Wine from Grape Juice Help

limprizol · 10-06-2008, 09:15 PM

Hello

I am making a merlot from frozen Juice. I fermented it in a plastic bucket till the gravity hit 1.020 then i racked over to a 5 gallon glass carboy where it has been for 1-2 weeks.

What is my next step?

When do i add meta bisulphite?

When do i rack it next?

**Yooper** · 10-06-2008, 09:37 PM

I use k-meta at every other racking. I don't have an so2 meter, but I have a goal of approx 50 ppm of sulfite, so I guestimate it by adding one campden tablet per gallon at every other racking.

I rack whenever I have lees that are 1/4 inch think, or at least every 60 days if there is a dusting of lees. I wouldn't rack in less than three weeks, though- but anytime after that when the lees are thick, or whenever there is even a dusting if it's been a couple of months.

limprizol · 10-07-2008, 02:23 AM

Should i rack it off the yeast now or wait a little longer

**Yooper** · 10-07-2008, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limprizol

Should i rack it off the yeast now or wait a little longer

If it's only been there two weeks, I wouldn't, unless you have more than 1/4 inch of lees.

limprizol · 10-07-2008, 01:55 PM

There is probably 1/2 an inch to an inch of stuff on the bottom but i think it is mostly yeast. I will guess i will wait a little longer then rack. Thank you for the advice

**Yooper** · 10-07-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limprizol

There is probably 1/2 an inch to an inch of stuff on the bottom but i think it is mostly yeast. I will guess i will wait a little longer then rack. Thank you for the advice

If you have an inch of stuff, that's alot! I'd wait no more than a week or so, then.