Hey,
You're right, you probably will take over the basement. That's what I've
done. I store my wine bottles (empty and full) down there, most of my
equipment, and bulk age my carboys down there. Since I only do 1 gallon
carboys, I still do most of the primary ferments in my kitchen.
Darlene

"KD" > wrote in message
...
> Hi all,
>
> Thanks for the responses.
>
> Doug, I'm thinking you may have a point in moving my operation into the
> basement. It doesn't go below freezing down there, but when I started the
> wine back in May it was still fairly chilly here in Atlantic Canada. I
> usually have my main floor no warmer than about 60-65 F in winter, so the
> basement was probably ten degrees lower, a bit chilly to start the
> fermentation process. May be that the answer would be to invest in a
heating
> belt for that portion. I had considered the furnace room, but while that's
> warmer, it could provide some unwanted flavours. Nothing like that fuel
oil
> note to round out a good white wine.
>
> The light bulb idea is also worth trying out. Someone else once told me to
> just get a lamp with a 100 watt bulb in it and have it aimed in the
general
> direction of your primary, that warms it sufficiently for your yeast to
> catch.
>
> Looks like I have some experimentation to do! So far my winemaking
equipment
> is mostly just the basics, but eventually I may overtake a whole room
> instead of a closet! There are so many little doodads that I'd like to
> have...
>
> Thanks,
>
> KD
>
>
>
>
>
> "KD" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi folks:
> >
> > My first batch of Savignon Blanc is still in the carboy, currently
getting
> > nice and clear sitting on the basement floor. I'll probably be filtering
> and
> > bottling tomorrow. Overall I've really enjoyed this, and since I
regularly
> > enjoy wine from the liquor store, I see myself continuing to do this for
> > years to come.
> >
> > Question though...in my household, I have several things that affect
where
> I
> > do my winemaking - a husband who doesn't want to trip over things, cats
> who
> > are naturally curious and want to investigate the fizzing bucket by
> knocking
> > off the lid, etc. I did my fermentation in a closet in a spare upstairs
> > bedroom, because my basement was too cold a month ago. I drag a stool
into
> > the bedroom when I'm going to siphon since there really isn't a table in
> > there, have hubby there to hold things steady and stuff everything back
> into
> > the closet when i'm done.
> >
> > So as I've been doing my thing with the wine kit, I've often had
thoughts
> of
> > a table that would make things easier for the person without lots of
> space.
> > In my mind, my fictional winemaking table has higher shelf for placing
the
> > primary for ease of siphoning, a groove for it to fit into to make it
> > unlikely to tip. A lower shelf for the carboy to sit on with a groove
too,
> > maybe even something bottles would fit into once you're ready to start
> > bottling, to keep them steady. Even a storage area to put your stuff
when
> > you're not using it. All of this would fit in a standard closet.
> >
> > Surely I'm not the first person to think of this. Is there such a thing
as
> a
> > table for this purpose? Or do I have to build my own?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > KD
> >
> >
>
>