Well it's hardly vintage, but....

[scarey55]

It is easy to scrub out the plastic buckets and then I soak them with Milton (or Asda's own) steriliser. I use the same to sterilise bottles to re-use.

Ooh, great idea Shirl, I can't get any of the specialist wine making kit here - do you think the baby sterilising type thing would work?

[Seahorse]

Thanks Shirl, think I'll dive right in with the 30 bottles then!

[shirlthegirl43]

Ooh, great idea Shirl, I can't get any of the specialist wine making kit here - do you think the baby sterilising type thing would work?

Do you mean for cleaning? If so, yes. I hate the smell of the stuff they sell in the brew store for cleaning and sterilising, but love the smell of milton - that's why I use it. In my view if it was good enough to clean bottles for my son's to drink from, it is plenty good enough for cleaning bottles for me to drink from If you want me to post you some of the tablets over, let me know.

[Seahorse]

Oh, supplementary question! Would I have to bottle it all as soon as it was done? I don't have 30 empties!

[shirlthegirl43]

Thanks Shirl, think I'll dive right in with the 30 bottles then!

Just watch out for the sugar instructions. There is a small error in the quantity on the Chardonnay kit. If that's the one you go for, give me a shout when you are putting it together and I will check the correct measurements for you.

[shirlthegirl43]

Oh, supplementary question! Would I have to bottle it all as soon as it was done? I don't have 30 empties!

You could siphon it into clean, sterilised demijohns and put water-filled bubblers on the tops to keep it good (or of course just seal with solid rubber or cork bungs)

[scarey55]

Do you mean for cleaning? If so, yes. I hate the smell of the stuff they sell in the brew store for cleaning and sterilising, but love the smell of milton - that's why I use it. In my view if it was good enough to clean bottles for my son's to drink from, it is plenty good enough for cleaning bottles for me to drink from If you want me to post you some of the tablets over, let me know.

Aww fanx, that's very kind I'll have a look at my local supermarker first.

Would that work on the demijohns etc. rather than using Chempro?

[Seahorse]

Thanks again Shirl. I think I've got four demi johns (somewhere, subject to them being loacted and still fit to use!) so I can do that no probs.

I'll be getting the red wine one, so I hope the instructions are right on that kit!

[scarey55]

Sorry Mods, this is beginning to sound like a wine making forum isn't it?

[shirlthegirl43]

Aww fanx, that's very kind I'll have a look at my local supermarker first.

Would that work on the demijohns etc. rather than using Chempro?

Yup, just give them a good scrub out first (buy a big baby bottle brush and bend it a bit so you can get in the corners) and then use milton or whatever to sterilise. I haven't killed us yet

[shirlthegirl43]

Sorry Mods, this is beginning to sound like a wine making forum isn't it?

It's okay, clever Hazel put it in the brewing section!

[wellie]

Haze, with you me and Shirl, that's three of us keeping stockings alive then, eh?!

But I have to say, and ScareyClarey will back me up on this, that my attempts to actually 'bottle' wine in her kitchen, left a lot to be desired (!) but her dogs did lick most of it up off the floor? And it did make us larf....

Hazel Honey.... I think you're a complete 'natural', and I hope that both you and Clare can teach me everything that you know one of these fine days!
X

[Seahorse]

Ok, one more question (probably!). Picked up a 30 bottle kit and a big fermentation bucket today. On reading through the instructions, it seems to be a bit contradictory The 'extra stuff you'll need' lists 5 gallon bucket and lid, then the actual instructions start talking about airlocks and bungs. I think I gather from Shirl's post above that stirring has the same effect as an air lock but do I need to stir my bucket on a regular basis? Or just the initial time?

I could do it in demijohns but it'd mean a bit more faffing about!

[Hazel at the Hill]

But I have to say, and ScareyClarey will back me up on this, that my attempts to actually 'bottle' wine in her kitchen, left a lot to be desired (!) but her dogs did lick most of it up off the floor? And it did make us larf....

Hazel Honey.... I think you're a complete 'natural', and I hope that both you and Clare can teach me everything that you know one of these fine days!
X

Well I don't know how you 'snuck' this one by me, hon - but can I tell you that my notes for next time include 'put old newspaper on the floor when bottling'? And wot with not having a dog, and my cats having enough bad manners already....

And although I put lots of piccies up of marmalade making as that was a lot Less Messy than anticipated, I would not do piccies of my kitchen after bottling as it looked like something had gone Very Wrong.

On my shopping list for next time, I have put 'syphon tube WITH TAP' which will set me back 1 squid and 99pee from Wilko.

And Claire, I know that Shirl will be along soon to say, but I can't see that if I didn't need a demijohnny that you should when it's all the same kit, just yours is a bit bigger?

[shirlthegirl43]

Ok, one more question (probably!). Picked up a 30 bottle kit and a big fermentation bucket today. On reading through the instructions, it seems to be a bit contradictory The 'extra stuff you'll need' lists 5 gallon bucket and lid, then the actual instructions start talking about airlocks and bungs. I think I gather from Shirl's post above that stirring has the same effect as an air lock but do I need to stir my bucket on a regular basis? Or just the initial time?

I could do it in demijohns but it'd mean a bit more faffing about!

Just follow the instructions Seahorse. Don't worry about the air lock - just put a teatowel over the top of the bucket and fit the lid - if you see the lid 'bulging' open it and let out the pressure. Did you get white or red? The stirring needs to be done when the SG has dropped and fermentation stopped - around the Day 6 instructions. Instruction reads along the lines of :

'9. Once fermentation is complete, pour the contents of Pack C: Stabiliser into the wine and stir vigorously for 1 minute to dissolve the stabiliser and remove the majority of gas from the wine.'

I usually stir a number of times (until the froth stops appearing or the 'fizzing' is nearly gone) before proceeding to the next stage.

I never bother with the siphoning to a second container with the 30 bottle kit - just complete the addition of finings with the container in a suitable place for siphoning from (in our kitchen this is the worktop over the dishwasher, you can then put the bottles on the open dishwasher door which catches any spills rather neatly) and leave it quietly to do its thing. The lees settle nicely to the bottom and you can siphon off happily. Even losing a bottle is no big thing when it cost you around 75pence.

Hope that helps.