My plan for 2017 wine from California grapes

[jgmann67]

Well, 4 weeks have come and gone.

 

[baron4406]

Hey I have an idea, do you usual ferment(I personally like hot ferments), then press as usual. Then, "borrow" a tactic from the kit wine guys and do an Extended Maceration on the skins for 6 to 8 weeks. I was gonna try it on my Chileans this year-but I wimped out.

 

[ceeaton]

And the test results are in:

 

[Johnd]

And the test results are in:

View attachment 49706

Hmmmm, after a couple of months, only one finished, one moving, and two showing no signs, bummer. Good looking test sheet though, nice job!!!!!!!

 

[pgentile]

And the test results are in:

View attachment 49706

Was this CH16? I just ordered some for the Australian juice buckets coming in this week. No vp41 available. All four of my batches with vp41 this spring were showing completion of MLF at 60 days.

 

[ceeaton]

Was this CH16? I just ordered some for the Australian juice buckets coming in this week. No vp41 available. All four of my batches with vp41 this spring were showing completion of MLF at 60 days.

I pretty sure it was for mine (Cab 3). I think Jim has used multiple ones on his Cab (Cab1 & 2) and Merlot. I'm going to save some slurry from mine to give to him. I had also saved some of the MLB in the fridge since I was only doing one small 6 gallon batch, but of course forgot to drop it off when I visited for the samples yesterday. Sometimes I act like I'm getting old in the brain.

 

[ceeaton]

Hmmmm, after a couple of months, only one finished, one moving, and two showing no signs, bummer. Good looking test sheet though, nice job!!!!!!!

I'm surprised I remembered how to do it, it's been awhile. Guess it's like riding a bike, or opening a beer, or drinking some wine...

 

[jgmann67]

Yep. The first three are mine and show only minimal progress. Once again, a disappointment - thought the 3rd time would be a charm. Looks like maybe four will do it. After that, I think I'm done.

 

[Boatboy24]

Yep. The first three are mine and show only minimal progress. Once again, a disappointment - thought the 3rd time would be a charm. Looks like maybe four will do it. After that, I think I'm done.

I've been very happy with the two co-inoculations I've done. Don't think I'm ever going back.

 

[mainshipfred]

I've been very happy with the two co-inoculations I've done. Don't think I'm ever going back.

I does seem to work well base on the Carmenere skins you gave me. I'm torn.

 

[Johnd]

I've been very happy with the two co-inoculations I've done. Don't think I'm ever going back.

Welcome to the dark side! Once I studied it enough and convinced myself to try it, there’s been no turning back for me either

 

[jgmann67]

Two seasons of problematic MLF is enough for me. I'm co-inoculating from now on.

 

[pgentile]

Co-inoculation is the way to go. Learned it right here in this forum.

 

[cmason1957]

Bahh humbug!!! I'll stay on the light side of ferment, press, rack in a few days, add the mlb at that time, sure it might then take three or four months after that to finish, but with good mlb, good nutrition, good sanitation and generally not adding any SO2 up-front it works for me.

I'm just a Luddite.

 

[Ajmassa]

Bahh humbug!!! I'll stay on the light side of ferment, press, rack in a few days, add the mlb at that time, sure it might then take three or four months after that to finish, but with good mlb, good nutrition, good sanitation and generally not adding any SO2 up-front it works for me.

I'm just a Luddite.

 

[cmason1957]

View attachment 49723

Do you have cookies or maybe I should ask about wine??? HUMMMMM

 

[mainshipfred]

Bahh humbug!!! I'll stay on the light side of ferment, press, rack in a few days, add the mlb at that time, sure it might then take three or four months after that to finish, but with good mlb, good nutrition, good sanitation and generally not adding any SO2 up-front it works for me.

I'm just a Luddite.

Call me one as well, although it's proven to work effectively and I can personally attest.

 

[cmason1957]

Call me one as well, although it's proven to work effectively and I can personally attest.

I know, it has worked so well for me for the past 7 years, that I am very hesitant to change it. Also, I use my trash can fermenters for things other than just grapes and I worry about having MLF bacteria in things I don't want to have MLF. As a side note, I have designated glass/plastic carboys that only get things that have had MLB inoculated.

 

[Ajmassa]

Do you have cookies or maybe I should ask about wine??? HUMMMMM

Ok what’s the story there? When I googled for that Vador image 90% of them said “come to the dark side. We have cookies”. And now you just referenced cookies! I’m in the “dark” with the cookie thing.

 

[jgmann67]

Ok what’s the story there? When I googled for that Vador image 90% of them said “come to the dark side. We have cookies”. And now you just referenced cookies! I’m in the “dark” with the cookie thing.

I think you got the reference.