fresh juice in pails, yeast already added?

Question

My local shop has juice from Cali in plastic pails with some sort of valve built into the lid.

He has a 23 litre of cabernet sauvignon, and a 20 litre burgundy.

He said that he pulled them out of a cooler for a customer who never picked them up, so he added yeast to them (this was about a week ago) and that all I need to do is take it home and put it in a carboy.

Does this sound like a bad idea? Should I try and get some fresh juice that has not had yeast added yet or would this make a decent wine?

I realize I'm asking lots without giving much information, I'd just like to know what you folks think.

Thanks in advance.

J Dixon · Accepted Answer

It should be fine if you believe what he is telling you... I would want tosmell, taste, and test the wine before I bought it, and I certainly wouldnot pay anywhere near full price. Take a hydrometer reading and see if it isdry now. The question in my mind is how long has it been done fermenting? Doyou know what the chemistry was before the start of fermentation? BeingCalifornia Juice it is likely the Brix were there so that usually is not aconcern. If you can get it cheap enough and you dont think it's infected oroxidized then give it a shot I would say. HTHJohn Dixon

Insprucegrove · Answer

Only time I did this, it was a complete disaster.....I will never buy juiceagain that has had yeast already added to it.

Negodki · Answer

A week after pitching yeast, a room-temperature ferment of a red wine should be almost complete. So, theoretically, you could rack it to a carboy now, and end up with a decent wine. Question is, do you trust the vendor? What does the wine smell like? What is the current SG? What was the starting SG? Is there any white or green stuff growing on the surface? Etc.

fresh juice in pails, yeast already added?

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