malolactic fermentation

I would say 'yes - it is very common'. One of the main reasons for inducing MLF is to ensure that the subsequently bottled red wines don't spontaneously go into MLF while in the bottle. Another is to change the acid profile, thereby the taste profile (malic acid being a crisper, more tart taste, better suited to crisp, lively white wines).

Possibly you are overthinking things. Then again, possibly those two winemakers are underthinking things.

Paper chromatography, yes. But it is a once a year sort of deal. I test my reds to ensure that mlf is complete before I consider bottling. In my cellar, mlf usually gets going well soon after primary, but then stalls during the winter (temps in the cellar drop to anywhere between

56 and 59). Kicks in again in the spring. But I always test later in the year to be sure - before bottling.

This is the question that will likely generate some debate.

I used to innoculate soon after primary was underway, on the presumption that the ml bacteria would get a better start while the alcohol was lower. Then, some fellow winemakers who profess to knowing far more than I ever could suggested that I was risking some undesirable volatile acidity by doing so (I am still uncertain of the biologic basis for this). So I now innoculate late in primary - soon before press. Not sure it really makes a difference, but done this two years in a row now with no problems, so planning on continuing thus until better information convinces me otherwise.

How about you? When do you innoculate with ml bacteria?

Only thing I don;t understand there - "shold be 1-5 of the volume of the juice" ?? what does that mean?

I buy the small dried bacteria packets. I pitch them directly into the fermenting must. Some folks start it in water, much as we do yeast (for my reds, i figure it has a year or two to do it's thing, so I'm not too worried about making it start right away - but it always does!).

Lum is much to modest:

Look for: ferment sugar

Take Care, Steve Oregon

Ok, just to muddy the waters a bit, I rarely induce MLF because most of my grapes are low acid to begin with. Proper sulfite levels can be used to prevent spontaneous MLF. It really depends on your grapes, if they are on the underripe side they will likely be high in TA, lower in pH and great candidates for MLF. Mine are usually the opposite. If you do this, I prefer later in the ferment too; the TA/ pH balance is closer to stable and you know where they ended up; the sulfite level has dropped to the point MLF can take off too.

As to cultures, once ML bacteria are in your winery space it just happens on it's own. I know that seems a little hard to believe, but I keep things relatively clean and get spontaneous MLF often if my sulfite levels dip. If the wine is a little high on TA I let it have at it. I'm either bringing it in on the must or it's in my winery. I never saw it before I bought a culture for some Chancellor so suspect the latter.

Joe

Joe

You either have a good nose, or MLF has a distinct odor. \ :) Can you describe the odor?

I think wines going through MLF often have a slight "sour cabbage" smell.

Lum,

I smell diacetyl. It's quite strong by the time I start pressing. I assumed that meant MLF was going. Am I correct to assume that or does that smell come from some other process during primary??

TIA

Bob

I think you are right Bob. I am in San Diego and local red grapes often contain less than 2 grams per litter of malic acid. So, mlf doesn't last very long or produce very much diacetyl. I know what you mean about mlf bubbles. They are different, but difficult to describe. Lum

Bob