Hello from Chepstow

[Chalecon]

Hello this is the second time I have attempted to make wine and I was wondering if anyone could help with a fermenting problem I have… I have 9 gallons of red grape juice that was fermenting rather well for a week. I kept stirring the must twice a day. My starting SG was 1080 and I even added 3 Kg of diluted sugar to it.
Yesterday I took the must away and transferred the 9 gallons of grape juice to a 15 gallon container with an airlock. I noticed that the airlock was not functioning and so this morning took an SG reading and it now reads 990. I have tasted the juice and it tastes horribly dry. Could someone advise on what I should do next?

 

[31bb3]

Welcome to the forum you can stabelise then sweeten

 

[Sean_Mc]

It needs to mature for a few months yet, I would store it in bulk until xmas/easter then try it, for sweetening try a small amount with canderel or similar, but leave the sweetening for now

Welcome to the forum :

 

[Chalecon]

Thank you for your quick reply....So does this mean that the fermentation process is over after just 1 week? Shouldn't I add sugar now to carry on the fermentation? Is it OK to have 9 gallons in a 15 gallon container. Sorry about the 101 questions...

 

[31bb3]

only if you want more alcohol content seems like the fermentation has stopped leave it a couple of days to see if the hydro reading stays the same

 

[Sean_Mc]

Sounds like its fermented out in a week, 1080 to 990 giving a 11.9% wine....very very quick.
Think your best giving the yeast time to drop now then rack in a couple of weeks.
I use 5ltr water bottles to bulk store my wine, 2 inch head space, but keep racking off any lees

 

[Chalecon]

Many thanks for helping me out.... So do you think it would be safer if I put the wine into 5 litre water bottles now? Do you put airlocks in the water bottles or just leave the original screw tops back on them? I'm just a bit wary that the 15 gallon tub I have the wine stored in at the moment is around 2/3 full so leaves quite a lot of air in it...

 

[Sean_Mc]

You could drill the lids and fit airlocks, but if its down to 990, it aint going to ferment much now. I just fill the 5ltr bottles, shake like hell to degas and open and reseal the lid. The corrugated sides expand a little so check them every couple of days for the first week or so

 

[Chalecon]

Thanks for all your help.... I'll let you know what happens if that's OK...

 

[Sean_Mc]

No probs, why not do a WOW next, it can be ready in four weeks :thumb:

 

[Chalecon]

So what is a WOW? I had to look up lees in a dictionary, I thought you had miss-spelt something but couldn't figure it out... Anyway the dictionary had the answer and now I know what "lees" is....

 

[Sean_Mc]

Sorry mate......never trust my spelling though

HERES Moley's excellent 'How To' for a WOW

 

[Chalecon]

Thanks for that... Can't wait to try it...