I tested my SG on my first kit last night and it was not quite what it needs to be so I am waiting another few days. This brings me to my next question. It seems from what I have been reading from other posts that it is generally better to wait too long a time than too short. If I do hit a desired specific gravity but that is not a good day in my life with a one year oldto rack or bottle, is it harmful to wait an extra day?? I realize you do not want to go to early if the SG is not right but is there anytime durning the process that waiting too long is bad. Thanks for all you help
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- Thread starter cindyjo
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smurfe
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cindyjo said:
It won't hurt to go a day or two after with any step. The most important racking step is from the primary to the secondary. A day or so won't affect your wine but you need to get your wine to glass to protect it from oxidation as fermentation will decrease rapidly. You don't want to leave the wine on the gross lees for an extended period of time either but a few days won't matter as well. You just don't want to go weeks or months. Like you don't want to bulk age on gross lees as they can eventually spoil the wine.
As you will read everywhere here, patience is a virtue. If you are making kits, try to follow as close as you can but their is flexibility built in them for your convenience. I have messed up and had to leave wines in the primary that fermented all the way to dry before I could rack them to glass and they are fine. I have had wines that spent a week or two extra on the gross lees that turned out fine. I am not saying this will happen every time but I have had life issues at times keep me from following the steps by the book and the product came out fine. I do admire you following the directions so close and asking your questions as well.
Smurfe
