Secondary Ferment slow / stuck...

[0zwine]

Hi all.
I have stumbled upon this forum and, as a newbie to winemaking, have been quick to sign-up!
Hoping someone might be able to offer me some advise...

I'm making Greengage wine and primary ferment seems to have gone well. My brew bubbled away nicely for a week then slowed considerably. All as I expected.
So, I racked-off a week ago into a demijohn and again was watching a slow ferment.
But over the last two days my ferment has really slowed. Last night there was a bubble like every half hour, and tonight I haven't even seen one.
I don't really want to take a SG reading if I don't have to - so I guess the questions are -
How often would you expect to see a bubble from your secondary ferment?
How long should a secondary ferment last? (is a week too short?)

Any help greatly appreciated!

0z.

 

[DoctorCAD]

Taking SG readings needs to be put into the "has to" column.

Without a SG reading, there is no way to tell if fermentation is working or stopped.

Visual signs of fermentation are highly overrated!

 

[Huds]

Have you enoculated with an ML culture? If you don't have any MLB (malolactic bacteria present in your must, or your equipment then it is likely you will not go through a secondary. I used to make wine on a commercial level (20K cases a year) My red wine fermentations lasted usually 10 days depending on temperature. if your airlock has stopped bubbling then your fermentation is complete. Pull a sample and take a specific gravity. If you are -0.5 brix or more then fermentation is complete.

I sugest racking off your primary lees to a socundary, then enoculate with a MLB like VP41 or any other your LHBS suggest. If your going to add any oak chips or cubes, don't over do it, grenache sucks up up really well. Don't at any KMBS till your secondary fermentation arrests which can take up to 3 months. Also when your secondary fermentation does start try to keep your temp around 60F.

 

[0zwine]

Thanks heaps Doctor and Huds. I went to sterilize my siphon to take a SG reading last night and just before I did what did I get? A bubble from the airlock! So, No SG reading taken just yet - will do over the next night or two (time permitting!). Once again thanks for your advice!

 

[DoctorCAD]

Quit looking at bubbles!!!!!!!

They mean absolutely zero in winemaking.