Ok, the Merlot kit has stopped bubbling now. I was going to siphon it into another clean beer fermenter but I have a pressure barrel doing nothing at the moment and the tap would make bottling much easier. So, I have a few questions:-
1. Should I use the pressure barrel, even though I have no airlock for it, and what's best to do i.e.cover with a cloth of screw a lid on tight?
2. I have 5L of sterilising solution I made up last week. Would it be ok to use this and give it a good swish about or am I better filling the whole barrel?
Mags
No need to fill the whole barrel, it would cost too much. If it is wine sterelising fluid then put in about a gallon. Swirll it about, run some out of the tap, rinse the cap, rinse the syphon equipment. When youve covered it all, just rinse it through with cold water.
You don't need an airlock, wine that has stopped fermenting is not going to develop that much pressure, especially in a plastic barrel, it would strech. Drop rack it into the barrel. Screw the lid on tight. Then you can prep for the storage phase.
Remember to 'drop rack' it to remove a lot of the co2. Not like beer.
If you have a large head space, (more than 6"). I would move it to its final storage over the next two days. Air,(oxygen) is death to wine. There will be co2 released by the wine but there is a small risk of air.