brown crystals

[trevor]

I am making chardonnay from grapes. Fermentation was in a stainless steel container. Racked off when it had finished and ... the inside of the container was coated with a rock hard light-brown crystal-type stuff. Only thing that would shift it was boiling water.
Does anyone know what it was? Should I be worried?
Thanks

 

[PCharles]

Could be Tartrate crystals

I was thinking this could be Tartrate crystals. Here is a link that discusses them.

http://wineintro.com/glossary/c/coldstabilization.html

I thought the crystals were supposed to be white, but I can't think of anything else they could be.

Paul

 

[winemaker_3352]

They are wine diamonds. And the color depends on the color of you wine.

I had the same thing with mine.

 

[Kleftiwallah]

Ditto.

And it doesn't affect the wine in any way. Some say it is a sign of a particularly good wine ! Cheers, Tony.

 

[grapeman]

Ditto to that

 

[trevor]

crystals

Ditto to that

Thank you for your help

 

[Wade E]

agree also. Ive seen white wines drop darker colored diamonds then red wines a few times, not sure why that is but it happened.

 

[Runningwolf]

Trevor you said you were fermenting in a stainless steel container. What are you using and how big is it. I would keep some B-Brite on hand for cleaning it next time if this should happen again as it is common.

 

[trevor]

what I have

Chardonnay grape. Brix 21. pH 3.4 SG 1.082
Added 40ml/100L sulphite and used SIHA 7 yeast. Boy, was it vigorous !
I have a 600L stainless steel container with airlock etc.
Now racked off gross lees and clearing slowly. Free SO2 20ppm

Must certainly try to locate B-Brite, especially as it seems this deposit is quite common.