Cantina Wine Kit still fermenting

[joey82]

I bought a Cantina 5 day wine kit, one of the reasons I bought this kit was because it was supposed to be ready in 5 days, it's now been fermenting for over 6 weeks. I've tested the FG several times over the last few weeks and am getting the same reading but there is still activity in the air lock, could this be from gasses in the wine being released. This is my first ever wine kit but I've made loads of beer kits but never had this problem, I just wondered if any one else has made one of these kits and had the same problem

Thanks

 

[bobsbeer]

What is your SG? if around .990 then it has finished and the airlock activity may be just the disolved co2 coming out. Does your temperature vary where you store the DJ/bucket? Fluctuating temp can cause co2 release when it warms. But be guided by your hydrometer rather than bubbles. .990 is dry and can be stabilised, degased and fined.

 

[joey82]

Hi thanks for the reply. The SG is .998 but the instructions say when finished it should read at 1.000 or less, I'll check it again tomorrow if it's the same I'll syphon off into the other fermenter
It's fermenting in the bedroom, its been at a stable temp of about 20oc with the temp dropping slightly in the night time to about 18oc so I did expect it to take longer to ferment as normal just not as long as it has been

 

[bobsbeer]

At .998 it still has a bit to go. Leave it alone till about .990-.994 depending on how you like it. .994 is medium sweetness and .990 is dry. At .998 it will be sweet. Have a taste next time you check the SG. How accurate is your thermometer, my guess you are reading high by a degree or so. That would explain the slow ferment. With reds there is no rush as you need to leave them alone for 6 months to mature. It won't come to any harm under airlock so just leave it to do it's thing. Nearly all the kits exaggerate the time it takes, although not by 6 weeks. You just have to be patient.