How To Make Wine Information

Question: How to make wine in a large cooper barrel? does the barrel have to be new?

(Posted by: Single male adult 40 on 2010-03-06 13:09:10)

I want to make a barrel of wine. Does the cooper barrel have to be new? Where can I get a barrell close to Memphis TN? I also need instructions on the wine making process.

Posted by: wymanfrlv on 2010-03-06, 13:43:18

If the barrel is not new you will carry over what ever the barrel stored before...such as sherry,port,rum,scotch, or gin. In aging wine you want a new one so you can burn the inners to get the burn charititc of the wood

Posted by: fasteddy999 on 2010-03-06, 14:37:10

If you are not familiar with wine making DO NOT start in a barrel. Wood has to be specially cared for so as not to contaminate the wine. You also have to store water in the barrel to make it swell and become water tight. Start with a wine making equipment kit purchased from a reputable home wine making store. Then after you have a few kits under your belt and have done some reading you can use a barrel.

Posted by: daffyd on 2010-03-06, 14:52:32

Don't go in for barrel-aging until you've a few vintages under your belt. Get some books on home wine making (Amazon or a used bookshop if your local chain doesn't carry any) and read up on the subject; wine making isn't rocket science, but it requires attention to detail, scrupulous cleanliness (if you've done home canning, you've a leg up there) and is spread out over enough time that good organization is required to avoid frustration (and bad wine) Barrel-aging is a whole study in itself, and I honestly consider it something to be tried once you're comfortable with the basics, and have an idea of what you can expect from casking vs. bottling. Couple of websites of interest: winemakermag.com/ winemaking.jackkeller.net/ index.asp