We have attempted to make a Chianti from a kit and all is well so far we
think. We followed the instructions completely and made it through
clarification and bottling. After about a week we noticed that some bottles
have a few drops of wine seeping through the center of the corks. Is this
anything to be concerned about at this stage? Thanks.

--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Orlando Villella, Ed. D.

Orlando,

Through the _center_ of the corks? By any chance, did you reuse corks
that had been pulled with a corkscrew? Also, it is common practice to
stand newly corked bottles upright for a few days, to a week, to allow
any leakage to escape as air, before the corks seat snugly. Did you? In
any case, just stand the bottles up, clean them up, and wait a bit.
They'll be fine if the corks sound.
--


Mike MTM, Cokesbury, New Jersey, USA

You could re-cork, and then place the bottles of wine in the fridge to kill
off any
excess yeast, and or use wax seal after re-corking,
Stephen SG, UK



"Orlando Villella, Ed.D." > wrote in message
news:mstnc.13181$z06.2229478@attbi_s01...
| We have attempted to make a Chianti from a kit and all is well so far we
| think. We followed the instructions completely and made it through
| clarification and bottling. After about a week we noticed that some
bottles
| have a few drops of wine seeping through the center of the corks. Is this
| anything to be concerned about at this stage? Thanks.
|
| --
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Orlando Villella, Ed. D.
|
|

these are new corks, we thoroughly soaked them before use. We did not stand
them up for a few days and I realize now that I should have. The seepage
seems not to have gotten worse. Perhaps I will try the wax seal. Thanks.

"Stephen" > wrote in message
...
> You could re-cork, and then place the bottles of wine in the fridge to
kill
> off any
> excess yeast, and or use wax seal after re-corking,
> Stephen SG, UK
>
>
>
> "Orlando Villella, Ed.D." > wrote in message
> news:mstnc.13181$z06.2229478@attbi_s01...
> | We have attempted to make a Chianti from a kit and all is well so far we
> | think. We followed the instructions completely and made it through
> | clarification and bottling. After about a week we noticed that some
> bottles
> | have a few drops of wine seeping through the center of the corks. Is
this
> | anything to be concerned about at this stage? Thanks.
> |
> | --
>
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> | Orlando Villella, Ed. D.
> |
> |
>
>

How long did you soak them for?
Stephen SG
"Orlando Villella, Ed.D." > wrote in message
news:94Cnc.16311$536.3129988@attbi_s03...
| these are new corks, we thoroughly soaked them before use. We did not
stand
| them up for a few days and I realize now that I should have. The seepage
| seems not to have gotten worse. Perhaps I will try the wax seal. Thanks.
|
| "Stephen" > wrote in message
| ...
| > You could re-cork, and then place the bottles of wine in the fridge to
| kill
| > off any
| > excess yeast, and or use wax seal after re-corking,
| > Stephen SG, UK
| >
| >
| >
| > "Orlando Villella, Ed.D." > wrote in message
| > news:mstnc.13181$z06.2229478@attbi_s01...
| > | We have attempted to make a Chianti from a kit and all is well so far
we
| > | think. We followed the instructions completely and made it through
| > | clarification and bottling. After about a week we noticed that some
| > bottles
| > | have a few drops of wine seeping through the center of the corks. Is
| this
| > | anything to be concerned about at this stage? Thanks.
| > |
| > | --
| >
|
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------
| > | Orlando Villella, Ed. D.
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

What did you soak the corks in and at what temp?
Stephen SG
"Orlando Villella, Ed.D." > wrote in message
news:94Cnc.16311$536.3129988@attbi_s03...
| these are new corks, we thoroughly soaked them before use. We did not
stand
| them up for a few days and I realize now that I should have. The seepage
| seems not to have gotten worse. Perhaps I will try the wax seal. Thanks.
|
| "Stephen" > wrote in message
| ...
| > You could re-cork, and then place the bottles of wine in the fridge to
| kill
| > off any
| > excess yeast, and or use wax seal after re-corking,
| > Stephen SG, UK
| >
| >
| >
| > "Orlando Villella, Ed.D." > wrote in message
| > news:mstnc.13181$z06.2229478@attbi_s01...
| > | We have attempted to make a Chianti from a kit and all is well so far
we
| > | think. We followed the instructions completely and made it through
| > | clarification and bottling. After about a week we noticed that some
| > bottles
| > | have a few drops of wine seeping through the center of the corks. Is
| this
| > | anything to be concerned about at this stage? Thanks.
| > |
| > | --
| >
|
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------
| > | Orlando Villella, Ed. D.
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

I too have wine seeping from the middle of the corks. I did not soak
the cork and I kept the bottles up for 5-7 days!!!

Guy

guy and orlando,
just an off thought... could you please repost and tell us what corks
you used? just curious to see if they are the same. also, what type corker
do you use? jim
"Guy Therrien" > wrote in message
om...
> I too have wine seeping from the middle of the corks. I did not soak
> the cork and I kept the bottles up for 5-7 days!!!
>
> Guy

"jim book" wrote:
> guy and orlando,
> just an off thought... could you please repost and tell us what corks
> you used? just curious to see if they are the same. also, what type corker
> do you use?

My corks are the composite type and the corker is the Portugese type.
Guy

> guy and orlando,
> just an off thought... could you please repost and tell us what corks
> you used? just curious to see if they are the same. also, what type corker
> do you use? jim

I have this problem all the time. If it seeps from the middle of the
cork, and is just one or two drops, it doesn't seem to affect quality
of the wine, and ages normally. If it seeps from the edge, or is a
lot, then it's bad. I haven't figured out how to make it stop yet,
but the wines are aging fine so I just kind of let it slide for now.

I used #9 1-3/4" composite corks, chamfered on both ends with a Portuguese
corker. The wine seeped from the center of the corks for only a day or so
when it stopped. Hasn't seeped since.

"jim book" > wrote in message
...
> guy and orlando,
> just an off thought... could you please repost and tell us what corks
> you used? just curious to see if they are the same. also, what type corker
> do you use? jim
> "Guy Therrien" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I too have wine seeping from the middle of the corks. I did not soak
> > the cork and I kept the bottles up for 5-7 days!!!
> >
> > Guy
>
>

If it was moisture pooling out that is one thing, that's normal if you
soaked them. ( I never soak, I rinse, spray with sulfite, drain well
and use if the bag of corks was open; just use dry if not.) Wine
should never seep out of a good cork. I would not use anymore of
those if that is the case. Take them back or throw them out.
Composites should never leak, they are supposed to fit well and be
tight inside too. Number 9 corks ay 1.5 to 1.75" are standard corks
for standard bottles, so they are not overcompressed either.

Leakers are not uncommon on inexpensive corks, but if there is a path
out of the cork, there was a path in too. It really depends on how
long you want to keep the wines. If under a year, you may be ok; if
over that I might replace them with better ones.

If the cork felt woody, you may want to cut one open and see what it
looks and feels like inside. A good cork has some give to it. A bad
one can be hard as a two by for and about as resilient. There are
good corks out there at around $0.20 to $0.25 (US) in small
quantities, there are also good synthetics if that is something you
are willing to consider.

Regards,
Joe


"Orlando Villella, Ed.D." > wrote in message news:<dSdqc.69360$536.11282470@attbi_s03>...
> I used #9 1-3/4" composite corks, chamfered on both ends with a Portuguese
> corker. The wine seeped from the center of the corks for only a day or so
> when it stopped. Hasn't seeped since.
>
> "jim book" > wrote in message
> ...
> > guy and orlando,
> > just an off thought... could you please repost and tell us what corks
> > you used? just curious to see if they are the same. also, what type corker
> > do you use? jim
> > "Guy Therrien" > wrote in message
> > om...
> > > I too have wine seeping from the middle of the corks. I did not soak
> > > the cork and I kept the bottles up for 5-7 days!!!
> > >
> > > Guy
> >
> >

For a while I scalded my corks. It was a disaster. Almost all leaked or
were close to leaking around the sides due to the cork going mushy -- but I
have never had one lead out the middle. This has been brought up before so
it must happen and whether the corks were cheap or expensive -- they were
bad.

I agree completely with Joe. If there is a path out there is now and
excellent path in. The wine that has reached the outside can be infected
and then the infection can follow the wine back into the bottle.

I would drink them quickly or recork with good corks.

Ray

"Joe Sallustio" > wrote in message
om...
> If it was moisture pooling out that is one thing, that's normal if you
> soaked them. ( I never soak, I rinse, spray with sulfite, drain well
> and use if the bag of corks was open; just use dry if not.) Wine
> should never seep out of a good cork. I would not use anymore of
> those if that is the case. Take them back or throw them out.
> Composites should never leak, they are supposed to fit well and be
> tight inside too. Number 9 corks ay 1.5 to 1.75" are standard corks
> for standard bottles, so they are not overcompressed either.
>
> Leakers are not uncommon on inexpensive corks, but if there is a path
> out of the cork, there was a path in too. It really depends on how
> long you want to keep the wines. If under a year, you may be ok; if
> over that I might replace them with better ones.
>
> If the cork felt woody, you may want to cut one open and see what it
> looks and feels like inside. A good cork has some give to it. A bad
> one can be hard as a two by for and about as resilient. There are
> good corks out there at around $0.20 to $0.25 (US) in small
> quantities, there are also good synthetics if that is something you
> are willing to consider.
>
> Regards,
> Joe
>
>
> "Orlando Villella, Ed.D." > wrote in message
news:<dSdqc.69360$536.11282470@attbi_s03>...
> > I used #9 1-3/4" composite corks, chamfered on both ends with a
Portuguese
> > corker. The wine seeped from the center of the corks for only a day or
so
> > when it stopped. Hasn't seeped since.
> >
> > "jim book" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > guy and orlando,
> > > just an off thought... could you please repost and tell us what
corks
> > > you used? just curious to see if they are the same. also, what type
corker
> > > do you use? jim
> > > "Guy Therrien" > wrote in message
> > > om...
> > > > I too have wine seeping from the middle of the corks. I did not
soak
> > > > the cork and I kept the bottles up for 5-7 days!!!
> > > >
> > > > Guy
> > >
> > >