My wine started at 1.082 OG. This is a Stag’s Leap Merlot kit from Winexpert. My first wine.
After 7 days of fermentation in the vat, I’m at 0.994 SG. I just racked off the lees into a carboy. The recipe says to stay in the carboy for 10 days in secondary fermentation until the gravity is below 1. Since I’m already there, how long should I stay in secondary?
I’m a little concerned about my carboy sanitation. My water was too cold so the sanitizer crystalized. I believe it crystalized after I had racked the sanitation mixture out of the carboy and while it was sitting in my sink in the bottling vat (which I use to hold the sanitation mixture while I’m soaking various tools). So I think the carboy is sufficiently clean, but I’m not certain.
So far the wine smells pretty good. It was a little sulphury during primary, but now it smells fairly wine-like. I think things are going well, but it’s my first try so I’m not sure.
When I racked off the lees, I left most of the sludge behind but the racking cane picked up some of it.
About when should I move to clarification? Right away since my SG is good or should I let it sit for a bit longer? Or the full 10 days the recipe calls for?
