It won't contaminate it - it will help lower the acid and raise the PH.
hector said:In fact , I lost two batches because of contamination and I'm trying to find out the Cause .
K2CO3 works for me and brings the pH up and releases each time lots of CO2 . But , as I said , the fruits I use for wine making have high TA and specially after adding the pectic enzyme , more acid is released in the Must . Therefore , before adding SO2 and after adding the enzyme , I always have to add K2CO3 .
How can you be sure that by adding a salt , you're not introducing some Bacteria into the Must ?
I also decided to add the pectic enzyme first after crushing , then waiting for 12 hours , then adjusting the S.G. and the pH , then addig SO2 and pitching the yeast 12 hours later .
What do you think about that ?
Hector
How do you sanitize your equipment, ect. Share more of your wine making process.
How can you be sure that by adding a salt , you're not introducing some Bacteria into the Must ?
Did you add to much and make it flat??
If you don't CS with this - the KHCO3 will remain in the wine - you might be tasting that. Try CS for 4-5 weeks..
hector said:The pH was very low ( 2.6 - 3.0 ) and I had to use relatively large amount of K2CO3 to
bring the pH up to 3.5 .
Besides , it's not the matter of tasting . It's the bad smell of H2S and Ethyl Acetate .
Do you realy mean that I can keep the Must for about a month before pitching ?!!
Hector
H2S is probably caused by too much sulfites in your wine or stressed yeast.
Cold stabilization (CS) is done after fermentation.
Ethyl Acetate - nail polish remover smell - if you are in your primary fermentation - that smell comes from the DAP nutrient if you added that in.
The smell which comes after adding DAP is "Ammonia" ( NH3 ) .
According to Jack Keller's homepage , Ethyl Acetate is a sign of oxidation of Alcohol and/or contamination with Acetobacter .
Hector
Potassium Carbonate - K2CO3 - the dipotassium salt of carbonic acid
Potassium Bicarbonate - KHCO3 - the monopotassium salt of carbonic acid
Either way I would not adjust acid much more than 0.1% TA. To much calcium will give a chalky taste and too much potassium will give a salty taste.
Ahh - Hector - you are right - it is ammonia....
Sorry about that....
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