Please help--- re: super fast fermentation

[rubbermonkey]

8 days ago I started my first big batch of wine. Doing a welches concetrate batch.

starting SG was 1.09
Fermentation was ultra fast and was down to 1.15 in 3 days. I then racked to secondary.

Fermentation is still going strong... but the sg is at 0.98....

what do I need to do here? Just let it keep going? or add sorbate and wait for it to clear?

 

[Julie]

LOL, apparently you have prime conditions for fermenting. Let go, it is done fine.

 

[rubbermonkey]

lol..

how low can the SG possibly go?

 

[Wade E]

Not much. Was this a gallon batch as they do go very fast and thats normal, the bigger the batch up to a certain point and then it sees to all ferment out at around the same time.

 

[rubbermonkey]

5 gallon batch...

 

[Julie]

it could possibly go to .992 but I would think more like .994

 

[cpfan]

RubberMonkey:

Two things...

1. Patience. Let the wine finish fermenting. Don't be in a rush to finish & bottle. The wine will be better for it.

2. Learn about specific gravity and reading the hydrometer. SG should be quoted as 3 decimals. In your case... Started at 1.090. Down to 1.015 (NOT 1.150 which is what you said). Currently at .98? .980? Unlikely. You probably mean .998. Thus Julie's comment makes sense.

Steve

 

[rubbermonkey]

cpfan... thanks... i am a rookie.. all these decimals

 

[cpfan]

cpfan... thanks... i am a rookie.. all these decimals

For many rookies, reading and understanding the hydrometer is a REAL toughie. You're doing good, because you have readings and are paying attention to them.

Steve