How to Rack Wine (7 Steps)

"Racking" wine is the process of separating wine from its sediment, or lees, and transferring the wine into another container using a siphon.

Instructions

Place the container of wine on a table.
Place an empty container below the table, such as on the floor or on a lower table.
Place the notched end of the siphon tube into the container of wine. Be sure the tube is in the wine but does not touch the layer of sediment. (The sediment should be at the bottom of the container.)
Suck on the other end of the tube until wine begins to flow.
When the wine begins to flow, insert the tube into the lower container.
Fill the container.
When the container is full, or if sediment starts to travel with the wine, stop the flow by holding the hose in a downward position and pinching a section of it. Clamp if necessary.