The least ullage you can create is best. Assuming you have adequate
temperature control, you won't see any expansion or contraction of the
wine due to temp fluctuation.

When my wines are still early (first few weeks after first racking) I
check them every couple days by nose to ensure nothing bad is
happening. But now, with the wines two or more months into aging, I
open them up about once every 2 to 4 weeks - again, to check by nose as
well as to top up.



On 2007-12-20 07:02:17 -0800, said:

> On Dec 20, 9:05 am, Jumbalaya > wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> How much ullage is ok to have in a barrel? Am I doing more harm than
>> good checking it every week?
>>
>> Thx,
>>
>> Ange
>
> I've heard recently from a commercial winemaker that he tops up every
> 2-3 weeks. He is concerned that if he opens it too often, he is
> exposing it to more O2. So that is about what I do now.