I have a process question about kit wines. I have a WineExpert Cab
Sauv kit and I have already added the Potassium Sorbate (per the
instructions). My question is can I perform a MLF or does Sorbate
somehow inhibit MLF from starting?

Thanks in advance
Dave

On Sep 24, 7:01*am, wrote:
> I have a process question about kit wines. *I have a WineExpert Cab
> Sauv kit and I have already added the Potassium Sorbate (per the
> instructions). *My question is can I perform a MLF or does Sorbate
> somehow inhibit MLF from starting?
>
> Thanks in advance
> Dave

No, no, no! First, as a general rule, you should not do an MLF on a
kit wine because a) kits are supposed to be balanced for acid, and b)
they contain higher ratio of malic acid to tartaric than grapes - this
is done by the manufacturers to make the wine tartrate stable. So if
you do an MLF on a kit, you'll end up with an unbalanced, flabby wine.

Second, doing MLF on a wine that contains sorbate pretty much destroys
it by generating a strong geranium-like aroma in the wine. From what I
hear, it's pretty much destined to end up in the drain...

Just follow whatever remaining steps are in the instructions and the
wine will be fine.

Pp

On Sep 24, 10:01*am, wrote:
> I have a process question about kit wines. *I have a WineExpert Cab
> Sauv kit and I have already added the Potassium Sorbate (per the
> instructions). *My question is can I perform a MLF or does Sorbate
> somehow inhibit MLF from starting?
>
> Thanks in advance
> Dave


Agreed to what Pp said, and to complete the answer to your question,
yes I think that Sorbate will inhibit the growth of organisms,
including MLB (malo-lactic bacteria).

Also, to repeat for the purpose of emphasis, you should NEVER add
Potassium Sorbate to a wine that has undergone MLF, as it produces the
horrible geranium-like smell to which Pp referred.

On Sep 25, 10:37*am, wrote:
> On Sep 24, 10:01*am, wrote:
>
> > I have a process question about kit wines. *I have a WineExpert Cab
> > Sauv kit and I have already added the Potassium Sorbate (per the
> > instructions). *My question is can I perform a MLF or does Sorbate
> > somehow inhibit MLF from starting?
>
> > Thanks in advance
> > Dave
>
> Agreed to what Pp said, and to complete the answer to your question,
> yes I think that Sorbate will inhibit the growth of organisms,
> including MLB (malo-lactic bacteria).
>
> Also, to repeat for the purpose of emphasis, you should NEVER add
> Potassium Sorbate to a wine that has undergone MLF, as it produces the
> horrible geranium-like smell to which Pp referred.

Thankyou both! This is very good information.