Does Wine Expand?

[JONJON]

I know sounds like a dumb question. I made a batch of Shriaz in March and left it to go through Malo Fermentation. We are now coming into warmer weather in Melbourne and I noticed today the wine is touching the bottom of the ferm lock. It used to be at least an inch below? Am I going mad?

 

[Jim Welch]

I know sounds like a dumb question. I made a batch of Shriaz in March and left it to go through Malo Fermentation. We are now coming into warmer weather in Melbourne and I noticed today the wine is touching the bottom of the ferm lock. It used to be at least an inch below? Am I going mad?

Yes, practically everything expands as it heats up. Liquids tend to expand more than solid materials, but there may be some exceptions. You are not mad my friend!

 

[JONJON]

Thank god I'm not losing it! It's insane the temp has only gone up a few degrees. And bubbles starting to form around the top.

 

[wood1954]

Yes warmer weather and air pressure changes can raise or lower the wine.

 

[sour_grapes]

The volumetric expansion coefficent of water (close enough to wine for our purposes) is about 0.0002 per degree C. So if you have a 23 l vessel, and the wine increases in temperature by 5ºC, the wine will expand by (23 l)*(0.0002 1/ºC)*(5ºC)=0.023 l = 23 ml (or cc). In the neck of a carboy, that is noticeable!

 

[vinny]

The volumetric expansion coefficent of water (close enough to wine for our purposes) is about 0.0002 per degree C. So if you have a 23 l vessel, and the wine increases in temperature by 5ºC, the wine will expand by (23 l)*(0.0002 1/ºC)*(5ºC)=0.023 l = 23 ml (or cc). In the neck of a carboy, that is noticeable!

You're on fire tonight! No point leaving it up to interpretation .

Are you home yet? We're missing you over in 'What's for dinner?'

 

[sour_grapes]

Are you home yet? We're missing you over in 'What's for dinner?'

Thanks for the good thoughts. Your wish is my command: What's for Dinner?

 

[wineview]

Thank god I'm not losing it! It's insane the temp has only gone up a few degrees. And bubbles starting to form around the top.

What was the temperature of the wine during MLF?

 

[bstnh1]

Not really Bangers and Mash but a very similar recipe I came up with on my own long before I ever heard of that British dish. Plain old breakfast sausages in gravy over mashed potatoes. I used onion gravy this time, but I usually use plain brown gravy most of the time. Probably heresy to the Brits!
Wife is away visiting her sister for a couple of weeks, so I'm enjoying feasting on all my favorites.


A bowl of homemade custard for dessert.