I've got an apparently acetified wine in a barrel right now. Is this
something that will ruin the barrel permanently, or can I clean
thoroughly once I "flush" this batch?

I think that barrel is done for.

If you are certain that it is infected with acetobacter, there's not
much you can do about it--it is in the wood and will begin to grow and
spoil your wine every time you put it in there.

Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

I hear they make nice planters.

"CJ" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I think that barrel is done for.
>
> If you are certain that it is infected with acetobacter, there's not
> much you can do about it--it is in the wood and will begin to grow and
> spoil your wine every time you put it in there.
>
> Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

I believe you are correct.

>
> I hear they make nice planters.
And Vinegar barrels

>

UGH

"Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message
...
>
> "CJ" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>>I think that barrel is done for.
>>
>> If you are certain that it is infected with acetobacter, there's not
>> much you can do about it--it is in the wood and will begin to grow and
>> spoil your wine every time you put it in there.
>>
>> Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
>
> I believe you are correct.
>
>>
>> I hear they make nice planters.
> And Vinegar barrels
>

As an afterthought:
A Ph meter might be had for $150 or less
AO apparatus for measuring free SO2 can be had for $500
A chart for showing the amount of free SO2 needed for a given pH - free

How much do new barrels cost?

These seem like reasonable alternative cost compared to pitching infected
barrels - besides that - your wine will age longer and taste better.

If anyone is considering moving to barrels, these might be worthwhile
investments to keep in mind.

"Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message
...
> AO apparatus for measuring free SO2 can be had for $500

It's possible to kludge one of those together a _lot_ cheaper than that.
The whole works, chemicals included shouldn't run more than ~$50.

Tom S
www.chateauburbank.com

"Tom S" > wrote in message
om...
> "Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message
> ...
>> AO apparatus for measuring free SO2 can be had for $500
>
> It's possible to kludge one of those together a _lot_ cheaper than that.
> The whole works, chemicals included shouldn't run more than ~$50.
>
> Tom S
> www.chateauburbank.com
The price I mentioned was the price listed in a winemakers supply company
catalog and included a vacuum pump instead of hooking up to a sink. I am
sure that anyone knowledgeable enough of some chemistry and one who has
access to some glassware can probably kludge one together. Could you send
some plans for a kludged setup. I am interested. I have been sending
samples off for testing free SO2 and was considering buying a setup. I have
been paying $12 per sample which isn't bad but I would test more often if I
had my own setup.

I think you helped make the point that if one is going to move up from
carboys to barrels, then a little bit of extra expense budgeting upfront
prior to purchasing barrel(s) could save a LOT of money, time and effort.
Barrels are expensive not to mention the possibility of the contents of a
whole barrel going down the drain because of not monitoring pH, SO2 and
keeping the barrels topped up. After I started using a barrel, I was amazed
at how rapidly the free SO2 can drop off in barreled wine.

After retiring, I worked part time at a small commercial winery. I saw a
number of barrels that were discarded because of VA or Brett simply because
the winemaker did not keep track of pH and SO2.

Paul,
The cheapest source of decent lab glassware I know of is
www.cynmar.com. I bought a pile of glassware from them. They sell
glassware from Mexico and the Far East; it's not Kimble or Corning but
it is affordable. (They sell the better stuff too.) I have plans from
some books I can scan and send if you would like. I think Presque Isle
sells the whole setup now too, you may want to call and ask.

Joe

"Joe Sallustio" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Paul,
> The cheapest source of decent lab glassware I know of is
> www.cynmar.com. I bought a pile of glassware from them. They sell
> glassware from Mexico and the Far East; it's not Kimble or Corning but
> it is affordable. (They sell the better stuff too.) I have plans from
> some books I can scan and send if you would like. I think Presque Isle
> sells the whole setup now too, you may want to call and ask.
>
> Joe
>

Thanks Joe
I sent you my addres via direct mail to you.
I checked with Presque Isle and all the equipment and chemicals came to
about $400 and that did not include a pump. You still had to run a line to
a sink for the vacuum.

CJ ) wrote:
>I think that barrel is done for.

>If you are certain that it is infected with acetobacter, there's not
>much you can do about it--it is in the wood and will begin to grow and
>spoil your wine every time you put it in there.

>Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

>I hear they make nice planters.

The folks at Barrel Builders, in California, calim that Proxy Clean
can be used to treat infected barrels. I duuno though--it's on
ehting t otry this if it's one barrel out of 30--it's another to
risk your entire year's production.

I've tried it, and seemed to like the results, but the infected wine
was not that infected.

Dave
************************************************** **************************
Dave Breeden

I appreciate the feedback. This was my first barrel and unfortunately
I decided to put a wine from last year that I had issues with into it
first. It wasn't so much the SO2 addition that was the problem as the
pouring of finished wine from tank to carboy and back. Not ideal.
Lesson learned. Additionally it was a high pH wine which made it all
the more suceptible(sp?).

I will soon be ridding myself of the 500L tank in favor of carboys
which are much more manageable for someone working out of their garage
without a pump.

Cheers! Here's to the 2005 wines that are progressing nicely...