Wine still shows activity

[Guidodam]

Hi there, just recently made some homemade wine from red Zinfandel grapes.
We crushed 14 cases and added yeast and fermented in the barrel for 10 days.
After the 10 days we pressed and transferred to 54L Demi johns and left 6 inches from the top and installed air locks.
After a day activity started and was vigorously bubbling however it’s been 16 days and still has activity, not as much as the first 8 days but still has action.
Is this normal? Are we at risk of spoiling the wine? Room temperature is 72F.
Thanking in advance as any advice is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Al

 

[mainshipfred]

Did you take gravity readings throughout the process? Airlocks are not a true indicator of the fermentation progress.

 

[ChuckD]

My guess would be that fermentation is done. Off-gassing of C02 can continue for weeks. @mainshipfred is right… the only true test is specific gravity.

And welcome to WMT.

 

[sour_grapes]

Welcome to WMT!

It is probably just offgassing of CO2. As Fred said, you would be well-advised to measure the specific gravity (SG) throughout the process usining an inexpensive hydrometer.

If it is under airlock, there isn't any risk of spoiling the wine.

 

[Guidodam]

Thanks all, and appreciate the support and the kind welcome

 

[Rice_Guy]

Patience the yeast have their own timeline.

welcome to WMT

 

[Brent1959]

Welcome to WMT!

It is probably just offgassing of CO2. As Fred said, you would be well-advised to measure the specific gravity (SG) throughout the process usining an inexpensive hydrometer.

If it is under airlock, there isn't any risk of spoiling the wine.

How long before clearing, I racked from bucket to carboy, then about 4 days to another. Still pretty cloudy. Thanks for any help, i am a very beginner.

 

[ChuckD]

You really should get a hydrometer and take a reading… my wines typically settle out the chunky stuff and dead yeast a week or so after the end of active fermentation. At that point rack it off the gross lees and put it back in a carboy, top it up, add k-meta, and air lock it for a couple months until it really clears.