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

[Seahorse]

That's brill Shirl, thanks. I got the red (Merlot, or so it says!). I was unsure whether I should be doing any stirring between steps 6 and 9 but opening the lid if things look dodgy sounds extremely sensible

Catching spillls in the dishwasher door?! You think of everything!

[shirlthegirl43]

That's brill Shirl, thanks. I got the red (Merlot, or so it says!). I was unsure whether I should be doing any stirring between steps 6 and 9 but opening the lid if things look dodgy sounds extremely sensible

Catching spillls in the dishwasher door?! You think of everything!

Just lift the edge of the lid to let any pressure off - haven't managed to burst one yet!!!

As to the catching spills, didn't think of everything - I have the siphon tube with the tap that Hazel mentions - BE WARNED IT LEAKS BETWEEN BOTTLES!! After much crying over spilled wine I decided the dishwasher catching it was easiest!! Also, you can line up loads of bottles and just keep siphoning.

[Flummery]

I syphon from one demijohn into a clean one. Then I pour the wine into bottles using a big funnel. Saves the panic between bottles!

[scarey55]

After much crying over spilled wine I decided the dishwasher catching it was easiest!! Also, you can line up loads of bottles and just keep siphoning.

Excellent idea Shirl, thanks for telling us. My dishwasher is perfectly placed to do the syphoning on to it and I lurve the idea of being able to line the bottles up.

As Wellie said - we did have a lot of fun syphoning into bottles when she was over here but we did, indeed have a kitchen floor full of red wine which would have been much better in our tummies

[Hazel at the Hill]

I syphon from one demijohn into a clean one. Then I pour the wine into bottles using a big funnel. Saves the panic between bottles!

Coo - brilliant, Flum!

[Flummery]

Just the voice of experience me dear. I've done my share of floor mopping - the darned stuff is mega sticky too!

[Seahorse]

I have started my 30 bottle kit off today, so hopefully I will be quite merry for next sunday's chat

My one failing was forgetting to make it in it's final fermenting place. Full five gallon buckets are a bit heavy, aren't they?! I managed to hoik it up on to the table though, so at least I should be ok for the siphoning bit

[smallblueplanet]

You'll be able to lie under the table and put the syphon hose straight in yer mouth!

[Seahorse]

You'll be able to lie under the table and put the syphon hose straight in yer mouth!

Excellent idea - and it would save washing up the wine glass too

[Flummery]

And finding anywhere to fall over - you can't fall off the floor (usually!)

[Seahorse]

Lol! What's the phrase? You're not drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on?

[Flummery]

That's it. You're ok unless the ground rejects you!

[Winged one]

I don't know if it's any help to you experts here, but as well as the baby sterilising stuff (milton or whatever), have a look for the packets of muslin nappies when you are in the baby store - very handy for alternative straining uses. I have kept a few back (they were burp cloths and well sterilised) for straining various things like toms for chutney (have previously used them for damsons for jelly and worked perfectly) so they might be handy for wine straining too.

I am getting all the tips here, for when I have some space to hide things in the house later in the summer!!

[Brewer-again]

Syphon

I use a tube and close the end with my finger, I can syphon 40 pints into bottles in about 15/20 minutes. Choose a good cd and pay attention to the amount in the bottles.

I have considered aralditing two clothes pegs together at 90 degrees to hold the tube in the bin. You can also put the bottles on a chair and make sure you don't get distracted.

For beer I use a larger diameter tube which does the whole job quicker.

I also use supermarket cheap bleach to sterilise my gear, wear a pinny or old clothes and rinse well with cold water. Yes I do have a pinny

[Two_Sheds]

I hate the smell of the stuff they sell in the brew store for cleaning and sterilising, but love the smell of milton

I know it's not expensive, but I am being tight and reusing the Milton fluid ... I'm keeping it in 3 x 5 litre water bottles (lids on) and reusing it to sterilise each new batch of brew.

That's OK isn't it?