"rabbits77" > wrote in message
. com...
>>> Interesting...this looks like just about enough info.
>>> I am confused about one point in his directions.
>>> This line:
>>> If 1.000 or lower, rack into clean secondary and reattach airlock.
>>> Rack again after 2 months and again after additional 2 months.
>>> "rack and rack again" is just moving from one glass vessel to another
>>> every two months, right? Why?
>>
>> The idea is to get the wine off of the sediment. The sediment consists of
>> grape parts and yeast cells both live and dead. Deteriorating sediments
>> can
>> produce some "off" flavors and besides, we all want clear wine.
>> Steve
> Ok, and just one more question on this line:
> If 1.000 or lower, rack into clean secondary and reattach airlock.
> Rack again after 2 months and again after additional 2 months.
> I take this to mean if the SG is 1.000 or lower than immediately rack
> to secondary. Otherwise leave it be. Either way, you re-rack twice more.
> In the case of the SG being 1.000 you will have re-racked three times.
> In the case otherwise you will have re-racked twice. Is that correct?
>

Normally I rack after about 2 weeks without regard to the gravity reading.
At this point the fermentation is virtually finished and a large part of the
sediment will have fallen. I rack again when there is significant sediment
(3/4/ -1 inch).
At that point I top up with a similar wine and wait until it clears. Shine a
laser pointer through the wine, if you can see the beam in the wine it isn't
clear. I think too many people get caught up with wine by the "numbers" and
don't understand the reasons for the steps.
Steve