Clearing Dilemma

Did your kit include Bentonite? If not, you can get some and it is a cheap fix. There are also other fining agents that are fairly cheap. I have been making wine for over 35 years and I ain't about to get a filter - simply because it is not needed.

Yup. Already did that step. Can/Should you add it twice?

The amount you got it the kit should be sufficient. You might try another fining agent. Ask your local wine shop for advice. Chilling your wine may also help

Or - you might try the time proven remedy - TIME How old is your wine?

Bob:

Which kit EXACTLY?

What fining/clearing agents have you used already? Obviously bentonite from the other reply, but what else?

How long since that fining agent added?

Did you degas the wine thoroughly? IE much stirring, shaking, or even a vacuum?

Steve

You've expressed my sentiments well, Paul. TIME is our friend. In the fours years of my home winemaking, I've never fined nor filtered any of my wines, and they all cleared.... given time (like a year or so).

Gene

Started 7-8-06 Rack to Carboy 7-14-06 Rack to Carboy 7-30-06 - Add Sorbate, Metabisulphite, Kieselsol

Again, it looks clear to the naked eye. It's only when you shine a flashlight through it that it appears cloudy.

Heron Bay Ultra Premium 6 Week Wine Kit

See previous reply...

According to the instructions - Stirred vigorously for 3 minutes 6 times over a 24 hour period prior to adding the Chitosan.

Bob Becker wrote "I've got a batch of Pinot Grigio in the final stages of clearing....

Bob - It's not ready to bottle. If you bottle you will get sediment in time. You won't like that. This wine is so young it's premature to think about bottling even if the instructions say so. It's even too early to think about filtering...since you can see evidence of suspended particles in the wine you would clog a filter rapidly...only filter completely clear wine. And, since you won't filter give the wine more time. Cover it up and come back in a month...see if the flashlight beam can still be seen.

Bill Frazier Olathe, Kansas USA

The Heron Bay instructions that I just read online recommend waiting

Actually, you have made a 6-week kit in 4 weeks. Patience is a very important tool to a winemaker. I generally make 6 week kits in longer than 8 weeks.

So, as others have said be patient. Your wine will probably clear given time.

Steve

It is not ready to bottle. I've done this wine, it took me longer than the instructions to really clear it. Suggest letting bulk age for another 2 months and see what goes to the bottom. If necessary, bulk age another 2 months. If clear then, rack again and bottle the next day. Pinot Grigio can age for 6 months to a year, so be patient. Or you will have stuff in your bottles. Un-sightly. smile.

Bulk aging means leave it in the carboy - consider it like part of your bottle aging. So if the instructions said to age in the bottle for 6 months, suggest you can let it in the carboy that long before bottling and get the same results, except you will let it clear more.

that make sense?

I would wait too, but it sounds fine to me if I follow you. It sounds like it looks clear, but if you shine a light through it you see particles 'twinkling' in the beam.

They will continue to settle out in time as others have said, but a little sediment never hurt anyone. It's all a matter of what is acceptable to you. I have never bottled a white in less than 8 months but that is me. As long as you keep it topped up you can wait much longer and it will only help.

Joe

Time, mon ami, time...be patient, let it age and it will clear. Darlene ;o)

Thank you for all the replies to my clearing question. The common wisdom seems to be "wait" before bottling. I can do that. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.