Wine Making Stuck Fermentation: Reason 1

TOP 10 REASONS

FOR FERMENTATION FAILURE

Reason #1
Having The Fermentation Temperature Too Hot Or Too Cold:

Yeast like to ferment between 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit--72

degrees being ideal. Fermentations that are too cool may become

very sluggish and quite often will not ferment at all.

Fermentations that are too warm can perform poorly as well. And

in extreme cases--85 degrees and above--the yeast cells may

become damaged, inhibiting their ability to ferment.

It is also important to note here that fermentations that are too

warm are more hospitable to the growth of unwanted micro-

organisms. This could result in off-flavors in your wine and in

extreme cases complete spoilage.

Having a consistent temperature throughout the fermentation is

important as well. Room temperatures that fluctuate on a daily

bases can play havoc on a yeast's ability to ferment. Simply put,

the more the room temperature fluctuates, the more likely you are

to have a problem fermentation.

Avoid trying to ferment your wine in places such as detached

garages, attics or spare bedrooms where the room temperature

can easily be ignored or not controlled at all.

If your house has a basement, it is usually one of the better places

to ferment your wine. Basements typically maintain a temperature

that is more constant than the rest of the house.

However in the winter months, basements can become too cool. If

this becomes the case, a mild heat source such as a nearby light

bulb may be enough to solve the problem. Also try to keep your

fermentation vessels up off the cold basement floor. Instead, keep

your fermentation vessels elevated on a table or shelf.

One way to keep a handle on your fermentation temperature is to

use a thermometer. If you are using a pail as a fermentation vessel,

you can use a floating thermometer directly in the wine. Just lift it

out when you want to take a reading, otherwise it stays in the juice.

Or, you can use a crystal strip thermometer which sticks to the

outside of the fermentation vessel. The temperature illuminates by

what appears to be magic. Just a quick glance and you are able to

tell the temperature of your fermentation.

For more information on the thermometers we offer, go to the

following link on our web site:

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E. C. Kraus

Home Wine & Beer Making Supplies

Address: 733 S. Northern Blvd. - P. O. Box 7850 - Independence, MO 64053

Phone:(816) 254-7448 Fax:(816) 254-7051 Toll Free: (800) 353-1906

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