Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Two popular airlock styles. The one on the right is better if
your wine is likely to experience swings of temperature.
Airlocks
Airlocks are devices installed on a fermenter that allow gas to
escape, but do not allow air to leak back in. They come in a
variety of configurations, but all are filled with water or a
solution of potassium metabisulfite. The airlock is filled to the
level specified on the device, inserted in a one-hole rubber
stopper and then attached to the fermenter. You should have
at least two of these. The style you choose doesn't usually
matter, but if your wine will experience swings in
temperature, avoid the type illustrated on the left because the
liquid in it could be sucked back into the fermenter.
Racking Tube
A racking tube is a long two-part tube that is inserted into the
wine and pumped to start a siphoning action in order to
transfer the wine from one container into another. It has a
knob at the bottom that directs the flow of fluid in such a way
as to minimize the amount of sediment transferred in the
process. You will also need five feet of plastic tubing to go
with it. A stop-cock, which is a plastic clip that can be used to
stop the flow temporarily, will come in handy when using the
