Stupid stupid mistake !!!!

Winemaking Talk - Winemaking Forum

Help Support Winemaking Talk - Winemaking Forum:

Ericphotoart

Supporting Members
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2022
Messages
212
Reaction score
179
Location
The Poconos
A few days ago I started a Kiwi Wine. I was planning this for some time and finally I found relatively inexpensive fresh kiwi fruits at a local store. I stored them in paper bags to be fully ripen. Total 24 lbs per 6 gallon primary. The recipe called for a can of frozen grape juice and I added it. Foolishly I added a RED grape juice! It totally destroyed the beautiful light green color of the must. It's now an earthy fluid. Fermentation started and there is nothing wrong except this damn color. Anything I can do now or later? Or should I just call it "Ugliest Looking But Pretty Good Wine"?
 

BigDaveK

Supporting Members
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2022
Messages
2,145
Reaction score
3,926
Location
Hocking Hills, OH
Sorry.
I haven't done anything stupid for a while - I'm overdue.

From doing mostly country wines I agree with @winemaker81, the color will change a lot. Depending on the intensity of each color, in the real world a mix of red and green will get a color between yellow and brown so don't be surprised with a shade of amber.

I'd be cautious trying to change or remove color. There's always those pesky "unintended consequences" that happen even when they shouldn't.
 

vinny

Mildly Amused
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2022
Messages
1,911
Reaction score
4,614
Location
Central Alberta
As far as stupid goes you couldn't have made a less serious oversight. I would expect you would lose almost all of your green in fermentation, so you will likely end up with a light rose.

My kiwi rhubarb (my last stupid moment. Defrosting freezer bags of different batches in the same bowl, and holes in the bags made a blend :rolleyes:) is currently a cloudy yeasty beige with a hint of pink. I expect a little pink from the rhubarb might linger, otherwise it will be a 'white' wine.

Kiwi Concord... Pretend it was intentional! 😂
 

Hazelemere

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2022
Messages
260
Reaction score
270
Location
South Surrey, BC
A few days ago I started a Kiwi Wine. I was planning this for some time and finally I found relatively inexpensive fresh kiwi fruits at a local store. I stored them in paper bags to be fully ripen. Total 24 lbs per 6 gallon primary. The recipe called for a can of frozen grape juice and I added it. Foolishly I added a RED grape juice! It totally destroyed the beautiful light green color of the must. It's now an earthy fluid. Fermentation started and there is nothing wrong except this damn color. Anything I can do now or later? Or should I just call it "Ugliest Looking But Pretty Good Wine"?
bentonite
 

winemanden

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2009
Messages
801
Reaction score
1,931
Location
Banbury UK
A few days ago I started a Kiwi Wine. I was planning this for some time and finally I found relatively inexpensive fresh kiwi fruits at a local store. I stored them in paper bags to be fully ripen. Total 24 lbs per 6 gallon primary. The recipe called for a can of frozen grape juice and I added it. Foolishly I added a RED grape juice! It totally destroyed the beautiful light green color of the must. It's now an earthy fluid. Fermentation started and there is nothing wrong except this damn color. Anything I can do now or later? Or should I just call it "Ugliest Looking But Pretty Good Wine"?
Best advice! Close your eyes whilst drinking it! :h
 
Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
7,445
Reaction score
19,571
Location
Raleigh, NC, USA
As far as stupid goes you couldn't have made a less serious oversight.
Yup. Of all the bone headed things that can be done, this is trivial.

Another thought -- if the color is truly objectionable, bench test adding red wine to produce a true rose color.

Thinking about it further, post fermentation I'd fine with bentonite and rack after 2-3 weeks. I suspect the problem will be greatly reduced, if not gone.
 

Latest posts

Top