Splash Racking Questions

[slopenutz]

I have a batch of Reisling that has a touch of H2S smell/taste. It has only been a few weeks since degassing and is still clearing. I read that one method to remove this is to add K-Meta to 50PPM and splash rack a few times. I am still a bit confused on the term "splash racking" because it is contrary to most of the other advice regarding limiting O2 exposure.

My questions are,
1) How exactly does one splash rack and not risk oxidation?
2) When should I add the additional sulfite? before racking(adding prior to racking would re-agitate the sediment) or after racking?
3) What is the exact procedure for racking? i.e. keep tube at neck of carboy -vs- ensuring tube is at bottom/side of carboy

 

[Tom]

Adding more meta will increase the sulfite levels.
have you stabilized? Gravity? Most likly it will go away if it's still in the early stages.

 

[djrockinsteve]

What Tom has pointed out is correct and worth thinking about.

To answer your questions Splash Racking is achieved by pouring your must or wine from a bucket or other vessel thru a funnel into another vessel (ex. carboy) allowing the fluid to splash into the bottom of the container splashing around as it fills. Generally introducing air to your wine is not good however it can be very beneficial if done at the correct time and only once.

By splash racking you help to remove undesirable odors from the wine. You can actually enhance red wines while whites can tolerate a splash racking. Wines splash racked should have potassium metabisulfite added to absorb free oxygen molecules to prevent oxidation.

Splash racking will also assist in degassing of the wine.

Before you splash rack make sure you identify the problem you believe are having as s.r. unnecessarily can do more harm than good. Transferring can be done via a carboy cap and a siphon.

For additional info. there are some tutorials located on the home page that may assist you in your questions.

 

[slopenutz]

It has been stabilized and is currently clearing. Is s.r. out of the question at this point? Is there any way to confirm H2S issues other than smell/taste?

 

[djrockinsteve]

Keep in mind that the smell will fade over time as you rack. Many folks have said the same thing as you being it was a combination of sulfite and the chemical being used to clear the wine mixed with a young wine. The sediment dropping to the bottom if left too long can start to give off odors. Typically you are fine for 6 weeks of clearing.

You can do a sulfite test to see how high your sulfite level is. Test kits are around 19 bucks and there is a tutorial on it.

About how long will it be until your next racking?

 

[robie]

I wouldn't add more sulfites.
Splash racking can also be done while siphoning from one container to another. The idea is to let the wine "splash" into the receiving container, so it will get some air (oxygen). You can let the wine flow against the side of the carboy, causing it to spread out and absorb oxygen. You can hold the tube just inside the neck and let it splash straight down into the bottle. (I think letting it flow against the wall of the carboy is what most do.)

The H2S, if it is going to at all, will only go away on its own if you have an air lock installed.

If you really do have H2S and it doesn't go away on its own, you need to either splash rack it, and/or you can also stir it well (3 to 4 minutes) with a long piece of cleaned, sanitized copper tubing. Copper neutralizes H2S; this way you don't have to worry about oxidation. If one treatment with copper doesn't work, repeat it until H2S is gone.

 

[robie]

It has been stabilized and is currently clearing. Is s.r. out of the question at this point? Is there any way to confirm H2S issues other than smell/taste?

Actually, you can put 3 shinny (not dirty and dull) pennies in a cup and fill the cup half full of your wine. Stir it for about a minute. If the smell gets much less, it is H2S. Stir it long enough and the H2S smell will completely subside.

 

[slopenutz]

About how long will it be until your next racking?

I was planning to rack next weekend.

 

[djrockinsteve]

Wait and see how things go then. Give it time and see how it progresses.