couch, you'd be surprised by how creative one gets when
you
want to bulk age. I've been surprised by how the wines change, really, I
do
taste tests and write down my observations. My pumpkin wine in particular
tasted like rocket fuel at 3 months, but after bottling at 7 months, I was
surprised to find it had mellowed into a Riesling-like wine. I'm going to
be very good at letting it sit in the bottles until it is 2 years old,
like
they say to do - should be very nice then. The wines I make from frozen
juice concentrates are good at 7 months, but very, very nice at 18 months.
Darlene

"pontiacgagt" wrote in message
om...
I have come to enjoy making wine from the various kits that are
available. The questiion I have is with bulk aging, does it make
that big of a difference?

I mean I dont really have the space to have carboys sitting around my
house for months at a time. I have a small spot where I do my wine
which gives me enough for 2-3 carboys. I ususally go 1/2s or 1/3s
with family members so the wine gets split up (we each get 10-15
bottles form a given kit). This usually keeps the 3 carboys I have in
use with no space for bulk aging.

Ray wrote:
I think Darline is right on. Bulk aging withstands temperature
fluctuations better than bottle age wine. As far as the space, it is
sort of 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. A 5 gal carboy takes
up a lot of space but so do 25 individual bottles of wine. I think
bulk aging is beneficial but if you do not have the space then you
live with reality.

Think creatively. It does not have to sit in the wine making area. How
about the bottom of a closet? We take showers an the tub is never used. A
half dozen carboyswould fit there. Just be sure to check the airlocks on a
regular basis.
--
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

One point to keep in mind -- a full 5- or 6-gallon carboy is pretty darn
heavy! Unless you enjoy the exercise, try to put them in places where you
won't have to move them much.

Bart

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
. com...

Think creatively. It does not have to sit in the wine making area. How
about the bottom of a closet? We take showers an the tub is never used.
A
half dozen carboyswould fit there. Just be sure to check the airlocks on
a
regular basis.
--
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome