Hard of soft water?

[Ericphotoart]

I use my well water for all purposes including of course wine making, however my water is very hard and next week I will be installing water softener. I wonder how this may influance the fermentation, taste etc. Of course I will be able to use hard water if I want to, before the water softener, but it will be an inconvenience. I'm not fermenting anything now. I will be making some Chilean wines around April but this is a slight change in chemistry so I started to investigate.

 

[Rice_Guy]

I would not use soft water for cooking or for making wine.

Well I actually do use soft water in cooking where salt would be included in the recipe. Soft water replaces divalent calcium and magnesium with sodium. Excess sodium is a health risk. ,,, But in the scheme of things formulated US foods ALL are high sodium, it tastes good.

 

[DrGriz]

I would not use soft water for cooking or for making wine.

Well I actually do use soft water in cooking where salt would be included in the recipe. Soft water replaces divalent calcium and magnesium with sodium. Excess sodium is a health risk. ,,, But in the scheme of things formulated US foods ALL are high sodium, it tastes good.

Precisely why I use potassium salt in my water softener. Yes, it is more expensive.

Potassium chloride treated hard water is better for growing plants. It is better for yeast as well, as they require potassium to grow and function.

 

[ibglowin]

The usual theory is that if your water looks good, taste good and has no off odors it will be fine for making wine. Using filtered water or bottled will remove chlorine which has some benefits.

 

[BPL]

I use my well water for all purposes including of course wine making, however my water is very hard and next week I will be installing water softener. I wonder how this may influance the fermentation, taste etc. Of course I will be able to use hard water if I want to, before the water softener, but it will be an inconvenience. I'm not fermenting anything now. I will be making some Chilean wines around April but this is a slight change in chemistry so I started to investigate.

I have read reports on Face Book that water with high mineral content (well water) appears to promote yeast activity. I understand how and why that happens, but FWIW, using anything besides RO water or distilled water can deliver unexpected results.

For example, if using well water from a location works 1,000 times and happens to be the cause of 1 failure, would the water be considered as OK for making wine?

I dumped a couple of batches years ago that were traced back to questionable tap water. I don't take chances anymore. I use RO drinking water or distilled water PERIOD.

DISCLAIMER: My comment about the FB post is sorta like an "I heard".... which promotes rumors and not facts! So be aware.

 

[Rocky]

Just as BPL does, I use distilled water exclusively for wine making kits and I have never had an issue. My rationale is that when the kits are manufactured, water (H2O) is removed from the grapes by various processes and I am merely adding back pure water. It is a bit more expensive and I think it is well worth it. If anyone sees a flaw in this reasoning, please correct me.

 

[BPL]

I use distilled water exclusively for wine making kits

Finer Wine Kits recommend using distilled water because of impacting flavors and/or issues with fermenting. I had discussions with Matteo about using various types of water. To my knowledge no other wine kit makes this distinction. Can't say about the H20 removed from the grapes rationale.

 

[winemaker81]

There's no simple answer to the question of what water to use. It all depends on what ya got.

I'm on a well, which is hard, slightly acidic water. I've been making wine with this water for 3 decades and have no problems with it.

My younger son lives in south Georgia (US state not the country) and his municipal water is treated, but the shower smells of sulfur. He installed a filter in his kitchen -- I'd use the kitchen sink water but not from any other tap in the house.

I've lived in places where the water smelled of chlorine. I'd not use that water.

If the local water is questionable, use commercial.