1919 Home made beverages

Wines and Wine Making

remove the bottles, stopper and seal them tightly and place in an inverted position. Filtration of Bottled Wines. — Filter siphon, with siphon- shaped bent glass tube which in the short leg, at about the height of the bottle, has an egg-shaped enlargement that is filled with clean cotton wadding. According to the greater or lesser length of the long leg, the suction of the apparatus will be more or less vigorous, while at the same time the wadding will retain the particles causing turbidity. For repeated use the wadding is cleansed by boiling out in water and drying. Fining. — 1. — There are various modes of fining wine. Eggs, isinglass (true fish gelatine), gelatine and gum arabic are all used for the purpose. Whichever of these articles is used, the proeess is always the same. Supposing eggs (the cheapest) to be used: Draw a gal. or so of the wine and mix 1 qt. of it with the whites of 4 eggs by stirring it with a whisk; afterward, when thoroughly mixed pour it back into the cask through the bunghole and stir up the whole cask in a rotary direction with a clean split stick inserted through the bunghole. Having stirred it sufficiently, pour in the remainder of the wine drawn off until the cask is full. Then stir again, skimming off the bubbles that rise to the surface. When thoroughly mixed, by stirring close the bunghole and leave it to stand for 3 or 4 days. This quantity of clarified wine will fine 13 doz. of port or sherry. The other clearing ingredients are applied in the same manner, the material being cut into small pieces and dissolved in the quart of wine and the cask stirred in the same manner. White wines are usually fined by isinglass. The quan- tity of isinglass varies with the quality and condition of the wine, and is regulated by the experience of the cellar- man. Stout wines require a larger amount than thin ones. Even with stout ones it ought not to exceed % oz. to the hogshead. The Rhenish wines do not require more than J4 oz. , and the hocks still less. The choicest Russian (fish) isinglass only should be employed. It should be dissolved 169