Ribena wine wont start!

[disektikus]

I started a batch of ribena wine 2 days ago and it won't start. The recipe I used (for 5 gallons) was:

2 litres of ribena (boiled and simmered for 20 mins)
4 kg of sugar
1 cup of tea
4 lemons
5 teaspoons of yeast nutrient

And pitched the yeast (muntons no 6) at 24 degrees c

The yeast went out of date on sept last year and I didn't use a starter. Any ideas if out of date yeast won't work or whether I will need to pitch again but use a starter this time?

Any help would b most appreciated thanks!

 

[Yooper]

I started a batch of ribena wine 2 days ago and it won't start. The recipe I used (for 5 gallons) was:

2 litres of ribena (boiled and simmered for 20 mins)
4 kg of sugar
1 cup of tea
4 lemons
5 teaspoons of yeast nutrient

And pitched the yeast (muntons no 6) at 24 degrees c

The yeast went out of date on sept last year and I didn't use a starter. Any ideas if out of date yeast won't work or whether I will need to pitch again but use a starter this time?

Any help would b most appreciated thanks!

You won't need a starter, but a better quality (and non-expired!) wine yeast will be needed. Lalvin makes great quality wine yeast, and they are inexpensive, so I"d try a strain from Lalvin.

 

[disektikus]

Ah ok, so out of date yeast is definitely no good then? They were going for 10p a packet down my local hb shop do bought a load, the guy assured me they would still be ok. Clearly wanted rid of them! Haha

 

[Yooper]

Ah ok, so out of date yeast is definitely no good then? They were going for 10p a packet down my local hb shop do bought a load, the guy assured me they would still be ok. Clearly wanted rid of them! Haha

No, they are too old and may cause some off-flavors from the dead yeast. And Munton's is a poor enough quality yeast as it is.

 

[disektikus]

Ok I shall invest in some new yeast then! Would it be on to just pitch then yeast with the out of date yeast still in there?

 

[Yooper]

Ok I shall invest in some new yeast then! Would it be on to just pitch then yeast with the out of date yeast still in there?

Yes- not much you can do to get them out of there since they are microscopic!

The new yeast will use the old yeast as nutrients and "cannibalize" them.

 

[disektikus]

Brilliant! Thanks for your help!

 

[Honda88]

if all your ingredients are preservative free then ya just get some new yeast, that guy is a total loser for selling you that yeast I would contact the BBB what a tool.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

I'm guessing your "Ribena" is what we in the USA cal Black Currant juice. If you're using pure, undiluted juice, there might be a PH issue. Black currants have over 200% USRDA of vitamin C, your PH MIGHT be too low. If the new yeast doesn't take off, I'd test the PH. If it does take off, You'll likely have a very tart wine when it's done. Good news is twofold: the excess Ascorbic acid ( vitamin C) will help protect the must as it's an antioxidant AND it will eventually age out.
Regards, GF.

 

[disektikus]

Yeah it's black currant cordial, sorry should have stated! Thought u guys got ribena over there? Well I pitched some Lavlin ec1118 yeast last night and it's bubbling away nicely now! I'll keep you posted on what it will taste like when it's done!bthanks for the advice!

 

[Insomniac]

Good to hear it took off, never considered using ribena, have to tell us how it turns out!