Cellar Craft Old vine kit unusual activity

[FTC Wines]

It's a CC Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel kit. Started 6-19-14. Last night I started the clearing phase, SG was .994, when I put the K-meta pouch into the carboy the wine started to bubble up rapidly, step #31. Next step was de-gassing, using vacuum, I started out at 5" & the amount of off gassing was amazing. One hour later the degassing was still going TOO strong at 12" of vacuum. Never could get to my normal de-gassing vacuum of 20". Could it be a MF? No activity seen in the air lock prior, or post. Never have experienced this before. Roy

 

[DoctorCAD]

Nope, just gas.

Do it again in a day or so until it quits.

 

[Rocky]

FTC, do I understand correctly that you added the k-meta before degassing? If so, that could be the problem. I always de-gas first before stabilizing.

 

[FTC Wines]

Rocky, I did add K-meta first, their step #31, then de-gassed, their step#32. I have had gassy wines before, But never this much, actual degassing time was one hour & 25 mins. I'll pull some wine out of the carboy & put the vacuum back on it now, report back later. Thanks, Roy

 

[FTC Wines]

Just de-gassed another 1 1/2 hrs. Got to 20" of vacuum finally. Going to give my pump a rest, even though it's still pulling gas out of the wine. Will de gas again on the next racking. Roy

 

[Rocky]

FTC, is the kit you are making the CC Showcase Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel or is it from another one of their lines? The reason I ask is that the instructions that are posted on line for the Showcase kits clearly state to de-gas (Step 33) and then add k-meta and k-sorbate (Step 34). It seems like you have different instructions. Perhaps they are different for other of their lines, but I cannot imagine why that would be. It would seem prudent to get as much gas out as possible before adding k-meta, which generates a certain amount of gas itself.

 

[FTC Wines]

Rocky, it is a Showcase CC kit. I usually de gas before stabilizing, this time I followed the instructions to a T. Re read them 3 times, they clearly say to add k- meta, then de gas. Strange. Roy

 

[DoctorCAD]

My LE pinot noir has the k meta added and then stirred for 2 minutes to degas. I think stirring is more "friendly" to the k meta than vacuum. Now, my pinot volcanoed all over the floor, but it quit in about the required 2 minutes. I will vacuum degas later, after racking again.

 

[Rocky]

Roy, for some strange reason, they apparently changed the instructions. The ones I was quoting from are date January 2010. Is there a date at the bottom of your instructions? It may have had something to do with their recent acquisition.

 

[FTC Wines]

Rocky, the date on the instructions is 11/2013, think you solved the mystery. They obviously changed the instructions! Roy