Hello, i am new to this site and I need some help. I have ben making wine for a few years and have always aged in stainless steel. I was recently given an oak barrel. I am unsure of the last time it was used, but there appears to be some mold inside. My question is how can I sanitize the barrel and make sure I get all of the mold out.
Sanitizing a used oak barrel
- Thread starter Lfpd42
- Start date
Help Support Winemaking Talk - Winemaking Forum:
BeginnerMark
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2015
- Messages
- 172
- Reaction score
- 17
I don't think I would trust my wine to an old barrel that was left to mold. But if you must, make sure it doesn't have ANY off aromas. I would make a strong solution of sulfite and citric acid and fill the barrel with that. Let it sit for a few days.
There will be other potential problems with a used barrel. Do you know what it was used for in the past? I presume it has no more oak to give up to the wine, so it will just be a neutral barrel. Are you looking for the microxygenation? Will you add oak cubes to the wine? And, if it has been stored empty, it will likely leak.
Sorry to burst your bubble but you would probably be better off using this as a planter and buying a new barrel.
There will be other potential problems with a used barrel. Do you know what it was used for in the past? I presume it has no more oak to give up to the wine, so it will just be a neutral barrel. Are you looking for the microxygenation? Will you add oak cubes to the wine? And, if it has been stored empty, it will likely leak.
Sorry to burst your bubble but you would probably be better off using this as a planter and buying a new barrel.
Its not an old barrel, just used. Maybe a few years. There was no bad aroma from inside,it actually smelled good, but from looking in there seemed to be some mold spores.
I filled the barrel.with hot water and let it sit. There were no leaks. I emptied it and filled it with 10 gallons of water and 2 lbs. Of barrel kleen. The directions say to let it sit for 3 days then rinse using citric acid. Does this sound right to anybody
I filled the barrel.with hot water and let it sit. There were no leaks. I emptied it and filled it with 10 gallons of water and 2 lbs. Of barrel kleen. The directions say to let it sit for 3 days then rinse using citric acid. Does this sound right to anybody
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2009
- Messages
- 20,302
- Reaction score
- 2,223
I'm not familiar with that product but I would add some kmeta in with that citric acid.
