Pressure barrel for wine

[Sailingcol]

Hello, New to wine making and hoping to get some ready along with my beer for Christmas. She who must be obeyed has bought a couple of kits and most of them are doing their stuff in demijohns which will result in 6 or so bottles of wine each great no problem. However the last kit makes 30 bottles of wine and we do not have the bottles or room for them. I wondered if I could make it or finish it in a pressure barrel? As opposed to bottling it?? I have got lots of the quaint looking ones that look like a real barrel but I'm not sure if they have any gas input or if they need one. Sorry if this is dopey stuff and appreciate any help.

Cheers. Colin.

 

[dennisking]

Never heard of using pressure barrel for wine. :hmm: Why not try to get bottles from local bars etc.

 

[bobsbeer]

Welcome : When you say you have some quaint ones, what do you mean? Are they wood or plastic? You can store wine in a barrel, but it's better to dispense in bottles. But as long as you keep blanket co2 above the wine, and don't let any air in, it will be fine. You would need some sort of co2 injector, but you only need a small amount, not to pressurise it or you will get sparkling ish wine.

 

[LeeH]

It won't work.

CO2 dispenses the beer in a pressure barrel, you won't have that. So what you will have is O2 which is obviously bad.

I guess you could inject a bulb of CO2 in but I guess you will end up with some level of carbonation as the liquid absorbs it.

 

[oldbloke]

You know when you buy wine in a box, it's actually in a bag inside the box? You can buy those from a homebrew shop. They deflate as the wine goes out, so no oxidation problem.
But, ideally, just ask a local pub or two for their empty wine bottles, they're very often glad to be shot of them.

 

[Sailingcol]

Hello,
Thanks for the thoughts. Im kind of gathering that you do not want air in the wine container as it will send it off which I guess is why you do not leave too much air space when you bottle. The barrels are plastic ones with a smaller top on them "too blooming small to get your hand in for cleaning" we are having a party at Christmas so I guess I could put it in this barrel but be resigned to the fact that when it runs out due to a vacuum and I have to let air in then its got about a day or so till it goes off? Or am I getting it wrong.
Once again thanks for the help.

Colin.

 

[bobsbeer]

You have got it about right. But as you are having a party, you should get through a fair bit of it. The alternative is to put it in the barrel for now, and bottle later when you have enough bottles.

 

[Sailingcol]

Thanks for the tips chaps. A search on ebay came up with two people selling collapsable wine containers 5/10/20 litre sizes. Sounds the way to go.

Cheers. Col.