Primary Fermentation Containers

Typical Primary Fermentation Container

We are starting our series on wine making equipment with the Primary Fermentation container since this is where the wine making process begins. Whether you are working from grapes, or juice, or some other fruit you will need a container in which it can begin to ferment. Generally speaking, these containers tend to be made from food-grade plastic and can hold a minimum of 3 gallons of must. We strongly recommend purchasing a container from your local wine supply store specifically made for this purpose to avoid problems.

Your local wine supply store generally carries a 7.8 gallon or 7.9 gallon fermentation pail that will suit most purposes. These pails or buckets are great since they have a wide openings so you can stir easily to mix all your ingredients prior to pitching your yeast. Often primary fermentation containers come with a lid that fits firmly on the top and has a hole where you can insert airlock. We recommend using a lid to prevent unwanted materials and creepy-crawlies from entering into your wine. If your lid does not have a hole you will want to add one since if you simply seal the container the carbon dioxide will build up inside, unable to escape, and eventually may burst.

Next, we will discuss the different types of airlocks.

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Tags: fermenation pail, fermentation bucket, primary fermentation container