Help - Is a funny smell normal?

[B M W]

Help
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I started my first kit on Sunday, it is a Selection Merlot. I sanitized everything and followed the directions. Today when I came home from work the house has a weird smell (okay, it’s really bad) and it is coming from the fermenting bucket. I opened the lid and I don’t see any yeast activity. Has something terrible went wrong or is this normal? The temperature did drop to 66 degrees so I moved it to a warmer place and it has been at 70 – 72 degrees for the last 24 hrs.

 

[masta]

I would say it is normal and a fermentation does give off some strong and unusual smells that does take some getting used to.


I started the first two Winexpert kits last weekend and the smell from them were very strong and I have been doing this for 4 years!

 

[rshosted]

That depends what you consider weird. Is it acidic? Moldy? Vinegar-y?

The smell can tell you a lot. Are you familiar with what a fermenting wine smells like? it does smell a little off at first, especially when fermenting. You'll soon learn to love that smell though. My girlfriend thinks it smells musty...?

I would say, if you followed the directions just put the lid on and give it a day or two to start bubbling.

 

[bilbo-in-maine]

Give it a very gentle stir and try to get the temp up to 74. You may not see
activity, but generally you can hear it. Get your ear close and listen for the
typical fizzing sound of carbonation breaking the surface. Warming the must
will help if it is sluggish. Some musts can really smell surprisingly bad, but
as rhosted mentioned, you probably will come to welcome it - it means
things are going as desired

 

[NorthernWinos]

Yes, the smells can vary, sometimes it smells like bread, yeasty, fruity and so forth...any smell is okay...if it wasn't 'working' [fermenting] at 2 days. I don't think it should be giving off any odor....so if there is an odor...it probably is 'working'...keep your baby warm.
I had a few batches with a different yeast [I think Montpellier Yeast] that would make an noise I could hear across the room.....it sounded like the wind rustling through the leaves of the trees....then I realized all the leaves had fallen from the trees...I tracked the sound down to the fermenting buckets...it would foam up and then subside...it must just be a trait of that yeast, because the next batch I could also hear like that rustling of the leaves sound....
Just relax and enjoy the smells and sounds...put it in a carboy and enjoy the sights...

 

[B M W]

Thank you, Thank You, Thank you!!!! I could hear sounds coming from the bucket. Your knowledge and experience has helped me through this stage. I will be glad to have my first batch done so I know what to expect on the next. Yep, I'm hooked

. I think my next batch will be a white, not sure what yet.

 

[pkcook]

BMW,


Be sure and sneak a small taste at different times during the fermentation process. This will tell you if something major is wrong with your wine.


If all goes as expected you will notice the sweat juice becoming almost carbonated, then gradually the sweetness will diminish and the alcohol will become more and more prevalent. This is one of my favorite parts of this hobby,experiencing the changes. Good luck.

 

[Vaughn]

I love the smell of fermentation. It is better than any air freshener. I wish I could have a primary going all the time just to have that smell.

 

[Funky Fish]

Thank you, Thank You, Thank you!!!! I could hear sounds coming from the bucket. Your knowledge and experience has helped me through this stage. I will be glad to have my first batch done so I know what to expect on the next. Yep, I'm hooked

. I think my next batch will be a white, not sure what yet.

You mentioned that you didn't see any activity when you took off the lid. Just remember: the bubbles in the airlock or the wine (or the lack thereof) aren't always reliable signs of fermentation. You may have a wine that you swear isn't fermenting until you pull out you hydrometer and...

...lo and behold-the SG has dropped! Conversely, you may think that a wine is still fermenting because bubbles are coming through the airlock, but all you're really seeing is CO2 coming out of suspension.

 

[jobe05]

We need a new topic heading...... "What do you like most about the fermentation process".


I like getting 10 to 12 carboys of various sizes all going at one time and try to get all of them bubbling to the tune of a good song...............


Some like Country and some like Rock-N-Roll

 

[B M W]

I think I panicked a little

. The smell is growing on me and when I checked the bucket tonight there were small bubbles coming up from the bottom. I just need to learn to relax and be patient with the process.


Thanks to all my new found friends, you got me through this one

Edited by: B M W

 

[OilnH2O]

Wow, BMW!


I've been following this through the forum, (we started ours on Saturday) and knew our smell was fermentation, but then, "leaves rustling" and bubbles gurgling... GEE, we COULDN'T hear a thing! (Of course, my wife says I have selective hearing anyway...) But, I just now went and put my ear to the side of the bucket and there, far away, like the sea in the proverbial shell, was the sound... of YEASTIES!


So, I think we're on track too!

 

[B M W]

Everything seems to be okay

when I came home from yoga class I took a sg reading and it was between 1.010 and 1.000 so I racked to the carboy. I like the carboy much better than the bucket I can see what is going on. The Yeasties really are working. This is so much fun, I should have started making wine years ago.

 

[OldWino1]

Hes hooked George send him a catalog and a link to your web site.

 

[Curt]

B M W,


Winemaking is an exercise in patience. What else do you start in life knowing that you won't know for sure how it came out for a year or two? Kids maybe, a house perhaps but a hobby? Take your yoga mind setinto the winery and you will be well served.

Edited by: Curt

 

[PolishWineP]

Well said, Curt!

Exactly!

 

[OldWino1]

my lambrusco has the most interesting smell of any i have made. But it has been bubbling nicley with a tick tick of the air lock. Gettin ready to move to the carboy th sg has dropped and settled. 5 gal batch. it will take some time to clear but thats ok the 6 gals are full. and i need the prim to bottle one of the 6 gals Caber Saviog. Cant spell this stuff. Hav to use a dicionary to do the labels. But its all fun.

 

[Brandst]

My wife came to me about 3 days after I started my Pinot kit. She put her arm around meand told me that when we buy a house I can have a room dedicated to my wine making. She didn't care too much for the smell but although not Chanel #5 I found it oddly satisfying. Can't wait to get the next kit started to see what smells it brings, and then the fruit wines start, bet they are near heavenly.





Steve

 

[pkcook]

Brandst,


I have made a few different fruit wines and all smelled wonderful, except the watermelon which went bad. I love to just sit in the wine room and enjoy the aroma.

 

[MedPretzel]

I found it oddly satisfying.

I, for one, love the smell of fermentin' stuff.

It's a kind of sweet-acidy-kind-of-vomity smell that you don't want to like but do.


My husband walked in the house in the fall, and said, "mmmm! Chrysanthemum wine!" When I was picking the petals, he also said, "Hey, smells like wine!"