wine fermentation mold

[Dale Sims]

I have been making wine for a few years now and I have never seen this before.
This wine is a Cellar Master Merlot style and it is in the 8th day of fermentation. The blooms started Saturday day 6 of fermentation. Could this be from the temperature rising into the 80's in my ferment er.
Suggestions?
Research told me that the mold has no pathogens and there is no bad smell. This is five gallons of good wine and I recommend this wine.

Dale

 

[jgmillr1]

I don't know anything about the "Cellar Master" line. I'm assuming it came with skins though, by looking at the picture. Were you punching the cap down a couple times a day during the fermentation? This looks like mold growing on the cap from the pictures.

At this point to save the batch, I'd hit it hard with sulfites and press it. After 8 days at 80deg, it should be done fermenting. You won't be doing MLF on it with the sulfite addition, but I'm not sure it would survive MLF anyway and be drinkable.

 

[Dale Sims]

I don't know anything about the "Cellar Master" line. I'm assuming it came with skins though, by looking at the picture. Were you punching the cap down a couple times a day during the fermentation? This looks like mold growing on the cap from the pictures.

At this point to save the batch, I'd hit it hard with sulfites and press it. After 8 days at 80deg, it should be done fermenting. You won't be doing MLF on it with the sulfite addition, but I'm not sure it would survive MLF anyway and be drinkable.

No it didn't come with skins it is made with 7 litres of juice. I never punch it down. Normally the fermentation is finished by now on top and would have sunk. I'm not getting any foul odors and it looks like its working overtime.

 

[jgmillr1]

OK, there is no cap to punch down then if there aren't any skins. How's the SG at this point? Should be <1.000 if the fermentation proceeded normally.

I'd rack it into a carboy now, just to keep oxygen away from it. If the SG is under 1.000 it definitely can take some sulfites to help combat any bacterial or mold pressure.