Can I leave fruit wine in the primary fermentation jug too long?

[drunkjohn12]

Hi all. I'm new to this if you can't tell by the question. I made some strawberry wine this summer. I have a one gallon primary fermentation jug. Long story short, I was supposed to leave it in there for 6 weeks(??) for primary fermentation before bottling it. I never got around to bottling it. I just got busy and kept putting it off until next week and now it is like 4 months later. My question is if it is still good? Should I just bottle it now? I'd hate to just toss it and start over.

Thanks for your help!

-John

 

[reeflections]

Not sure where you heard you were supposed to leave it for 6 weeks. That's a long time for primary. I would find a better set of instructions next time.

I would carefully siphon off the wine from the lees and smell it, then taste it if it doesn't smell terrible. If it tastes good, it is good.

 

[drunkjohn12]

Thanks Mike. I just used the "ok" instructions I got from my kit. I'll give it the ol' sniff/taste test then. thanks!

 

[reeflections]

Well I've never done a kit so I don't know about that. I'm sure someone else with kit experience can answer this. I understand that sometimes kits try to simplify things as much as possible.

 

[winemaker81]

@drunkjohn12, do you have a hydrometer? That is THE one essential piece of equipment all wine makers should have.

The first post in the Beginner forum describes how to use a hydrometer.

 

[Sailor323]

Generally it is good to rack off the lees in the primary as soon as primary fermentation is finished or nearly so. Use a hydrometer.