BTW, I use an electric blanket wrapped around my carboys. A thermometer is
placed between the blanked and glass. Regulates at a nice 70 degrees F.

KB



"Dar V" > wrote in message
...
> 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
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>