Aging or storage in glass demijons

[sampvt]

Due to limited storage facilities, is it ok to lay wine down in a cool underground dark cellar in glass demijohns.

 

[Arne]

Sure you can leave the wine in demijohns. I wouldn't lay them down, leave them standing, unless you have found some way to cork them. If so, then probably on their sides to keep the corks moist. Arne.

 

[JohnT]

I have used this type of closure in the past and advise you to get some. They snap on and stay on! In fact, the only way to one of these off is to tear it off using the supplied tab. I would think that this is perfect for storing sideways.

Also, I would advise you to leave as little headspace as possible and also to wait until all fermentation is complete. You also may want to use sorbate, and clarify the wine before you store it.

 

[Rocky]

I think we have a semantics problem here. The term "lay down" also means "to store" especially when referring to wine. Also, the term "demijohn" means one thing in the states and another in other countries. I don't think that the OP was considering laying a 52 liter demijohn (as we know them) on its side.

 

[sampvt]

What I actually meant was to lay down as in store and demijohn as in a 4 5 litre gallon jug. All will be stored upright and a plywood sheet on top so another row can be added. My only problem is that using the rubber bungs, they get pressed in so far with the additional weight on top, that they cant get the dam things out.

 

[cpfan]

What I actually meant was to lay down as in store and demijohn as in a 4 5 litre gallon jug. All will be stored upright and a plywood sheet on top so another row can be added. My only problem is that using the rubber bungs, they get pressed in so far with the additional weight on top, that they cant get the dam things out.

Can you get good screw cap lids for your jugs?
Maybe you should create shelving rather than just putting a board on top.

Steve

 

[JohnT]

Rocky,

Thanks for clarifying! The OP did not provide any location info, so I just assumed that he/she was American.

I would still suggest that you use the type of plastic caps in the picture. They seal to the outside of the carboy and have a nice flat top.

 

[PhilDarby]

Not sure where you are from there, but, if we are talking 4.5 to 5 litres ive got an experimental temporary storage idea on the go, im stacking mine in the bottom of my wardrobe as im stuck for storage space, demijohns and carboys don't really fit the bill for me, because you basically cant stack them, so, ive come up with this idea of stacking containers, using plastic stackable containers, which should be good for a few months provided you don't leave loads of air in them and bottle after 3 months or so, or at least move them on to a better long term storage idea, for me it has filled my gap for temporary short term (up to 3 months storage)

Im from the uk and got these are food grade containers for a pound each, they hold 5 litres, are flexible so don't crack, are clear so u can see whats going on inside them are easily cleaned for reuseage and are also stackable, both in and out of usage, which means they are very easily stored within a limited space.

For me that has sorted my temporary storage problems, while I can age stuff at least a few months and carry on fermenting within a limited space.

Ive added a photo that demonstrates the stack ability and how they stack wen not in use.

The stacked ones are filled with water merely to demonstrate weigh bearing ability and the ability to stack and lock with the lid below.

Maximum capacity is around 12 gallons, which for the bottom of a wardrobe isn't bad imho.

At a push it could go 14 if u stacked the fermenting vessels on top of maturing ones, but, that is pushing the space to the maximum and u would need sufficient space to store what u wanted to age elsewhere.