Good idea or a senior moment regarding wine making?

[Bill HH]

It has occured to me that two projects I am considering may be combined. I have decided to start wine making again, and i am considering buying a Vitopod propagator.

My question is, could i use the propagator to keep the wine warm when fermenting. I could use it in the winter when it is not required for plants. Win win or No no?

The alternative is brewing wine next to our central heating boiler, but thats not on at night and I know the hot cold fluctuations are not good for brewing.

[Nicos]

We use an old waterproof pet heating pad (originally bought for rescue hedgehogs) under our beer 'bucket', with a towel inbetween.
Similar sort of idea.

[Basher]

I'm under the impression the target temperature for brewing wine is a steady 18-25C. I think the heater pad would help smooth out the overnight drop in temperature near the boiler.
If you can tape the temperature sensor to the side of the demijohn/bucket it would probably work stand alone.
Mmm wine. Hope it goes well!

[Bill HH]

I'm under the impression the target temperature for brewing wine is a steady 18-25C. I think the heater pad would help smooth out the overnight drop in temperature near the boiler.
If you can tape the temperature sensor to the side of the demijohn/bucket it would probably work stand alone.
Mmm wine. Hope it goes well!

The propagator is supposed to heat from 5 deg C to 30Deg C so I am hoping it will cope.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I wouldn't bother with the prop/heating pad.

If you think about it, any room which you sit in day to day is likely to be 16-20 degrees (or you would feel too cold, or a bit warm, depending on your personal hardiness) which is fine for wine fermentation.

I know that you don't want temps to wildly swing during fermentation (too cold (below 10deg?) the fermentation might stick; too hot (over 28deg?) you'll kill the yeast), but this sort of range will be fine - and although bedroom temps might drop a bit lower overnight, any 'living' room would be fine, I would think.

My heating isn't on yet (and won't be for a long time yet - plenty more jumpers in my wardrobe!), and the office (where my demijohns sit and bubble away happily) when I came in this morning was 17deg.

[Bill HH]

I wouldn't bother with the prop/heating pad.

If you think about it, any room which you sit in day to day is likely to be 16-20 degrees (or you would feel too cold, or a bit warm, depending on your personal hardiness) which is fine for wine fermentation.

I know that you don't want temps to wildly swing during fermentation (too cold (below 10deg?) the fermentation might stick; too hot (over 28deg?) you'll kill the yeast), but this sort of range will be fine - and although bedroom temps might drop a bit lower overnight, any 'living' room would be fine, I would think.

My heating isn't on yet (and won't be for a long time yet - plenty more jumpers in my wardrobe!), and the office (where my demijohns sit and bubble away happily) when I came in this morning was 17deg.

Thats is probably correct in most houses but we have a large victorian building mostly without double glazing and draughty sash windows, it gets pretty nippy at night. I go into some peoples house and can hardly breathe its so damn hot. I also feel happier when there is vigorous fermentation it makes for better wine. lastly its a great excuse to buy the propogator which my wife has swallowed hook line and sinker.

[Hazel at the Hill]

... lastly its a great excuse to buy the propogator which my wife has swallowed hook line and sinker.

Don't know why you need the justification from us then - the purchase has already been sanctioned by the highest authority!