Riddling is process used in making champagnes and heavy red wines. The bottles are inserted into the riddling rack, which has angled holes. Over time, the bottles are slowly rotated and the angle of the rack increased, with the sediment in the wine settling into the neck. When the last of the sediment has settled, the neck is frozen, the plug is removed and the wine is recorked. You can use a riddling rack in home wine production or as an attractive way to display wines that do not require cooling.
Instructions
1. Set the drill press for a 45-degree angle. Using the 2.5-inch hole saw and starting 5 inches from the top of each board, drill a series of seven holes on 5-inch centers from the top 5-inch mark.
2. Join three of the boards with three oak strips placed between the second and third, fourth and fifth and sixth and seventh riddling holes. Make sure the boards are positioned so that the riddling hole angles will be upward when the rack is standing. Repeat the process with the final three boards. When this is complete, if you wish, stain or finish the rack sections.
3. Screw in the open hooks on both sides of the rack sections, 2 feet from the top. You will use the chain to either adjust the angle of the rack, if you are using it to riddle homemade wine, or as a safety chain to keep the rack from flattening, if you are using it for storage only.
4. Position each section and join them with the piano hinge. Set up the rack and store your wine bottles.
Tags: angle rack, rack sections, riddling rack, three boards