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  1. W

    corking trauma -- is there a workable technique?!

    Much obliged, guys; I think I'll go the Portuguese route. Sounds a whole lot nicer and more manageable than the nightmare I went through with the little plastic thing! Happy fermenting! Mitch
  2. W

    corking trauma -- is there a workable technique?!

    Corking, for the 1st time, some bottles this weekend, using a plastic Ferrari corker. The process sounded really simple/easy when the supply shop owner demo'd it ("air-demo", not with the actual corker and a btl). But .... trying it myself, I nearly broke myself trying to get the corks into the...
  3. W

    StarSan use - is this OK?

    My 1st time using the stuff, so .... I had my solution suds up when I rinsed my wine bottles; seems I've read that this is normal. Is it? If so .... can I let the bottles air-dry (standing up), or should I use them right away? The suds won't be an issue? When I make up a batch, can I store it...
  4. W

    is there a way to remove the tough metal "collars" from necks of screw-cap btls?!

    I wasn't aware there was a difference; so ... corking a recycled screw-cap btl is a no-go? That would mean 80% of the btls I've scraped/cleaned are useless? Damn .... If that's the case, better to find out now, I guess.
  5. W

    is there a real way to stay "signed in"?

    I've noticed that in accessing this forum, I always end up having to enter e-mail and password even when I'd clicked" "remember this" on the previous access -- and even if that access was mere seconds before the 2nd sign-in. Is there an actual way to stay signed-in? Thx for any ideas ..... Mitch
  6. W

    is there a way to remove the tough metal "collars" from necks of screw-cap btls?!

    While I'm in the questioning mode .... OK, I'm sanitizing my recycled wine btls. I've tried to get these miserable metal collars (or whatever they're called) from around the necks of the btls, but it's proving a nightmare. I've tried wire cutters, corkscrew, knife, fork, etc -- everything but...
  7. W

    recycled bottle post-cleaning logistics (for temporary storage)

    A zillion thx, guys; I feel better about the effort now. Things fall apart ... but then, things come together.
  8. W

    recycled bottle post-cleaning logistics (for temporary storage)

    I'm planning to rack my 1st grape wine soon and don't wanna leave anything to chance if possible, so .... I've de-labeled my recycled btls and next comes sanitizing. I soaked the btls in a detergent/diluted chlorine solution to help loosen the labels. Still had to scrape off the gum residue (or...
  9. W

    how best to store wine during sedimentation?

    It's appreciated, guys; the black trash bag is elegantly simple; I'd've never thought of it. I plan to get a big glass carboy or 2 soon; the plastic one was given to me, and beggars can't be choosers. The glass container is 2.7 gallons and the plastic one, maybe .... 3-3.5? Maybe more. I don't...
  10. W

    how best to store wine during sedimentation?

    My 1st go-'round with wine-making, so pls indulge ..... I racked my 1st batch's fermented must into a big glass jar and the 2nd batch's into a plastic carboy. I now have each placed into a guest bath (seldom used room) in my house, and out of direct sunlight. I'm wondering, though: the room is...
  11. W

    Basic sanitation for bottles and corks?

    Hi, Scoot - well, actually I was talking about using old corks (I have a bazillion of 'em); no idea where they all came from (!). I can't soak them in StarSan? I'm heading to Raleigh tomorrow (Wed), so if I have to, I can stop by the brewer's supply place and get new corks. Thx, guys, for all...
  12. W

    Basic sanitation for bottles and corks?

    Being new, I had no bottles to speak of when I began this adventure a few weeks ago, but've lately collected some from a recycle bin at a restaurant. That said ..... is there a workable (not too-labor-intensive) way to get the labels off the bottles? I'm soaking them right now in a soapy...
  13. W

    Muscadine's been sitting for 8 days now; so .... how to proceed?

    Outstanding advice, y'all. I was thinking of recycle-box exploring today anyway. Earlier, I went by all sorts of stores (groc's, bird supply, ice cream shops, etc), w/o luck, but finally visited a bakery that gave me a couple of plastic jugs. Now .... for the glass. Thx a heap. Sorry, C, but...
  14. W

    Muscadine's been sitting for 8 days now; so .... how to proceed?

    OK, Sal -- I'm wondering, though: would plastic jugs (like those for milk and juice) be OK, since storage would be temporary? I'm a tad skittish about the idea of plasticizers leaching into the wine (esp. since muscadines are so acidic, from what I've heard). Mitch
  15. W

    Muscadine's been sitting for 8 days now; so .... how to proceed?

    Much appreciated, guys. Maybe 1 mistake I made from the get-go: when I crushed the grapes (by hand; my thumbs'll never be the same), I squished 'em through a mesh to extract the juice, so there aren't any seeds or hulls in the must -- mostly just juice, although I know there're some solids there...
  16. W

    Muscadine's been sitting for 8 days now; so .... how to proceed?

    I added the yeast to my crushed muscadines 8 days ago. First batch in my life. Lots of fermentation for several days, and I stirred 1X/day since. OK: so at this point, do I siphon the liquid into another bucket (or clear container?) and let the sedimentation continue? For about how long? Do I...
  17. W

    Best videos for newbies? Freezing grapes an idea? must-stirring proc?

    Forewarned is forearmed, Scoot; I had the good luck to get connected lately with a local home-winemaker, and this week he's gonna show me some basic ropes (he has tons of muscadines and has being "wining" 'em for years). I have mos' def needed somebody to act as mentor in this; I had to learn...
  18. W

    a baffled -- and maybe desperate -- beginner

    Hi, Gerry; being a beginner's beginner, I won't presume to give advice, but .... the local experienced guys tell me that -- depending on the yeast used -- it's not unusual for gas production to start (en evidence) as long as 72 hrs [or more!] after pitching. One old timer asked me if the lid of...
  19. W

    Best videos for newbies? Freezing grapes an idea? must-stirring proc?

    Thanks a heap -- I'm wondering: do I have to visit a brewing supply store or order online to get the K2S2O5?
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