Barrel wicking?
 

I'm using a barrel for the first time. It's a brand new 10 gal
American Oak barrel. I've filled it with wine and everything seems
fine except that I'm noticing a 'wicking' phenomenon at the area
surrounding bung hole. This area is stained from the wine wicking out
around the bung. Is this normal? Perhaps just pressure equilization?

At first, I thought I had filled the barrel too much but this does not
appear to be the problem as removing wine to allow over an inch worth
of headspace does not change the result. I observe this with both
#8.5 and #9 rubber bungs which seem be the right size to give a good
seal. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
RD

Barrel wicking?
 

"RD" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm using a barrel for the first time. It's a brand new 10 gal
> American Oak barrel. I've filled it with wine and everything seems
> fine except that I'm noticing a 'wicking' phenomenon at the area
> surrounding bung hole. This area is stained from the wine wicking out
> around the bung. Is this normal? Perhaps just pressure equilization?
>
> At first, I thought I had filled the barrel too much but this does not
> appear to be the problem as removing wine to allow over an inch worth
> of headspace does not change the result. I observe this with both
> #8.5 and #9 rubber bungs which seem be the right size to give a good
> seal. Any help is appreciated.

That's normal at first, assuming the bung stave isn't cracked. Once the
barrel soaks up thoroughly that'll stop. Also, if ML isn't complete it will
generate pressure in the barrel and cause some leakage, and it could even
pop the bung out of the barrel. If that's the problem you may want to put
an airlock on the barrel for awhile.

Top up and bung _tight_ (as long as ML is finished) and keep the free SO2
where it should be for the pH of the wine. If ML isn't finished you should
still keep the wine pretty well topped up, but don't sulfite it until ML
finishes..

Tom S

Barrel wicking?
 

"Tom S" > wrote in message om>...
> "RD" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I'm using a barrel for the first time. It's a brand new 10 gal
> > American Oak barrel. I've filled it with wine and everything seems
> > fine except that I'm noticing a 'wicking' phenomenon at the area
> > surrounding bung hole. This area is stained from the wine wicking out
> > around the bung. Is this normal? Perhaps just pressure equilization?
> >
> > At first, I thought I had filled the barrel too much but this does not
> > appear to be the problem as removing wine to allow over an inch worth
> > of headspace does not change the result. I observe this with both
> > #8.5 and #9 rubber bungs which seem be the right size to give a good
> > seal. Any help is appreciated.
>
> That's normal at first, assuming the bung stave isn't cracked. Once the
> barrel soaks up thoroughly that'll stop. Also, if ML isn't complete it will
> generate pressure in the barrel and cause some leakage, and it could even
> pop the bung out of the barrel. If that's the problem you may want to put
> an airlock on the barrel for awhile.
>
> Top up and bung _tight_ (as long as ML is finished) and keep the free SO2
> where it should be for the pH of the wine. If ML isn't finished you should
> still keep the wine pretty well topped up, but don't sulfite it until ML
> finishes..
>
> Tom S

Thanks for the advice, Tom. The bung stave is in good shape and MLF
completed on this batch. The situation has begun to improve already.

RD