Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine kit
at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for secondary in
a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I thought this was a
standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to within 2" of the stopper,
and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a good thing, or do I risk
ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in advance for your help!

Brian wrote:

> Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine kit
> at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for secondary in
> a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I thought this was a
> standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to within 2" of the stopper,
> and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a good thing, or do I risk
> ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in advance for your help!
>
>
If you need to get an additional half-gallon of liquid to top off your
carboy with a kit, one way is to add the additional half-gallon of water
mixed with about 1 pound of sugar. This will result in a slightly
lighter wine, but maintain the wine's intended alcohol content, which
will aid in helping the wine keep. You may want to use grape juice
concentrate if you want to maintain closer to the intended taste of the
kit, but adding a half gallon of sugar solution to a 6 gallon must will
only weaken the flavor slightly.

If you have a hydrometer from your beermaking exploits, you can use it
to more accurately make up a sugar and/or juice concentrate solution.
Shoot for a "topping off" solution with a specific gravity of about
1.095, which will yield about 12 percent alcohol when fully fermented.
Add this topping off mixture after doing the first racking, while
fermentation is still somewhat active, but after the frothing phase is
complete.

Brian,

If you don't want to change the balance of the wine kit as it was packaged,
then go buy those glass beads that people use for decoration and add those
to fill the extra space. Just make sure you clean them first. Many people
also
use these instead of topping up the carboy with water in a 6 gal. carboy. I
saw some
last weekend at a dollar store. good luck.

Scott


"Bruce_Nolte_N3LSY&" > wrote in message
...
> Brian wrote:
>
> > Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine
kit
> > at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for
secondary in
> > a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I thought this
was a
> > standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to within 2" of the
stopper,
> > and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a good thing, or do I
risk
> > ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in advance for your help!
> >
> >
> If you need to get an additional half-gallon of liquid to top off your
> carboy with a kit, one way is to add the additional half-gallon of water
> mixed with about 1 pound of sugar. This will result in a slightly
> lighter wine, but maintain the wine's intended alcohol content, which
> will aid in helping the wine keep. You may want to use grape juice
> concentrate if you want to maintain closer to the intended taste of the
> kit, but adding a half gallon of sugar solution to a 6 gallon must will
> only weaken the flavor slightly.
>
> If you have a hydrometer from your beermaking exploits, you can use it
> to more accurately make up a sugar and/or juice concentrate solution.
> Shoot for a "topping off" solution with a specific gravity of about
> 1.095, which will yield about 12 percent alcohol when fully fermented.
> Add this topping off mixture after doing the first racking, while
> fermentation is still somewhat active, but after the frothing phase is
> complete.

Brian,

If you don't want to change the balance of the wine kit as it was packaged,
then go buy those glass beads that people use for decoration and add those
to fill the extra space. Just make sure you clean them first. Many people
also
use these instead of topping up the carboy with water in a 6 gal. carboy. I
saw some
last weekend at a dollar store. good luck.

Scott


"Bruce_Nolte_N3LSY&" > wrote in message
...
> Brian wrote:
>
> > Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine
kit
> > at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for
secondary in
> > a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I thought this
was a
> > standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to within 2" of the
stopper,
> > and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a good thing, or do I
risk
> > ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in advance for your help!
> >
> >
> If you need to get an additional half-gallon of liquid to top off your
> carboy with a kit, one way is to add the additional half-gallon of water
> mixed with about 1 pound of sugar. This will result in a slightly
> lighter wine, but maintain the wine's intended alcohol content, which
> will aid in helping the wine keep. You may want to use grape juice
> concentrate if you want to maintain closer to the intended taste of the
> kit, but adding a half gallon of sugar solution to a 6 gallon must will
> only weaken the flavor slightly.
>
> If you have a hydrometer from your beermaking exploits, you can use it
> to more accurately make up a sugar and/or juice concentrate solution.
> Shoot for a "topping off" solution with a specific gravity of about
> 1.095, which will yield about 12 percent alcohol when fully fermented.
> Add this topping off mixture after doing the first racking, while
> fermentation is still somewhat active, but after the frothing phase is
> complete.

Brian - Beware! If your 6.5 gallon carboy is anything like those in my
cellar it will hold right at 7 gallons when full to 1/2 inch below the top.
How many gallons of wine will your kit make? If you need more than a few
ounces of water to top up your new wine you will adversly affect it. I
would get some new carboys of assorted sizes, gallon bottles, etc. so you
can store your new wine in full containers as it ages. I would avoid adding
any water to the wine. If anything I would add a commercial wine of similar
type to top up the wine.

I also make beer. I believe winemakers are much more concerned about
keeping air away from their product than beer makers. However, I think it's
just as important for beer. I make 6 gallon batches of beer so I'm sure I
will have a full 5 gallon carboy, topped up to within 1/2 inch of the air
lock for lagering.

Just say no to oxidation.

Bill Frazier
Olathe, Kansas USA

"Brian" > wrote in message
news:trfGd.290$ul4.31@trnddc01...
> Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine
> kit at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for
> secondary in a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I
> thought this was a standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to
> within 2" of the stopper, and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a
> good thing, or do I risk ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in
> advance for your help!
>
>

Brian - Beware! If your 6.5 gallon carboy is anything like those in my
cellar it will hold right at 7 gallons when full to 1/2 inch below the top.
How many gallons of wine will your kit make? If you need more than a few
ounces of water to top up your new wine you will adversly affect it. I
would get some new carboys of assorted sizes, gallon bottles, etc. so you
can store your new wine in full containers as it ages. I would avoid adding
any water to the wine. If anything I would add a commercial wine of similar
type to top up the wine.

I also make beer. I believe winemakers are much more concerned about
keeping air away from their product than beer makers. However, I think it's
just as important for beer. I make 6 gallon batches of beer so I'm sure I
will have a full 5 gallon carboy, topped up to within 1/2 inch of the air
lock for lagering.

Just say no to oxidation.

Bill Frazier
Olathe, Kansas USA

"Brian" > wrote in message
news:trfGd.290$ul4.31@trnddc01...
> Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine
> kit at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for
> secondary in a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I
> thought this was a standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to
> within 2" of the stopper, and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a
> good thing, or do I risk ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in
> advance for your help!
>
>

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 20:55:53 GMT, "Brian"
> wrote:

>Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine kit
>at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for secondary in
>a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I thought this was a
>standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to within 2" of the stopper,
>and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a good thing, or do I risk
>ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in advance for your help!
>

I suggest topping up with a similar wine..... Two fifths should do
the trick.

A.J.

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 20:55:53 GMT, "Brian"
> wrote:

>Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine kit
>at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for secondary in
>a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I thought this was a
>standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to within 2" of the stopper,
>and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a good thing, or do I risk
>ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in advance for your help!
>

I suggest topping up with a similar wine..... Two fifths should do
the trick.

A.J.

William Frazier wrote:
> Brian - Beware! If your 6.5 gallon carboy is anything like those in my
> cellar it will hold right at 7 gallons when full to 1/2 inch below the top.
> How many gallons of wine will your kit make? If you need more than a few
> ounces of water to top up your new wine you will adversly affect it. I
> would get some new carboys of assorted sizes, gallon bottles, etc. so you
> can store your new wine in full containers as it ages. I would avoid adding
> any water to the wine. If anything I would add a commercial wine of similar
> type to top up the wine.
>
> I also make beer. I believe winemakers are much more concerned about
> keeping air away from their product than beer makers. However, I think it's
> just as important for beer. I make 6 gallon batches of beer so I'm sure I
> will have a full 5 gallon carboy, topped up to within 1/2 inch of the air
> lock for lagering.
>
> Just say no to oxidation.
>
> Bill Frazier
> Olathe, Kansas USA
>
> "Brian" > wrote in message
> news:trfGd.290$ul4.31@trnddc01...
>
>>Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine
>>kit at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for
>>secondary in a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I
>>thought this was a standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to
>>within 2" of the stopper, and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a
>>good thing, or do I risk ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in
>>advance for your help!
>>

Brian, I like your suggestion about the gallon bottles. Perhaps Bill can
get some of those old 4 liter Gallo wine jugs used for their cheaper
wines (Paisano comes to mind), and possibly some half-gallon containers
as well. Avoid plastic milk bottles, they are thin enough to let oxygen
permeate them.

Bottled water typically comes in 5 gallon carboys. I was able to find
some empty ones at Wal-Mart for about 6 bucks each, or you can get
bottled water for about $13 or so in a 5 gallon carboy which includes
the deposit, then just keep the carboy. Keep a lookout for the
old-fashioned glass carboys, I like them better than the plastics (the
smooth sides don't trap sediment like the plastic ones).

It is difficult to predict exactly how much wine you will end up with in
your final aging container, as there will be some loss from wine left
behind with the sediments after siphoning off the clear wine. Small
amounts of this leftover wine are not really worth trying to make
drinkable, but if you are the frugal type and have some Bentonite handy,
you can add about a half-gram per 750 ml bottle to the turbid leftover
liquid. The bentonite will help it settle out, and provide you with some
wine that should be suitable for cooking with.

William Frazier wrote:
> Brian - Beware! If your 6.5 gallon carboy is anything like those in my
> cellar it will hold right at 7 gallons when full to 1/2 inch below the top.
> How many gallons of wine will your kit make? If you need more than a few
> ounces of water to top up your new wine you will adversly affect it. I
> would get some new carboys of assorted sizes, gallon bottles, etc. so you
> can store your new wine in full containers as it ages. I would avoid adding
> any water to the wine. If anything I would add a commercial wine of similar
> type to top up the wine.
>
> I also make beer. I believe winemakers are much more concerned about
> keeping air away from their product than beer makers. However, I think it's
> just as important for beer. I make 6 gallon batches of beer so I'm sure I
> will have a full 5 gallon carboy, topped up to within 1/2 inch of the air
> lock for lagering.
>
> Just say no to oxidation.
>
> Bill Frazier
> Olathe, Kansas USA
>
> "Brian" > wrote in message
> news:trfGd.290$ul4.31@trnddc01...
>
>>Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine
>>kit at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for
>>secondary in a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I
>>thought this was a standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to
>>within 2" of the stopper, and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a
>>good thing, or do I risk ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in
>>advance for your help!
>>

Brian, I like your suggestion about the gallon bottles. Perhaps Bill can
get some of those old 4 liter Gallo wine jugs used for their cheaper
wines (Paisano comes to mind), and possibly some half-gallon containers
as well. Avoid plastic milk bottles, they are thin enough to let oxygen
permeate them.

Bottled water typically comes in 5 gallon carboys. I was able to find
some empty ones at Wal-Mart for about 6 bucks each, or you can get
bottled water for about $13 or so in a 5 gallon carboy which includes
the deposit, then just keep the carboy. Keep a lookout for the
old-fashioned glass carboys, I like them better than the plastics (the
smooth sides don't trap sediment like the plastic ones).

It is difficult to predict exactly how much wine you will end up with in
your final aging container, as there will be some loss from wine left
behind with the sediments after siphoning off the clear wine. Small
amounts of this leftover wine are not really worth trying to make
drinkable, but if you are the frugal type and have some Bentonite handy,
you can add about a half-gram per 750 ml bottle to the turbid leftover
liquid. The bentonite will help it settle out, and provide you with some
wine that should be suitable for cooking with.

Thanks all, this was helpful. My neighbor and fellow beer-brewing compadre
has a 5-gallon carboy. To be safe, I think I'll use it and if there is any
extra wine, will try to contain it in a 1/2 gallon jug.

"A. J. Rawls" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 20:55:53 GMT, "Brian"
> > wrote:
>
>>Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine
>>kit
>>at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for secondary
>>in
>>a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I thought this was
>>a
>>standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to within 2" of the
>>stopper,
>>and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a good thing, or do I risk
>>ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in advance for your help!
>>
>
> I suggest topping up with a similar wine..... Two fifths should do
> the trick.
>
> A.J.
>

Thanks all, this was helpful. My neighbor and fellow beer-brewing compadre
has a 5-gallon carboy. To be safe, I think I'll use it and if there is any
extra wine, will try to contain it in a 1/2 gallon jug.

"A. J. Rawls" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 20:55:53 GMT, "Brian"
> > wrote:
>
>>Have homebrewed beer for several years with good success. I won a wine
>>kit
>>at our club Christmas Party, a nice Shiraz. The kit calls for secondary
>>in
>>a 6-gallon carboy. All I have is a 6.5 gallon carboy (I thought this was
>>a
>>standard size). Anyway, the kit says to top up to within 2" of the
>>stopper,
>>and I'm wondering if adding that much water is a good thing, or do I risk
>>ruining the wine by not doing so?! Thanks in advance for your help!
>>
>
> I suggest topping up with a similar wine..... Two fifths should do
> the trick.
>
> A.J.
>