outbackmac
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juice buckets
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Help Support Winemaking Talk - Winemaking Forum:
Haven't used clearing agents of any sort on grapes or juice in years with no issues. That amount of time should be plenty sufficient for your wines to clear before bottling. What is the environment that you bulk age in compared to the environment that you store your bottles in?
Were you racking regularly? I also don't use clearing agents but bentonite can be used at any point if you are having issues. It will simply drop out and does not affect the wine.
I know kits instruct you to add bentonite to the must before fermentation- and likely where most people got the idea from. But adding that in the beginning - or any clearing agents at all for that matter- seem unnecessary. Especially when aging in bulk for that long with regular rackings. (I actually don’t rack as often the older it gets. If no sediment- then I’m fine skipping.
Personally- I didn’t even know clearing agents existed until I did my 1st kit. Haven’t ever used em otherwise tho.
I think most home winemakers will get the occasional batch that has some sediment in the bottle. So 12-18 months and clear- no more sediment dropping and then how long till it forms in the bottle?
