Head scratcher......

[a48th]

I pose my question to the learned folks on this amazing site....RED long term bulk carboy aging.....can i seal up the carboy and lie it on its side like a bottle of wine or should it be vertical.....


I have searched the site and cannot determine either way...

Cheers

 

[QuiQuog]

Other than possible leakage, you may have an issue with fine lees dropping out of suspension that could get mixed back into the wine when you tip it back up to bottle. Otherwise I don't see why you couldn't. Then again, I'm not learned.

How do you propose to seal it?

 

[NorCal]

Carboys are meant to be stored upright. I would not trust the carboy bung seal enough to lie it down on it's side. It would make it tough to rack without disturbing the sediment as @QuiQuog said. Bottles are stored on their side to keep the cork from drying out.

 

[salcoco]

a air lock is required to release gas as the wine ages. also any sediment would cling to the sides of the carboy instead of the bottom. follow tradition it has its reasons. keep carboy up and add water to a air lock

 

[a48th]

well thank you...i will stop scratching and go with the flow.....just one of those ...what if....but your answers are sound and 'learned'

salute!!

 

[winemaker81]

@a48th, your question is a good one. Don't stop asking questions!

 

[Rice_Guy]

There is another issue, a summer wine will shrink in winter cold, if you have a winter wine it will expand in summer temperatures and could pop a horizontal cork off.
I second the above notes especially releasing CO2, gas is less soluble in summer and needs some way to come back into ambient air pressure.

 

[Sauvignon plonk]

I pose my question to the learned folks on this amazing site....RED long term bulk carboy aging.....can i seal up the carboy and lie it on its side like a bottle of wine or should it be vertical.....


I have searched the site and cannot determine either way...

Cheers

How long term was you thinking ?

 

[a48th]

Minimum 12 months or so ...let it find itself before bottling...