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Wine not fermenting
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2steps



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey
PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 10 7:52 pm    Post subject: Wine not fermenting Reply with quote
    

I started some wine earlier but it's not doing anything, no bubbles and all the yeast is just floating on the top. Can I just add some new yeast or do I need to get the old stuff out first?

gil
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 10 9:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Did you make a yeast startetr, or just sprinkle it on top ?

Make a yeast starter (to prove that it works) and add more; I wouldn't bother fishing the other stuff out.

Yeast starter = half a mug of finger-warm water with a teaspoon of sugar dissolved in it, and one teaspoon of yeast stirred in, left in a warm place for 20 mins to start frothing up. (like for bread-making but with wine yeast)

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 10 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You don't need to bother getting the old stuff out. I'd make a starter with the next lot of yeast though. So set the yeast going in a mug of tepid water with a teaspoon of sugar in it for about 15-20mins before you pitch it in.

Edit: Damn, beaten to the punch by gil's dancing fingers.

gil
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 10 10:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

My legs and feet are knackered. If I had to type with my toes, I'd be stuffed.

mark



Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 2191
Location: Leeds
PostPosted: Wed Oct 20, 10 7:44 am    Post subject: Re: Wine not fermenting Reply with quote
    

2steps wrote:
I started some wine earlier but it's not doing anything, no bubbles and all the yeast is just floating on the top. Can I just add some new yeast or do I need to get the old stuff out first?


First of all its good to understand likely causes of this.
1) Pitching yeast in when temp of must is still too warm (if you used hot water in recipe) - yeast can be killed at surprisingly low temperatures
2) old yeast !
3) too much sugar in must - check with hydrometer - if this is the case you'll get nowhere till you dilute it

To get wine going - make a yeast starter - wait till frothing - when it s going add an equal quantity of the stuck wine - when that is all going do the same again (so twice as much wine this time) - and do so progressively til the whole lot is bubbling away.

If the wine was a "thin" one made primarily with flowers etc you wil probably want to ad a yeast nutrient - but no need with most fruit wines etc.

2steps



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey
PostPosted: Wed Oct 20, 10 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thank you, will try the yeast starter. It is cranberry wine made from juice

mark



Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 2191
Location: Leeds
PostPosted: Wed Oct 20, 10 10:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

2steps wrote:
Thank you, will try the yeast starter. It is cranberry wine made from juice


ah if it was made from commercial cranberry juice (rather than your own) it probably contain preservatives which inhibit yeasts along with other micro-organisms - usually agitating the the juice and leaving it open 24 hours before starting fermenting gives preservatives a chance to come off - and gives your fermentation a chance - with a bit of luck it will work now it has had a chance to breathe.

If rather than pure cranberry juice you have used a "juice drink" it could have all sorts of stuff in it which may not be nice after fermentation - check the label!

Mark

2steps



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey
PostPosted: Wed Oct 20, 10 11:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Recipe said about the preservatives so not that think it's the yeast as it's not really done anything so will try some new stuff

2steps



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey
PostPosted: Wed Oct 20, 10 3:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Got some new yeast put the instructions say just to sprinkle it on top on the juice, wait 15 minutes and stir. Should I still make the starter with it instead?

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Wed Oct 20, 10 3:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I always make a starter whatever the instructions say.

gil
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

PostPosted: Wed Oct 20, 10 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Same as Sean.

The only homebrew I sprinkle yeast onto is a beer kit, though I took to making starters for those as well.

2steps



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey
PostPosted: Thu Oct 21, 10 10:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thank you, it's fine now with the new yeast

2steps



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey
PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 11 11:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The bubbling stopped on this wine about a week ago and not started up again. The hydrometer reading is in the blue just under 50. The demi john has been by the tortoise heat lamp at around 25 to 30c. I tasted it and it's fizzy but does taste like wine

gil
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 11 1:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

if it's fizzy, it should still be fermenting.
is it sweet ?
have you measured it before ? if not, keep it where it is, and take its SG in 2 weeks time.

1050 is a bit high. sounds as though it might be stuck.

2steps



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 5349
Location: Surrey
PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 11 5:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It is quite sweet and I haven't measured it before. Still not bubbling again though

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