Possible contamination

[Gwand]

I have been bulk aging wine for two months made from fresh Montepulciano juice. A thin creamy smear has appeared at top of carboy. Is this proof positive of a bacterial contamination? The wine does not have an unpleasant smell or taste.......yet.

 

[Pumpkinman]

I'd rack to another carboy and test your PH, TA and SO2 levels, from there you can see if it needs to be adjusted (SO2).

 

[winemaker_3352]

Did u add anything recently to it?

Pectin, Sorbate, K-Meta, etc??

Sometimes undissolved residue from campden tablets can cause this.

 

[Gwand]

Did u add anything recently to it?

Pectin, Sorbate, K-Meta, etc??

Sometimes undissolved residue from campden tablets can cause this.

I did add S02 recently. Boy I hope it is that.

 

[winemaker_3352]

Was it the powder form or tablets??

 

[Gwand]

Was it the powder form or tablets??

Powder form diluted in H20 before addition.

 

[winemaker_3352]

Usually the tablets cause that residue from the glue that bonds the tablet together.

 

[the_rayway]

I had this on all three of my juice bucket wines. They all taste fine, and since racking it hasn't come back.

 

[Gwand]

I had this on all three of my juice bucket wines. They all taste fine, and since racking it hasn't come back.

I'm glad to hear that. Too much work went into this to end badly.

 

[jswordy]

I'd say that's not going to bother it. You can always rack off it.

 

[jamesngalveston]

I would bottle it, and send wordy a case so he could try it, and see if he gets sick...then you would know for sure if it was bad.

 

[Boatboy24]

I would bottle it, and send wordy a case so he could try it, and see if he gets sick...then you would know for sure if it was bad.

You can send another case to me that's been adjusted for proper sulfite levels. You need a control sample.