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            Where The Wine Kit Instructions Leave Off!

Transferring Wine back to “bucket” from the Glass Carboy

1. Using the Metabisulphite Powder, add (1/3 tsp) to 2-1/2 gallon of warm water into the bucket. Mix well.

2. Sanitize the corks, Place the corks in a bowl, from the spigot valve on the bucket open the valve and cover the corks with the Metabisulphite Solution. Soak the corks for 15-20 minutes. Using a plate on top of the corks to hold them down in the liquid, works well.

3. Using the spigot valve on the bucket, place a wine bottle under the spigot and fill the bottle with the solution and set this bottle aside. Place the bottle filler (12” plastic tube with the black pin in the end) into the bottle with the black pin end in the solution. Hold for later use. (step # 10)

4. Using the spigot valve on the bucket, place a wine bottle under the spigot and fill the bottle with 1 inch of the Metabisulphite Solution. Swirl the solution in the bottle to coat the sides. Empty out the bottle, swirling the solution as it exits. DO NOT Dump the solution from bottle, back into the bucket. Discard the solution down the sink. Sanitize all the bottles. Let the Bottles Drip Dry upside-down. The bottles may have a few drops in them and that is OK.

5. Place the Racking Cane, (L-shaped plastic tube with the black Bottom) into the bucket of solution. Holding the curved end, Let the solution coat the inside and outside of the racking cane. Place the white Pinch-off Clip over one end of the tubing. (see fig. #1). When the clip is completely pinched closed the teeth on the clip will shut off any flow of liquid. With the pinch off closed, immerse the tubing into the solution filling the tubing. Use your sanitized paddle to remove the tubing by the open end. As you remove the tubing it should be full of solution, holding it by the open end.

6. Attach the open end of the tubing to the curved end of the racking cane. Attach the (red or blue) ‘Racking Cane Clip’ to the racking cane half way in the middle of the racking cane. (See Fig # 1)

7. Empty the bucket and let it drain upside down for a few moments. Make sure the spigot handle is CLOSED. Next, remove the stopper and airlock from the glass carboy. Place the racking cane assembly into the glass carboy of wine as shown in Fig #1. The end of the racking cane should NOT be on the bottom of the Glass carboy. Start with the racking cane half way down into the Glass Carboy.

8. Open the white clip letting the solution flow into a container or spare bottle. As the siphon begins tap on the top of the curved end to remove bubbles. Let the solution run out of the tubing until Wine begins to flow. Close the Pinch off clip.

9. Place the open end of the tubing (with the white pinch off clip) into the bucket. Open the clip and let the wine flow down the sides of the bucket so the wine does not splash. [ This is your chance to again sample the wine] As the level of the wine lowers, lower the Racking Cane so it is always below the liquid level. Slowly lower the racking cane so the Black tip of the racking cane gently rest on the sediment at the bottom of the glass carboy. Take care NOT to disturb the layer of sediment on the bottom of the carboy as the siphon continues. Let the siphon continue until all the wine has transferred into the bucket.

10. Raise the bucket to a comfortable height for filling your bottles. ( kitchen counter top high)  NOTE: See Option below for sweetening your wine. Before continuing.

11.  Cut a 2 inch piece of the tubing off below the pinch off clip. This will be attached to the bucket spigot. Remove the bottle filler from the bottle of solution (step # 3) push the plastic tube end of the bottle filler into the tubing you attached to the bucket spigot. Take care NOT to touch the black pin end of the bottle filler.

12. Raise a sanitized bottle so the filler tube rest inside the bottle and push up the bottle to press the pin open. This will release the Metabisulphite solution into the bottle. Open the bucket spigot and let an inch of wine fill the bottle. Lower the bottle and the bottle filler will close. Discard wine and solution. Continue filling and corking the bottles.

13. When filling the bottles, never over fill. Fill the bottles so you leave a space equal to TWO lengths of your cork. This will allow room for the cork and the compressed air.

14. The bottles should remain upright for 24-36 hours before lying on their side. Corks need to remain on their side during aging to keep the cork moist.

Option for Sweetening your wine

1. After the Wine is transferred into the Bucket, remove from the spigot approximately 5-6 ounces of the wine and place it into the hydrometer test tube. Take a reading and write down the specific gravity from the hydrometer. If the wine is to dry for your pallet you may sweeten the wine.
2. Using ‘Wine Conditioner” OR Making a Cup of Simple Syrup (1 cup sugar to ½ cup warm water) mix well.
3. Place the sample wine into a 12 ounce glass and add 3-4 more ounces of wine. Start by adding 1/4 teaspoon of the sweetener to your sample glass-adjust for sweetness to your pallet.
4. Once the sweetness has been “judged”, transfer the wine back to the hydrometer test tube and retest the gravity reading. This reading is your sweetness level for the entire batch.
5. Add the sweetener you are using to the batch to achieve the same level on the hydrometer from the sample batch. Add ¼ cup of the sweetener and blend well, taking care not to splash. Retest with the hydrometer and add sweetener to achieve your sweetness level.

Fig.#1