Added ingredients in wrong order

It is my understanding, and someone please correct me if I am wrong, that kieselsol will bind with certain things and the chitosan will bind to others, AND help the kieselsol drop to the bottom more quickly. By adding them in the wrong order you may have negated some of the fining effects but I suspect you did not hurt anything. If it clears, you are fine. If not you may repeat the process doing it in the correct order next time.

Ray

I'll defer to the more seasoned winemakers for your technical response...

On the human side.... many scientific discoveries of the last couple of centuries have been 'by accident'... Antifreeze for engines is one of them; rayon cloth fiber is another.

Let us know how your accident turns out.

Gene

Big Bubba wrote:

As far as fining agents are concerned in kits, you can forego them if you're willing to wait the requisite time for the wine to settle out. That you've mixed one for the other at a different stage does not cause too much consternation - perhaps wait longer than the suggested settling time to rack your wine for ageing/bottling to be sure all finings and their strippings settle.

I'm sure you did not hurt anything, don't worry about it. The order is important but fining is optional for the most part as Patrick mentioned. Just let time clarify your wine if it isn't clear already. The reason kits have fining's in them is to make the wine clearer faster, it's hard to have something clear in just 30 days. Is this red or white? You can tell how effective the clearing is progressing by shining a bright light into the side of the carboy. Start at the top and work down. Look at the beam not the light. If you can see the outline of the beam the wine has some suspended solids in it. It will probably look different toward the bottom, the beam may get more defined. Once it's clear and looks the same top to bottom, the wine is clear.

Joe

Thanks for the comments! This site is really great for someone new to wine-making. What did people do before the internet? Talk? Weird.

Anyway, the wine really cleared up and looks good so far so I'll keep my fingers crossed. From the comments, it sounds like I'll be alright. Thanks!!