On many occasions we have been asked this simple question, “Should a wine making fermenter be sealed with an air-lock during the first few days of fermentation — the primary fermentation — or should it be left open, exposed to the air?”
The Conflict
This question arises because there is so much conflicting information floating around in wine making books, on the internet and in other places as to which method is correct. In fact, even our own wine making website recommends just covering the primary fermentation with a thin towel, while the instructions that come with the wine ingredient kits we sell recommend using an air-lock.
Even commercial wineries are not consistent in this area. While most wineries will put white wines under an air-lock and expose red wines to air, there are many, many wineries that will do the very opposite.
My Recommendation
The reason I recommend leaving the wine must exposed to air during the primary fermentation is because this method leads a more vigorous fermentation, one that is able to complete more thoroughly and quickly. Wine making kit producers recommend sealing up the primary fermentation with an air-lock because they are more concerned about eliminating any risk of spoilage than providing the fastest fermentation possible.
Spoilage can be of concern on those rare occasions when the fermentation does not start in a timely manner, but if the fermentation takes off quickly, spoilage is of no issue. The activity of the yeast will easily protect the must by impeding the growth of any unwanted organisms.
So, What Should You Do?
While I recommend using a thin, clean towel to cover the fermenter during the primary fermentation and nothing more, if you are concerned about your fermentation not starting there is a compromising method you could follow:
When you first pitch the wine yeast into the must, put an air-lock on the fermenter. After a few hours, once you see that the fermentation has begun–indicated by activity or foam on the surface–you can then take the air-lock off and safely allow air to get to the must. This is, in a sense, giving you the best of both worlds–the protection and an invigorated wine making fermentation.
As A Side Note:
It is important to note that an air-lock should always be used after the must has gone into its secondary fermentation. This is in agreement with most. This usually starts around the fifth or sixth day, or when the first racking is performed. It is about this time you will notice the fermentation’s activity level starting to taper off.
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Ed Kraus is a 3rd generation home brewer/winemaker and has been an owner of E. C. Kraus since 1999. He has been helping individuals make better wine and beer for over 25 years.
I use a 5 gallon bucket to make 5 gallons of wine. That leaves only about a 1/2 inch space at the top when the must is ready to be pinched. I never use an air lock at any time during first second or third racking’s before bottling. I only place the lid of the bucket over the bucket from start to finish. But I do not snap it down. I just let it cover the must. That leaves about 1 full inch of air space after I pinch the must. I do not stir the yeast into the must. I just sprinkle it over the top of the must and let float on its own and start on its own. I do not rack it until I get a 0.990 reading. That’s when I put in the campden tablets and rack it for the first time the next day better than twenty four hours later. After I racked it into a clean bucket. I snap the cover down tight and let it set for another three or four days and rack it again for the second time. I leave it set again for another three or four days with the cover snapped on tight. After that I rack it again for the third time into a clean bucket. Then I sulfate it and bottle it into 1 gallon jars rather I sweetened it back then or not. Because you can sweeten back a wine anytime after it is done. Even store bought bottled wines if there to dry to your liking.
Jim I like you’re style but a few questions:
1-Why don’t you sir your must, are you using a kit or fruit(country wine)
2-What do you mean by “pinched” I’m wine making terms.
3-Am I reading it right that you snap the lid down during 2nd fermentation? Don’t the gases need to bubble out with an airlock?
I’m no pro, just made my first batch doing everything by the directions I’ve read and some jive up with yours. If it works for you great, your way seems more easier and streamlined. One last question….Every time that you breathe are you sanitizing everything? Sometimes I think about the people that made wine 100-150 years ago that had no chemicals or StarSan.
Hello, how bad did i mess up here.
I boiled my water well it wasnt really boiling it was just hot
and desolved my sugar and added the water to my plums i didnt add the yeast tell after things cooled down, using an are lock i was geting perks within a half an hour and withenan hour of adding the yeast i was getting a burp every five second and was increasing activity rather rapid. it seems to be doing it, i am new at this. is there anything i should watch out for? Do you think it will be ok? should i throw it out and start over? thank you
David
David, there is no need to discard your wine. Just because you used an airlock during the primary stage does not necessarily mean there will be issues with the fermentation. From what you have described, it sounds like the fermentation is progressing along. If you are still in the primary stage, you can still remove the lid to allow oxygen to reach the yeast.
I would worry that during the time after the vigorous ferment and time to bottle there would be some oxidation occurring especially with the absence of sulfite. Oxidation is a fleeting thing, some people don’t mind it in their wine. Some sweet wines ie sherries, and the like are purposely oxidized for the distinctive flavor.
For my taste I don’t want any oxidation period. Unless my wine is really high in sugar and alcohol.
I just lay the cover on my primary without snapping it down until the fifth or sixth or seventh day. After racking into secondary, I seal it up with an airlock. It stays under airlock for all additional rackings up until bottling day. I have never had a problem doing it this way even when fermentation has not gotten underway for 48 hours. Red or white, there’s enough gas sitting on the must during primary fermentation that there’s really no need to seal it up as long as you get it into the secondary before fermentation slows to a crawl.
I make wine from fresh red and white grapes using 25 gallon food grade tubs, just covering the must with the tub cover in a 70F basement. Floating thermometer shows that the red fermentation runs too hot (80F plus). I punch down 3 times a day and have tried using a must chiller (circulating water) and frozen ice bottles with little success. I intend to try selecting a slow fermenting yeast and/or covering the tubs with plastic (with a small hole for CO2 to escape.
Question for Ed Kraus: Would slowing down the fermentation reduce the temperature and if so how best to accomplish?
I use a 7 gallon Fermonster for big batches of Wine, Mead and Beer. But use glass Carboys on smaller ones. I like to have head space as I have had some REALLY boiling ferments. I dont ferment at high temps either. Makes Hydrogen Sulfide issues and off flavors. Too fast for the yeast. I make a starter and rehydrate my yeast the way the manufacturer states RIGHT on the yeast pack ! It makes me cringe when someone just pitches it on top. That shocks the yeast and you have a much longer lag time. I also use GO-Ferm in my started for Mead and Wine and a pre canned wort booster on the beer. After lag I use DAP and Fermaid O. Cause sometimes I do high gravity meads and Fermaid K I understand does not work after 14% ABV is reached and only Organic Nitrogen will work at those levels. I Also adjust acid levels, Tannins etc. PH and always use Pectic Enzymes with fruit based wines or meads. Otherwise you got a hazy mess. I always get Crystal clear wines even when I dont use Bentonite and Sparkaloid or a fining agent like Chitosan. Just use good old time as I bulk age my wines sometimes on Oak from many months. Rack and re rack till I can read small print through it. One of these days I will try a Malolactic ferment as I love smooth, Not to sharp wines. Love buttery ones ! But I hate Chardonnays and Cabernet Savignons which are the most popular it seems. Too dry for me. Too pungent.
Gee wiss I forgot to write… I NEVER use a airlock for the first 5 days. Just thin cheesecloth over the top. Then I pop a airlock on and let the CO2 build up to protect from oxidation. I dont have oxidation issues ever even with 5 days of open ferment.
this is my first try making wine one gallon at a time when do use an airlock
Jody, you will want to attach the the airlock after the 5-7 day primary fermentation and after the first racking. For more information on when to use an airlock, please take a look at the article posted below.
Airlock Basics
https://eckraus.com/airlock-basics/
Hi question. I’m making a wine I got of the Internet It wont contain fruit just cotton candy that will dissolve Do you think I should still rack it into secondary and if so how long does it stay in a secondary.
Shane, because you do not want the wine sitting on the sediment too long, we always recommend racking to a secondary fermenter. Leaving it on the sediment too long can cause off flavors The wine usually stays in the secondary fermenter until the fermentation is complete. The fermentation is complete once the specific gravity reading on the hydrometer reaches .998 or less.
I never ferment on the must and always use an airlock as soon as I add the yeast to the strained liquid. I find it easier to take a reading and add my desired sugar. Never had any problems
Hi! Interesting question. The new style is to use Oxygen at the start a little bit for yeast needs. I use mixers, air pumps. But! I think about micro electrolyzer! There must be 2 separated cameras of gas. One for Oxygen and second for Hydrogen. Maybe I make something like that! 🙂 Happy New Year to all homebrewers!
EcKraus long ago advised me to place a light cover over the first fermentation, and a airlock over the secondary…followed by good wine…”if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!…
George
As a curious novice to wine making l stored several gallons of watermelon juice in the freezer last fall for explicitly making wine. Question: would it be wise to use peptic enzyme for each racking for breaking down must or just use it in primary??
You should only need to add it during the primary.
Just wondering if you still issue newsletters? I know you did way back. I miss those because they were so informative! Thanks for all your information for winemaking!!!
Yes we do, go to our homepage by clicking on the logo in the top left-hand corner. Then go to the bottom of the homepage, and you will see a place to sign up.
Thanks for this article! I’m wondering if I need to discard my strawberry wine. I let the must ferment in a large sealed container that I “burped” once a day. After 7 days, I transferred it to a new vessel with an airlock, but I forgot to put water in the airlock until a week later, so it was exposed to the open air inside my house for that time. How would this affect the safety and flavor of my wine?