Bottling my First Kit Question

[Vinman]

I'm scheduled to bottle my first kit (Vintners Reserve Cab) on Jan 4th and i'm wondering how long i should keep the newly filled bottles upright.

The instructions say 3 days, but I was told at the local wine making store that they should stand for a couple of months.

Based upon the vast experience of our users here, what's the right option?

 

[Runningwolf]

Vinman, I don't ever keep mine up more than three days unless if I am away and can't shelve them. If you're using a synthetic cork you can put them away almost immediately, but I still wait a few days.

 

[Wade E]

I have never heard of anything more then 3 days and a few months is ridiculous. I think he was thinking of how long it should be before you open 1 of those bottles. Synethetics corks do not have to be layed down as they will not dry up due to their make up. I myself use 3 days.

 

[fuzzmeister]

Vinman
I have made kits from Vineco, RJ Spagnols, and Wine Expert, and they all vary in the instructions as to how long to leave the bottles upright vineco states 1 to 2 days, rj spagnols states 1 day, and wine expert states 3 days, I have turned them over on there side in 1 day, and have not had any problems, but if you have time to let them stand for 2 to 3 days I would do that just to be safe.

 

[Tom]

3 months? No way.
Once mine are corked I keep them upright 24 hours. Then I turn them upside down in the case and bring them down to the rest of my full cases (100+) in my wine cellar.

 

[vvolf34]

Tom,

You are a brewing mad man, you have 100+ cases and still brewing away??

 

[Tom]

Tom,

You are a brewing mad man, you have 100+ cases and still brewing away??

YEP!,
Think about it. "We" drink about 3 botles a day PLUS what I bring to my monthly wine club meeting. I also "donate" for local charities. Adds up quick. BTW I have at least 450 on my wine racks..
OBSESSED?
I am long past that.

 

[Green Mountains]

Tom,

Do you leave them upside down until you drink them? I suppose that makes as much sense as on there side.

Darren

 

[Tom]

Tom,

Do you leave them upside down until you drink them? I suppose that makes as much sense as on there side.

Darren

Yes upside down OR laying on the side on the racks OR in my wine cooler

 

[vvolf34]

YEP!,
Think about it. "We" drink about 3 botles a day PLUS what I bring to my monthly wine club meeting. I also "donate" for local charities. Adds up quick. BTW I have at least 450 on my wine racks..
OBSESSED?
I am long past that.

I might be there one day, I have a total of 31 gallons in various stages right now. None really ready to drink, but I will bottle my MM Summer Breeze Black Cherry Shiraz kit in about 2 weeks. After racking again, I kept a little sample and I must say it wasn't to bad. Plus my Apfelwein, I racked to a 3 gal and 2 - 1 gal. I cheated a little so we could have some for christmas and new years. I added a little concentrate and sweetner to the 1 gallon jugs. Very drinkable indeed.

 

[gawine]

yeah really, you have quite a variety there as well Tom! Doing my first red now. i look fwd to having a good stock on my shelves of home brewed wine if it's good which i expect it to be. will do a chardonnay, a chianti and a high end red in the future are my plans. 3 bottles a day you drink? that's quite a bit! i thought one was a lot.

 

[Tom]

Yea well its not just me we have 3 adults that like wine