Recent content by Denden5136

I added about 2 weeks ago. I have added H2O2 and it worked very well. I have another 35ml to add - diluting a 3% solution to 1% then slowly dripping it into the stainless tank.

Thanks all. I filtered it today and will test the SO2 after lunch. The pH is 3.32. It is red wine. I have left 2 inches of head space post filtering to let it aerate a bit. The pH is quite low for a California red. I have heard scary things about H2O2, so I might just bottle as-is.

Has anyone used hydrogen peroxide to lower their SO2? I made a calculation mistake and now have 500L of wine at 80ppm. This is a commercial winery and the push is to bottle next week. I don't have the option of letting it sit for a few months to aerate out. I cannot blend it out. The options...

If the wine is sour, it is likely due to microbial infection. This would produce the CO2 and off-taste. Would need to know more what "sour" is. Could be Brett, but Brett is usually more "barnyard" than sour.

My reduless package says to rack after 72 hours. It is also inactive yeast, so I do not think there should be concerns with copper - it will be absolutely minimal. I have used it instead of copper sulfate because of my concerns with using copper.

I guess I am lucky enough to be in Contra Costa county with some of my own grapes (year 3) along with local vineyards I purchase from. Suisun is also just 20 miles past the Benecia bridge. I also still have grapes at my parent's house out in the Central Valley. As of now, we are running at...

Should we venture into the fact that it completely depends on your pH?

Water every other day is a bit much. Let them dry out for a week or so. Leaf color looks good. I would trim the shoots down to just a couple and let it go. It could be that it doesn't like the soil. Some of my first year vines did not grow rapidly, but in year 2 they did quite well. Can you...

This year I finally built a cellar/cold room in my garage, so am able to increase production. The plan is for 80+ gallons. I built the cellar inspired and based on NorCal's cellar. Mine is 8 x 6 and can hold 6 barrels on the ground plus carboys on a bench, a couple 200L Speidels and at least...

From my research they look similar to a small bee named Ceratina acantha They nest underground and I probably disturbed them while I was tilling in the cover crop. They are not a threat to the vineyard as far as I can tell. Life is a never ending learning experience. Here is a pic of one of...

Agreed with Craig on the ingredients (and everything else). I did a porter last winter and the grains were: 8lb. 2 row, .8 crystal (60° L), .4 crystal (120° L), .5 chocolate. If I made it again I would probably go lighter on the chocolate and do black patent as mentioned above. Did traditional...

Snafflebit, The vineyard looks great! Question for you - I have noticed a lot of swarming small long-winged files buzzing around a few of my vines. They seem to swarm but not land (although I am sure they do). They are not eating the leaves and do not seem to be bothering the fruit. Do you...

I am using sulfur. I am dosing a little at a time.

This is a very good plan. It is textbook what I learned at UC Davis. Where do you get the iron, magnesium and boron sprays? Is it an all-in-one or do you apply each individually? I too need to add ammonium sulfate this fall. My soil is actually a bit too alkaline and I have had to add sulfur...

I have the same issue with vines on a slope that has been graded with no topsoil (and we are on East Bay clay). Adding organic matter and fertilizer is the only way to go. Plants need fertilizer along with minerals to survive, whether natural or added. In order to stay fairly "close to nature" I...