>
> I live in Pittsburgh and our weather is always bad also; my winemaking
> room is well lit and has no windows so it just doesn't matter. Wine
> doesn't like sunlight so I consider it a blessing; the bad weather
> just forces me into winemaking mode... It's all in how you look at
> things.
>
>
>
> Joe

Actually, I've just thought of an advantage to winter!!! I put my
fermenting wines in the airing cupboard - with the door open a little, so
the temperature doesn't get too high - and they "go" much quicker than in
the summer, when I do them in the kitchen and the temperature is lower and
more irregular. (The cat likes it in there, too..)

So I get to drink the wine quicker!!!! :-))

I still have to do the big 5 gal one in the kitchen, though, with a
heater... which uses leccy.... which adds to global warming ... which makes
me depressed again ... which makes me drink more wine..... ho hum! Can't
have it all ways, huh?


Barb UK

> I still have to do the big 5 gal one in the kitchen, though, with a
> heater... which uses leccy....

Well, wine makes it's own heat when it's fermenting. Try wrapping
that carboy in a blanket and see what happens. At minimum, you won't
need as much warming if you insulate it. That, or power your heater
with solar or a wind turbine...

:O)

Joe

"Joe Sallustio" > wrote in message
...
>> I still have to do the big 5 gal one in the kitchen, though, with a
>> heater... which uses leccy....
>
> Well, wine makes it's own heat when it's fermenting. Try wrapping
> that carboy in a blanket and see what happens. At minimum, you won't
> need as much warming if you insulate it. That, or power your heater
> with solar or a wind turbine...
>
> :O)
>
> Joe


Yep, good point Joe. I did wrap a blanket round my 5gal fermenter, in the
belief that it would cut down elec. consumption, so hopefully I am still
being a bit "green"!!

Next time, I think I'll contrive a layer of bubble wrap under the blanket,
which will help even more - so maybe the heater won't have to come on very
much at all! Probably just a bit during the night when the heating is off.

Barb UK