Home Distiller

I have 5 gal apple wine that is basically left over apple parts (Skin, apple pieces, and core) from making apple butter.

My questions are:
how long can the wine sit in the primary fermenter under airlock, before racking off?

Can something happen if left to long?

Tabucowboy wrote: ↑Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:25 pm I have 5 gal apple wine that is basically left over apple parts (Skin, apple pieces, and core) from making apple butter.

My questions are:
how long can the wine sit in the primary fermenter under airlock, before racking off?

Can something happen if left to long?

A year, possibly more. It depends somewhat on the environment, is it exposed to temperature extremes? Subject to light, ie sunlight? Keep it in “celler conditions”, ie - cool and dark, and it will keep a long time.

What can happen....it could sour if exposed to bacterial contamination. But, that is unlikely if the pH is low and it is airlock protected. Also, I would suggest racking to a secondary after a couple of months to get it off of the yeast, as it could start to impart a flavor back to the wine after a time. Also, I’d get the wine off the marc after a few months for the same reasons.
ss

In theory it could be kept for a long time but we have to look at various factors: alcohol content, bacterial load and indigenous yeasts, storage temperature are the first things that come to mind. So it depends on the process used and the environment. In any case, I would recommend the separation of solids from wine.

Certain yeast will do better for aging after a rack, 71B is horrible but QA23 Is great for fine lees.

They'll clean up behind themselves and wont impart naties if left for up to a year.

Scottlabhandbook is my go for yeast selection, they also give very detailed descriptions on charachter and best uses etc. etc.

What is the ABV? If it is actual wine with 12% or so it will keep longer than cider. Also, it will begin to lose flavor after a year or so. I have left some cider for almost 2 years, it was still fine but had lost the apple character and could have been a light white wine. Not bad, just not what I was looking for.

Thank you all very much.