Help with equment

[Jnay]

Hi
I'm making elderflower wine and I was wondering if I can make it the new big white brewers tub that I have and keep it in this tub till I syphon it off?

I have seen a recipe that says if you are making a lot (5gallons) I think then to keep it in a brewers bucket/tub

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[saramc]

I would only keep it in the tub, aka a primary, until the SG drops by about 2/3, then siphon, aka rack, get it into a topped up jug and under airlock.

 

[Jnay]

Hi Saramc and thank you for replying.

I'm new to wine making, I have made elderflower cordial for years and just thought I would try the wine.

So I need to buy some Demi jons? And an air lock?
Anything else I may need please?

Thanks again Sara

 

[BernardSmith]

Hi Jnay, I don't know where you are located but although many folk in Britain make elderflower wine in a kind of carefree way, often bottling so that the wine is sparkling (still full of CO2) and so is liable to pop corks or create bottle bombs, I would invest in an hydrometer (about five dollars) and make decisions about how much sugar to add and when to siphon and when to bottle based on the readings you get from the hydrometer.
If you buy a carboy (demijohn) then you also want to buy a suitable bung to seal it with the airlock. l have made a few batches of elderflower wine (one of my favorite) and I would try to get hold of some nutrient for the yeast. I don't think that yeast thrive on elderflowers and the nutrient will keep the yeast vigorous. You say you make cordial so presumably you add lemon juice to the elderflowers so you won't need acid blend (a mixture of tartaric, malic and acetic acids ) but I would certainly buy some campden tablets (also known as Potassium Meta-bisulphite). This will kill wild yeasts and allow any yeast you add to thrive without competition. Adding metabisuphite to your wine each time you siphon it also ensures that there is enough sulfur dioxide in the wine to preserve the wine and reduce the chance of it being oxidized and so develop flavors you don't want.

 

[Jnay]

Hello Bernard Smith,
Thank you so much for all the information.

I managed to get everything you mentioned except the hydrometer , I will look tomorrow again.

Many thanks, the wine is in the big tub now for 4/5 days.

It took such a long time removing the flower heads lol

Hopefully it will all be worth it, thanks again hun

 

[saramc]

Next time consider placing the flowers (or fruit) in a finely woven cloth bag. Your hardware store should carry paint straining bags, some use jelly bags or pillow case, and even nylon panty hose are used. Containing the solids makes the process much easier.

 

[jamesngalveston]

panty hose...i will stick with the paint strainer..

 

[Jnay]

Thanks Sara xx