"Joe Sallustio" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> What do you use to clean the topping hole area? Mine is getting pretty
> dark, I don't want to ruin the wine an just don't know if this is an
> issue or not. The barrel is pretty rough and has a lot of grain for
> 'stuff' to grow.

It's normal for the end grain that's visible at the bunghole to absorb more
color (from red wine) than the side of a stave. Wood is a good deal more
porous in that direction. That's why leaks often occur at the ends of
staves where there are no joints present.

If the area smells OK when you pop the bung, don't worry about it. If it
smells funny/musty, be sure your sulfite is OK in the wine itself, top the
barrel, and before replacing the bung dip the end of the bung into bisulfite
powder. When you then insert the bung that'll grind some of the powder into
the wood. Repeat if necessary until the area smells normal when you pull
the bung.

> Should I be topping to just the base of the bung hole? I'm using a
> rubber stopper to seal it

Silicone stoppers are the best for sealing barrels, but they don't come in
every size. Gum rubber is next best, but if they're in direct contact with
the wine they can impart a rubbery odor. That said, if topping with a
silicone stopper it's safe to fill to within a quarter inch of overflowing
before ramming and twisting the bung in. With gum stoppers you might want
to just barely leave a little air space - say 0.15" or so.

Another alternative is to wrap the business end of the bung with Saran Wrap
as a gasket. That'll keep the rubber odors away from the wine and is
capable of an airtight seal. (I don't think I'd recommend rolling the
barrel with wine in it though if using this method.) That trick also works
to keep SO2 gas from destroying silicone bungs in empty, gassed barrels. Be
sure to use Saran Wrap. It's thicker than the other brands, e.g. Glad Wrap.

and it just seems damp every topping, I'm
> getting the stopper in tight as I can, I twist it in now and that seems
> to seal well, it just seems wet.

A little dampness around the bung is not unusual - especially if you roll
your barrels. Also, smaller barrels will have greater pressure changes
within from temperature variations.

Tom S