One of the stages of preparing a wine drink at home is the period of rapid fermentation of the wort, that is, the original wine material. During this process, enzymes that secrete yeast actively contribute to the conversion of sugar into alcohol. In this case, there is a rapid release of carbon dioxide and a number of other substances, including aromatic ones. In order to prevent the ingress of oxygen into the wort, a water lock for wine is put on the neck of the vessel, which is one of the varieties of fermentation sheet pile.
Need for application
Is it possible to do without this device? According to experts, in the initial stage of rapid fermentation, a wine gate or, as it is sometimes called, fermentation sheet pile is not so necessary. At this stage, carbon dioxide, which is intensively released from actively fermenting wine material, simply does not allow air from outside to reach the surface of the wort. The pressure that it creates at the outlet of the neck protects the product from the oxidation process, which under adverse conditions can easily cause the formation of acetic acid. Nevertheless, in order to reduce the risk of technology disruption and to prepare truly high-quality wine, a water shutter is best used from the first days of the beginning of fermentation. This will save the wort from vinegar souring if wild yeast located on the skin of berries was used instead of pure yeast.
Manufacturing recommendations
In order to build a water shutter for wine, you can use a rubber tube about half a meter long and 0.5-0.8 cm in diameter. The first end is passed through a cork, wooden or rubber stopper so that it passes 10-15 mm into the bottle , and the second is placed in any vessel (for example, in an ordinary glass) into which cold water is poured. The plug should fit snugly against the neck, and there should be no gaps between the tube and the hole. Molten wax or plasticine is usually used to impart integrity. If the farm did not find a suitable tube and stopper, a blood transfusion system (sold at any pharmacy) can also be used to make a water shutter. A lid is pierced with a thick needle, which closes the container with wine material, and the opposite end is placed in a jar of water.
Alternative solution
If necessary, a water lock for wine can be replaced with improvised means. This is allowed in the case when instead of a weak table wine a stronger dessert is prepared and pure wine yeast is used. So, a water lock for wine can be replaced with a cotton stopper that tightly closes the neck, and if the fermentation process takes place in an oak barrel, the outlet is completely covered by a vine leaf. In addition, at home they sometimes use an even glass plate. When the pressure of carbon dioxide becomes too strong, it rises, releasing the gas to the outside, and then drops again and prevents air from entering.