Mixing Mistake

[RJFreel]

I started my first batch of wine and made a mistake in how much water I needed to add. I am so used to making beer I made it 5 gal instead of 6 gal. I am at the point to start degassing the wine. Can this be fixed by adding a like wine/water at this point or should I just trash it?

It is a chardonnay.

 

[pjd]

I started my first batch of wine and made a mistake in how much water I needed to add. I am so used to making beer I made it 5 gal instead of 6 gal. I am at the point to start degassing the wine. Can this be fixed by adding a like wine/water at this point or should I just trash it?

It is a chardonnay.

What does it taste like? Many lower end kits that I used to make were made into 5 gallons instead of 6. I added water until it reached the sg I was shooting for. It is probably ok and it may be great!

 

[RJFreel]

I have not tasted it yet. I need to put the degassing additives in in the next day or two. Would you add some like wine after the degassing to bring it up to the proper level?

 

[pjd]

I have not tasted it yet. I need to put the degassing additives in in the next day or two. Would you add some like wine after the degassing to bring it up to the proper level?

Adding additional wine will not change anything. I also would not add any additional water to it. Has it fermented dry? it sounds like you are rushing things, When did you start the kit? I rarely need to degas my wines, they do it on their own during bulk aging. I would just taste it, add a quarter teaspoon of kmeta then let it age in the carboy for at least 6 months.

 

[Arne]

Before you try and fix it, make sure you taste it like PJ says. If you didn't add the amount of water they asked for, it will probably just have more flavor. Sure as heck shouldn't be ruined. Good luck with it, Arne.

 

[sour_grapes]

I think RJFreel is asking if he should add like wine to top off, that is, to eliminate the headspace in the carboy. RJ, if I am correct, then, yes, I would top off with a like wine if that is the only carboy you have. Another option would be to find or buy a 5-gallon carboy. Then you wouldn't have to add a bunch of wine in order to age without oxidation.

Good luck!

 

[vacuumpumpman]

need more information -
Do you need to top off ?
or are you after taste ?

 

[RJFreel]

Thanks for the posts. Paul is correct, I need to top off the carboy. I have not tasted yet and will do that before topping off.

 

[Boatboy24]

Can you tell us what your starting SG was and where it finished? As was said, with a low end kit, making to five gallons may not be an issue. A higher end kit might be another story. Knowing where the SG was at the start and finish will give us some sense of where your ABV is and whether water or wine/smaller carboy would be better for topping off.

Which kit is this?

 

[RJFreel]

Right now it tastes like really cheap chardonnay. Starting specific gravity was 1.097 and it is now 1.00, ABV is 12.73% Should I wait until the SG is below .998 and then add additional like wine?

 

[fabrictodyefor]

IMHO I would give it a little more time and buy a 5 gallon car boy if you are concerned with head space.

 

[wineforfun]

Right now it tastes like really cheap chardonnay. Starting specific gravity was 1.097 and it is now 1.00, ABV is 12.73% Should I wait until the SG is below .998 and then add additional like wine?

Yes, I would wait a few more days/week and let it dry out down in the .990's. Then when you rack it, if need be, top it off with a like Chardonnay.

I agree with others, only using 5 gal. water should give it more flavor than the 6 gal.

 

[Boatboy24]

Based on your SG, I'd keep it at 5 gallons (and get a 5 gallon carboy), or top with an inexpensive Chardonnay. IMHO, the carboy is the better investment. If you're a gallon short of 6 gallons, you'll need 5 bottles of wine to get topped up. Even at $5/bottle, that ain't a cheap top up.

I would not top up with water.

 

[vernsgal]

I agree with everyone that you should not top up with water. As Jim said, topping up with wine is going to cost, so why not use that money and invest in a 5 gal. carboy.
I have always done my lower end kits in the 5 gal. I find it gives it more body, flavor and a higher alc. content

 

[RJFreel]

Thanks for the great advice. I just ordered a 5 gal carboy and will give it a few more days and will top it with an inexpensive chardonnay.

 

[pjd]

I started my first batch of wine and made a mistake in how much water I needed to add. I am so used to making beer I made it 5 gal instead of 6 gal. I am at the point to start degassing the wine. Can this be fixed by adding a like wine/water at this point or should I just trash it?

It is a chardonnay.

This is his first post, he said he is used to brewing beer and making 5 gallons, I assumed the had a 5 gallon carboy.