I would strongly advise you NOT to use the polyethylene type barrels for
long term bulk aging. I have never used wooden barrels and from the comments
I have seen on here it is fraught with possible problems -- especially for
the small time home winemaker. I have never used stainless steel but
certainly some of our US winemakers do use them.
I have 8 x 23 litre glass carboys for my bulk aging and about 30 x 1
gallon ( imp). I used to have over 60 1 gallon jars but they occupied to
much space! The 23 litre glass jars are readily available from your local
home brew store complete with a cap which allows insertion of fermentation
locks. You can also buy a suitable carrying handle which is necessary. ( see
below)

The trouble with the"plastic" carboys is that in the long term they will
admit oxygen to your stored wine. They also are very susceptible to off
flavours being admitted to the wine. I do use them for fermenting in but
transfer to glass once it is complete for bulk aging.

The disadvantage of the 23 litre glass is that they are very heavy
especially when full -- over 60lbs and you should think carefully where you
are going to store them

HTH

--
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire, England
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"alien" > wrote in message
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>I currently only have 1 gallon demijohns for wine making, however I want
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