2nd Fermentation...The Banker Can't Handle Nice Things

So while I haven't blogged recently, last week we did the 2nd fermentation, which includes "racking."

Racking is the process of separating wine from its sediment that has settled at the bottom of the container.  Sediment resulting from yeast activity during alcoholic fermentation is referred to as lees.  From Techniques in Home Winemaking: The Comprehensive Guide to Making Chateau-Style Wines

The Deluxe Wine Starter Kit that we purchased included this sweet device called the "Auto Siphon."  This tool is supposed to begin the siphoning process without the old fashioned "suck from the tube to begin siphoning process."  Well in an effort to attach the mesh filter to this device...well, um, something fell off.  And it no longer worked.  Banker fail, but he gave it his best and I was encouraging him to put the mesh filter on the Auto Siphon...oops.

I wish I had a picture to share of Mr. Peterzberg carefully sucking wine through the tube to begin the racking (siphoning), however it was a delicate situation that required our unified attention span to ensure the vino wasn't contaminated with any possible germs in said Banker's mouth.

However we do have some pictures of the process, including us taking turns behind the camera and holding the siphoning tube, looking as lovely as ever.


But first, I promised pictures of using the Hydrometer to check the Specific Gravity.  Enjoy!

 

  And here I am carefully siphoning the wine from the Primary Fermenting container to the Carboy that will hold the wine for the 2nd Fermentation (a 10 day process).

Here we are entering the final step of the 2nd fermentation, applying the airlock.  My camera is not the greatest, but Mr. Peterzberg filled the airlock contraption halfway with water, affixing it to the rubber stopper (called a Bung...a little odd, reminded me of Beavis & Butthead and the term Bung Hole...which is funny because it plugs the hole of the carboy.  But I digress.)

And then affixed it in the Carboy hole.  Neat - the cap on the airlock and the water allows the gasses to escape, while the water and cap keep out any impurities (e.g. dust or cat hair...eww.  This wine has a hint of calico and tidy cat.  *Cough*  It's, um, delicious!)








-Ms. Peterzberg