Blending: Moving from Graduated Cylinder to Trash Can

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Boatboy24

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As I was measuring up potential blends for the 2015's this past weekend, I started wondering how I'll be able to scale things up when the time comes for the official act. It's very easy to measure precise percentages of wine when using a 100ml graduated cylinder. But how do you maintain that precision when mixing up multiple gallons of wine - especially when carboys are not exactly scientifically precise for measuring? What do you use to get spot on measurements of gallons, half gallons, etc?
 
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what I have done in the past is take a empty carboy add one gallon of water or if you prefer 4 liter and mark the location of the level. continue using a measured amount of water marking the carboy each time. I then measure the distance from bottom of carboy to each mark and record. use these measuring tools to determine volume of other carboys of identical size.
if back sweetening wine I use less that the calculated amount since the wine will sweeten with age. for blending the amount of error you introduce should not be noticeable.
 
As I was measuring up potential blends for the 2015's this past weekend, I started wondering how I'll be able to scale things up when the time comes for the official act. It's very easy to measure precise percentages of wine when using a 100ml graduated cylinder. But how to you maintain that precision when mixing up multiple gallons of wine - especially when carboys are not exactly scientifically precise for measuring? What do you use to get spot on measurements of gallons, half gallons, etc?

Jim, I've not done any substantial volume of blending, but I do have one carboy that I use when I do. Using a one gallon jug of water, I filled it one gallon at a time and, using freezer tape, marked and labelled the levels in one gallon increments all of the way up to 6 gallons. Working on a level surface, I feel it's quite accurate. I use my BV super jet (with the filter bypassed) to very quickly move the wine around without having to move carboys or barrels. It works fine for me, but I'm not doing thousands of pounds of grapes nor moving hundreds of gallons of wine.
 
Sal and John: Thanks. How do you get a precisely measured gallon? ;) I figured that'd be easiest, but, like a carboy: how 'full' is 'full'? To the shoulder? All the way to the lip?

I think the way to go is liters, as Sal mentioned, marking the liters on the side of a gallon jug.
 
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I have an assortment of glass containers 6G Carboy, 5G Carboy, 3G Carboy, 1G Jug, 0.5G Jug all the way down to a 1L Graduated Cylinder for smaller amounts.
 
Sal and John: Thanks. How do you get a precisely measured gallon? ;) I figured that'd be easiest, but, like a carboy: how 'full' is 'full'? To the shoulder? All the way to the lip?

I think the way to go is liters, as Sal mentioned, marking the liters on the side of a gallon jug.

I have a Pyrex measuring bowl that has liter and gallon markings that works great for measuring both, up to 2 liters. Got it at Target, but you can buy online.
 
As I was measuring up potential blends for the 2015's this past weekend, I started wondering how I'll be able to scale things up when the time comes for the official act. It's very easy to measure precise percentages of wine when using a 100ml graduated cylinder. But how do you maintain that precision when mixing up multiple gallons of wine - especially when carboys are not exactly scientifically precise for measuring? What do you use to get spot on measurements of gallons, half gallons, etc?

I use a I gallon glass jug, which was filled using a quart measuring cup, and marked where the jug was actually filled to, it's not to the top, but in the neck on mine. Go from there.
 
I have an assortment of glass containers 6G Carboy, 5G Carboy, 3G Carboy, 1G Jug, 0.5G Jug all the way down to a 1L Graduated Cylinder for smaller amounts.

As do I. But how do you precisely measure with a carboy? Do you have the exact 23L point marked? Otherwise, you may be measuring up to 6.5 gallons, right?
 
You can mark the carboy as others have said. I use the one gallon jug for 1-2 gallons or the 3G carboy for 3G then transfer into a 6G carboy. I quit worrying about "precise" measuring a few years ago. If its over by a few ounces I don't worry so much.
 
As do I. But how do you precisely measure with a carboy? Do you have the exact 23L point marked? Otherwise, you may be measuring up to 6.5 gallons, right?

Here's a couple ideas:

1 Take a yard stick, paint it white or add white electrical tape to it. Then take a precise measuring cup like heather was speaking of, fill, then mark measurement. This will be your story stick for future needs.

2 Take a carboy using rubbing alcohol clean area on carboy, apply white electrical tape and use same technique as above. After you have made graduation marks with a permanent marker on the white tape, apply clear packaging tape over it to keep from rubbing off.

I use a permanent marker on the side of my carboy, I just have to freshen up the marks after a little usage.
 
And remember in blending, it's the ratio that counts. As long as you are using the same convention for all of your measuring, the blend will come out in proper proportions, even if your total volume is over by a bit.............
 
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