When to start fermentation?

[Cibb]

I've read a lot and probably next week I will be starting my first ML Fermentation. I'm curious is there an advantage of doing it just as initial yeast fermentation has completed vs waiting until fermentation has completed rack and then perform the MLF.

I'll be using CH-16 for my MLF if anyone is curious.

 

[Johnd]

I've read a lot and probably next week I will be starting my first ML Fermentation. I'm curious is there an advantage of doing it just as initial yeast fermentation has completed vs waiting until fermentation has completed rack and then perform the MLF.

I'll be using CH-16 for my MLF if anyone is curious.

There have been many discussions on this topic, this being the most recent thread:

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57673&highlight=Inoculate

 

[Ajmassa]

Tons of info online too. At this point I think it's safe to say you do it any way you want without stressing.
I realize nobody is going to actually read all of this, but it's a ton of good information. And more than enough for any home winemaker. Have at it

http://www.oenobrands.com/files/PDF/Articles/DelayHarvestAd.pdf

http://srjcstaff.santarosa.edu/~jhenderson/MLF CoFerm Paper.pdf

https://www.awri.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Technical_Review_Issue_218_Bartowsky.pdf


http://northerngrapesproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/S.-Gertsen-Schibbye-MLF.pdf

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1517-83822014000100009

http://www.chr-hansen.com/en/food-c...ticle-cards/speed-up-malolactic-fermentation#

http://www.gencowinemakers.com/docs/pdf_WUP_1_-_2012_Diacetyl_-_USA.pdf

http://swat.net.au/tech/CHR/methodspark.pdf

https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/.../1957/59703/SereniAnthonyJ2016.pdf?sequence=1

http://www.sawislibrary.co.za/dbtextimages/80195.pdf


http://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1590/s1517-83822014000100009

http://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/20479

https://www.pubfacts.com/detail/245...oculation-in-Cabernet-Franc-wine-fermentation.

 

[Turock]

You're better off waiting a couple weeks, or so, and that is because you want to be sure to have all the products of fermentation racked off the wine so that you don't run into H2S problems. And actually, there is no rush to MLF as long as you keep the airlock on the carboy and aren't opening it up frequently. So wait until the lees are compacted, then rack and start your MLF.

 

[Cibb]

Thanks for the information. I think I'll wait until I rack before starting mlf which should be next week.

 

[NorCal]

I've always waited, however, this year I co-inoculated 3 fermentations. So far, so good.

 

[Cibb]

I'm considering that but I'll be out of town for 3 days and my fermentation is well underway at this point. I guess I'm scared something will go wrong in that time and ruin it all.