I transferred my dandelion must to secondary, and placed airlock, but there is already a sediment of lees on the bottom (see photo) that is quite think, 1/4" or so... After only 24 hours.
I have read that I should rack when lees and sediment is present, I did not expect that there would be this much already. SO I am not sure if I am supposed to rack already. And I am also confused on adding the potassium metabisulfite if I am to rack the must off the lees and sediment this soon.
http://tinypic.com/r/28l8fb9/6
(http://www.eckraus.com/wine-making-racking/)
"Do not add sulfites to an active fermentation. This will cause the fermentation to slow down and become sluggish. It may possibly even stop the fermentation all together."
"The Secondary Fermentation is when the remaining 30 percent of of fermentation activity will occur. Unlike the typical four to seven days the primary fermentation takes, the secondary fermentation will usually last anywhere from one to two weeks depending on the amount of nutrient and sugars still available.
When doing the first 2 or 3 rackings, don't worry about leaving all of the sediment behind. Get as much of the liquid as you can, even if it some of the sediment comes with it. It is when you do your final racking that you will want to leave all of the sediment behind at the expense of some wine."
(http://www.eckraus.com/wine-making-101/)
It is not necessary that the interval between rackings be 30 days, 45 days or 60 days, but it should not be less than three weeks. It is perfectly okay to leave the wine on the lees for three months. Beyond that and the wine enters a danger zone caused by dead yeast cells breaking down -- rotting. While this can cause off-flavors and odors if allowed to go on too long, the bigger danger is the formation of hydrogen-sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs and can be the death of the wine. But if the lees are stirred every week or so, neither the off flavors, off odors nor hydrogen-sulfide gas form. Indeed, the wine is actually improved by extended contact with the lees as long as they are stirred frequently.
(http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/racking.asp)
I have read that I should rack when lees and sediment is present, I did not expect that there would be this much already. SO I am not sure if I am supposed to rack already. And I am also confused on adding the potassium metabisulfite if I am to rack the must off the lees and sediment this soon.
http://tinypic.com/r/28l8fb9/6
(http://www.eckraus.com/wine-making-racking/)
"Do not add sulfites to an active fermentation. This will cause the fermentation to slow down and become sluggish. It may possibly even stop the fermentation all together."
"The Secondary Fermentation is when the remaining 30 percent of of fermentation activity will occur. Unlike the typical four to seven days the primary fermentation takes, the secondary fermentation will usually last anywhere from one to two weeks depending on the amount of nutrient and sugars still available.
When doing the first 2 or 3 rackings, don't worry about leaving all of the sediment behind. Get as much of the liquid as you can, even if it some of the sediment comes with it. It is when you do your final racking that you will want to leave all of the sediment behind at the expense of some wine."
(http://www.eckraus.com/wine-making-101/)
It is not necessary that the interval between rackings be 30 days, 45 days or 60 days, but it should not be less than three weeks. It is perfectly okay to leave the wine on the lees for three months. Beyond that and the wine enters a danger zone caused by dead yeast cells breaking down -- rotting. While this can cause off-flavors and odors if allowed to go on too long, the bigger danger is the formation of hydrogen-sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs and can be the death of the wine. But if the lees are stirred every week or so, neither the off flavors, off odors nor hydrogen-sulfide gas form. Indeed, the wine is actually improved by extended contact with the lees as long as they are stirred frequently.
(http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/racking.asp)
