Water???

loumik · 09-22-2009, 04:48 PM

I am about to begin my first effort at wine making but I'm a little confused by the instructions. I have a California Connoisseur Merlot 4 week Wine Kit. The instructions state that "distilled water is preferred". I have recently read that distilled water should not be used to make wine.

smurfe · 09-22-2009, 05:59 PM

HMM, OK, I would follow your kit directions but yes, distilled water is normally not recommended. The reason why are the various minerals such as nitrogen for example are not present in the water which yeast thrive on to do their thing. I would personally use filtered water which is free of sediment and chlorine. I have no knowledge of these kits though.

cpfan · 09-22-2009, 09:07 PM

I have made thousands of Vineco kits (I ran an FoP selling Vineco products), and have never used distilled water. I have used city tap water or reverse osmosis water.

Steve

Wade E · 09-22-2009, 09:20 PM

I agree with above statements. I disagree with using distilled wtar as the 02 and minerals have been removed from this water and could cause you problems. If you like your tap water use it, if not use bottled spring water.

loumik · 09-22-2009, 10:39 PM

Thank you all for your help. I think I will just use tap water. We have good water here that tastes fine. If it doesn't work out well, nest time I'll try RO or spring water.

bdcl1977 · 01-19-2010, 11:44 PM

Yesterday I started my first batch of wine. I followed the instructions to the T and on the start all the numbers looked good. 30 minutes later I ran across this thread and yes I used distilled water. Last night I worried if it would start. This morning I found it working away. It has been bubbling very well all day. Being this is my first batch I do not know if it is working as it should. But next time I plan on using spring water.

Runningwolf · 01-19-2010, 11:55 PM

I have a water softner and also have iron in my water so I use spring water all the time in the kits. Its pretty cheep at .70 considering the cost of the kit.

Wade E · 01-20-2010, 12:06 AM

bdc, I would most likely add a tad more nutrient then usual or if it is a kit the I would add some just to make sure because you are depriving the yeast of some nutrients it may need. Will it ferment yes(no problem) would you be able to see a difference if it was having a problem(most likely not) until you started to smell H2S or just have a problem with it at the end maybe not fermenting all the way down. As far as )2 goes, if you whipped it up good in the beginning to stir it up really good then you dont have to worry aboyt that part. Some people just stir it up a little with a spoon. i nail it with the drill mounted Fizz X to aerate it and to make sure I get an accurate SSG reading.

09-22-2009, 09:07 PM	#3
cpfan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Niagara Region, ON Posts: 1,989	I have made thousands of Vineco kits (I ran an FoP selling Vineco products), and have never used distilled water. I have used city tap water or reverse osmosis water. Steve __________________ the procrastinating wine maker in the Niagara Region of Ontario Canada "Visual signs of fermentation are highly overrated"

01-19-2010, 11:55 PM	#7
Runningwolf Forum Moderator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinboro, Pennsylvania Posts: 2,487	I have a water softner and also have iron in my water so I use spring water all the time in the kits. Its pretty cheep at .70 considering the cost of the kit. __________________ Dan It all started here...See what's happening in my cellar!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Wine Making Forum	Replies	Last Post
Added too much water, now what?	Newbie	Fruit Wines	12	09-21-2009 09:22 PM
Tap water	bcvwines	Beginners Wine Making Forum	3	02-28-2009 05:16 AM
water to wine	Wray	Recipes	13	01-17-2009 12:53 PM
Soft water	jimnjan	Beginners Wine Making Forum	6	01-13-2009 11:49 PM
Water for wine	Rocknrandyc	Beginners Wine Making Forum	2	12-03-2008 10:21 AM

09-22-2009, 05:59 PM	#2
smurfe Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,354	HMM, OK, I would follow your kit directions but yes, distilled water is normally not recommended. The reason why are the various minerals such as nitrogen for example are not present in the water which yeast thrive on to do their thing. I would personally use filtered water which is free of sediment and chlorine. I have no knowledge of these kits though.

09-22-2009, 09:20 PM	#4
Wade E Administrator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Middlebury, Connecticut Posts: 7,752	I agree with above statements. I disagree with using distilled wtar as the 02 and minerals have been removed from this water and could cause you problems. If you like your tap water use it, if not use bottled spring water.

09-22-2009, 10:39 PM	#5
loumik Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Jamestown, North Dakota Posts: 17	Thank you all for your help. I think I will just use tap water. We have good water here that tastes fine. If it doesn't work out well, nest time I'll try RO or spring water.

01-19-2010, 11:44 PM	#6
bdcl1977 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dothan, Alabama Posts: 21	Yesterday I started my first batch of wine. I followed the instructions to the T and on the start all the numbers looked good. 30 minutes later I ran across this thread and yes I used distilled water. Last night I worried if it would start. This morning I found it working away. It has been bubbling very well all day. Being this is my first batch I do not know if it is working as it should. But next time I plan on using spring water.

01-20-2010, 12:06 AM	#8
Wade E Administrator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Middlebury, Connecticut Posts: 7,752	bdc, I would most likely add a tad more nutrient then usual or if it is a kit the I would add some just to make sure because you are depriving the yeast of some nutrients it may need. Will it ferment yes(no problem) would you be able to see a difference if it was having a problem(most likely not) until you started to smell H2S or just have a problem with it at the end maybe not fermenting all the way down. As far as )2 goes, if you whipped it up good in the beginning to stir it up really good then you dont have to worry aboyt that part. Some people just stir it up a little with a spoon. i nail it with the drill mounted Fizz X to aerate it and to make sure I get an accurate SSG reading.