I think i screwed up

[ksjp2008]

I ran 120 lbs of grapes through my juicer, I added to skins back to the juice.

i used 1/2 tsp of Metabisulphite to the must. After 20 hrs i added 2 packets of RC 212. i aded this like i normally do with kits. by that i mean i just sprinkled it on top. after which i saw that i should have rehydrated it.

Have i screwed this up? If so, what do I do next.. Id really hate to lose these grapes.

 

[Julie]

you haven't screwehed it up, sprinkling it on top will work just as well. Most people like to rehydrate because the yeast will start to work faster.

 

[ksjp2008]

So i just got home and don't see much activity in the must.. is this normal?

I have always used primary fermenters with the kits. for this i am using a big tub with a lid. no airlock as the lid isn't air tight

 

[Julie]

yes, give it a stir a couple times a day. Sometimes it takes a couple of days for fermentation to really kick off

 

[michjen]

That's a good idea to juice and add the skins afterwards for the ferment!

 

[ksjp2008]

i guess this is the difference between real grapes and the kits..

 

[Arne]

I would put a towel or clean piece of cloth over the fermenter, under the lid. Helps keep your unwanted critters and such out. This is a great fruit fly time and helps keep them out. Arne.

 

[Bartman]

Aww, what's wrong with a little added protein to your wine? Fruit flies make a great flavor enhancer!
Seriously though, nothing wrong with sprinkling the yeast. If winemaking was that 'delicate', there would be very few of us indeed.
I generally leave my primary buckets entirely open, once in a while I will see a fruit fly, not more than two though. Since they are all made in a spare bathroom, no issue of pets or other critters getting into it. Making wine from fresh grapes seems to attract them much more than kits do.

 

[Arne]

Aww, what's wrong with a little added protein to your wine? Fruit flies make a great flavor enhancer!
Seriously though, nothing wrong with sprinkling the yeast. If winemaking was that 'delicate', there would be very few of us indeed.
I generally leave my primary buckets entirely open, once in a while I will see a fruit fly, not more than two though. Since they are all made in a spare bathroom, no issue of pets or other critters getting into it. Making wine from fresh grapes seems to attract them much more than kits do.

LOL, Bart. I have had them in mine, but would just as well keep them out. Had most of the tomatoes out of the house for a couple of weeks and the fruit flys have just about disappeared. Started some apple wine last night, that will probably draw them down to the basement. Have a trap and a couple of fly strips, that gets rid of em. Arne.

 

[Jumpdm]

Okay, great advice here. I also think I've screwed up. The store I bought my first kit from told me to add malolactic bacteria at racking. Should I have done this? Also how did I know when to bottle? Any help recommended. I used fresh juice, 5 gal, Pinot Noir. Also did not measure potential alchohol. Didn't know to, I racked at 1.01?????

 

[wineforfun]

Okay, great advice here. I also think I've screwed up. The store I bought my first kit from told me to add malolactic bacteria at racking. Should I have done this? Also how did I know when to bottle? Any help recommended. I used fresh juice, 5 gal, Pinot Noir. Also did not measure potential alchohol. Didn't know to, I racked at 1.01?????

If you bought a kit, it should have instructions. Follow them, not your store. Racking at 1.01 is ok.

 

[Tess]

Its not a kit. Iv never added malolactic bacteria to anything yet. Someone who knows more about it then me will come along and answer this one

 

[Jumpdm]

Thanks all. It was not a kit, just juice. I posted a thread on the subject and apparently I need to be a chemist. I should have started from a kit. But I'm determined to figure out when to see that MLF is done. The rest seems straight forward. Rack-PS/MBS&Rack-Filter-Bottle. If anyone else jumps in I'm all ears and can reward with a bottle of virgin Pinot Noir. (If you're brave enough.)