Jacob_Marley
Well-Known Member
I've never heard of anyone managing to keep Lemon Wine around this long - often "truly good and truly gone" ... so here's the results
I just opened a 12 year old wine bottle of ReaLemon-type Lemon Wine ("skeeter pee").
The wine was still clear and very pale golden yellow with no hint of discoloration.
The wine had developed no off tastes or aromas.
There was no aroma loss that I could tell. Flavor and aroma were excellent.
I'd had some concern about the possibility of citric acid (the primary acid in citrus) to show oxidization in wine more quickly over time. This did not turn out to be an issue.
The good shelf life results of this citrus fruit wine for this long period was helped by:
1)Sulfiting ... the ReaLemon juice product contains sodium benzoate and sodium sulfite already. Some additional sulfiting was done during wine stabilization. The juice was already a processed juice that had been "fined" for shelf stability (and to avoid delayed bitterness from limonoids.)
To some degree the ascorbic acid content of the juice also likely helps as an antioxidant.
2) the ABV% was 10% (OG 1.074) which is a bit higher than what I might normally do with lemon wine ... but I knew that I was going to put a portion of the batch down for long term aging/storage and the ABV helps.
3)Very careful sanitation and limiting oxygen during all transfers, storage and handling.
4)The tight closures (using synthetic black Zorks) also worked well to limit the micro-infiltration of oxygen. There are no tannins added to this wine so there is no conversion of tannins though aging needed.
5) dark green bottles ... stored in a dark cellar at a very consistent temperature.
This batch was made with D-47 yeast (not a borrowed slurry), hydrated, and pitched as a must-adjusted starter ... must pH at pitch was pH3.2
Fermax and DAP
Fermentation temp: 60*-63*F
Fermented to dryness.
All was bulk aged 6 months before backsweetening and bottling. Fining agents were not used.
Part of the run (the still-wine portion) was stabilized with a light dose of potassium sorbate and K-meta - the other, non-stabilized part was put to champagne bottles and had secondary ferment using KV1116.
The still-wine was in dark green, Bordeaux/claret style bottles ... closures were Zork corks with a very tight fit.
The temp in the cellar of my basement is very stable and not near any heating/cooling source.
fwiw- the champagne bottles had a wire baskets added.
The sparkling version was gone within months! ... but really glad I took the time to put down the still-wine version.
I just opened a 12 year old wine bottle of ReaLemon-type Lemon Wine ("skeeter pee").
The wine was still clear and very pale golden yellow with no hint of discoloration.
The wine had developed no off tastes or aromas.
There was no aroma loss that I could tell. Flavor and aroma were excellent.
I'd had some concern about the possibility of citric acid (the primary acid in citrus) to show oxidization in wine more quickly over time. This did not turn out to be an issue.
The good shelf life results of this citrus fruit wine for this long period was helped by:
1)Sulfiting ... the ReaLemon juice product contains sodium benzoate and sodium sulfite already. Some additional sulfiting was done during wine stabilization. The juice was already a processed juice that had been "fined" for shelf stability (and to avoid delayed bitterness from limonoids.)
To some degree the ascorbic acid content of the juice also likely helps as an antioxidant.
2) the ABV% was 10% (OG 1.074) which is a bit higher than what I might normally do with lemon wine ... but I knew that I was going to put a portion of the batch down for long term aging/storage and the ABV helps.
3)Very careful sanitation and limiting oxygen during all transfers, storage and handling.
4)The tight closures (using synthetic black Zorks) also worked well to limit the micro-infiltration of oxygen. There are no tannins added to this wine so there is no conversion of tannins though aging needed.
5) dark green bottles ... stored in a dark cellar at a very consistent temperature.
This batch was made with D-47 yeast (not a borrowed slurry), hydrated, and pitched as a must-adjusted starter ... must pH at pitch was pH3.2
Fermax and DAP
Fermentation temp: 60*-63*F
Fermented to dryness.
All was bulk aged 6 months before backsweetening and bottling. Fining agents were not used.
Part of the run (the still-wine portion) was stabilized with a light dose of potassium sorbate and K-meta - the other, non-stabilized part was put to champagne bottles and had secondary ferment using KV1116.
The still-wine was in dark green, Bordeaux/claret style bottles ... closures were Zork corks with a very tight fit.
The temp in the cellar of my basement is very stable and not near any heating/cooling source.
fwiw- the champagne bottles had a wire baskets added.
The sparkling version was gone within months! ... but really glad I took the time to put down the still-wine version.
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