First Time MLF Questions

[mhopkins]

I am only 25 batches into wine making (12 kits and 12 fruit wines, a variety of DB variations) and, to date, have not introduced malolactic fermentation into my processes. As is the case with most of the reds, the 2-year old reds are just now coming around (which is which why I started with the fruit a while back).

I have a Winexpert Vintner’s Reserve White Zinfandel in primary fermentation. According to instructions, it is due to go to secondary in 2 days. Starting SG was 1.084 and current SG is 0.996, so this seems fine (though it may well be finished? Note my fruit wines always finish at 0.990).

The questions:
1. Is MLF appropriate for use with White Zinfandel? I would have thought it better for more hearty reds, but what I am reading seems like it might be good here too. Thoughts?
2. How important is pH for MLF? I purchased a pH meter recently (thought a cranberry lime batch was stuck and wondered if the cranberry-induced low pH was the problem), so I can monitor this if needed. Thoughts?

Thanks for any insights! Mark

 

[sour_grapes]

My thoughts:

1. No, white zin is not a wine that would benefit from MLF, but....
More importantly, the consensus is that MLF on kits is, in general, a bad idea. The main concern is that the acid in kits is purported to be balanced or adjusted using malic acid. Therefore, you would be reducing the acid by a lot! (Tim Vandergrift's key surmise is that your performing MLF on a kit "will end up in tears.") (There is also a concern often expressed about racemic vs. enantiomerically pure mixtures of malic acid in kits, but I think that is a red herring.)

2. I will let more knowledgable folk address the pH question.

 

[Johnd]

Low pH is very important to MLF, check to see what the tolerance of your MLB is, that will be your guideline. Generally, pH in the low 3’s and under is problematic.

 

[mhopkins]

My thoughts:

1. No, white zin is not a wine that would benefit from MLF, but....
More importantly, the consensus is that MLF on kits is, in general, a bad idea. The main concern is that the acid in kits is purported to be balanced or adjusted using malic acid. Therefore, you would be reducing the acid by a lot! (Tim Vandergrift's key surmise is that your performing MLF on a kit "will end up in tears.") (There is also a concern often expressed about racemic vs. enantiomerically pure mixtures of malic acid in kits, but I think that is a red herring.)

2. I will let more knowledgable folk address the pH question.

Thanks for the input!

 

[mhopkins]

Low pH is very important to MLF, check to see what the tolerance of your MLB is, that will be your guideline. Generally, pH in the low 3’s and under is problematic.

Thanks ... grateful for the counsel!