to filter or not to filter

[raedan]

I'm making wine from my own grapes after fermentation has finished and the wine has been racked into second fermentor and then into final carboy to clear etc. Before I bottle the wine would it be best to filter the wine into a clean carboy then bottle or not to filter at all? Does filtering the wine change the colour or taste of the wine? Does filtering a wine kit make the wine any clearer and would it alter the taste and colour especially red wine?:D

[danno]

if you use coarse or medium filters you won't lose any flavor, but if you go to the fine you can start to strip out some flavor elements, so I guess it's up to you how clear you want your wine. I don't know any winemakers, but several beermakers use plate filters pushed with co2, and the medium filters make the beer crystal clear...

[markaberrant]

I'm not big on filtering of any kind. With a red wine made from your own grapes, I would age it in a carboy for 12 months with regular rackings every 3 months to get it off the lees. It's gonna need that time to age anyways, and by then it should be clear too.

I've got a premium red wine kit going at the moment. I wanted to leave it for 12 months, but I need the carboy so it's only gonna get 6 months.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by markaberrant

I've got a premium red wine kit going at the moment. I wanted to leave it for 12 months, but I need the carboy so it's only gonna get 6 months.

A carboy is only ~$20! If you have the room, let it sit.

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by HogieWan
A carboy is only ~$20! If you have the room, let it sit.

I hear ya, but I live in a 2nd floor - 1,000sq ft condo... and I already have 2 primary buckets, 2 glass carboys, and 2 smaller glass carboys. Oh, and I just bought a new 7.5 gal brewpot, propane burner and tank. Plus, I'm buying a 50 qt cooler (just waiting for them to go on sale) and a couple more cases of flip top bottles in the next couple months. My wife is VERY accomodating, but I can only push her so far.

[MikShau]

You would rather be married than make wine/beer? Get your priorities straight man.