[punkrokka]

I've had Rhubarb Wine fermenting in demi Johns for about two weeks now....the first week was very fast bubbling but now it's slowed to just occasional ones...The contents are starting to clear and the sediment is settling at the bottom.

I can't find anything that clearly outlines fermentation timing so I'm not sure if this is normal at this point?

Any help on what I need to do now and when to think about racking would be really useful?

[pushrod]

Hi - you are probs more experienced than me , but when i made some red wine from grape juice concentrate it took about about 18/20 days to finish fermenting, but then the temp was cooler a couple of months ago. just started drinking it and now regretting using quite so many chemicals to stop the fermenting and promote clearing as there is a bit of a "taste" to it. Be interested to know if it is a success as i have a lot of rhubarb in the garden lol.

[punkrokka]

Thanks.....This is the first batch for me so definately need a bit of guidance.

I read that Rhubarb Wine needs six months before it's drinkable and will then keep for two years but I'm not sure if the bubbling should have stopped yet and if so should racking be my next step?

[Stoatus]

If you have a hydrometer take a small sample and test the gravity. If it's a dry wine you are making it should be <1000, if medium 1000-1010, if sweet 1020. Alternatively just taste it and see how sweet it is. I am not very experienced but have made three batches of wine, all of which have ceased bubbling after 3 weeks, so it's probably fine. So long as the sweetness/gravity is about right just leave it in the demijohn to clear (2-3 months).

If fermentation has stuck you can restart it with a yeast, sugar, orange juice mixture, to which you add the stuck wine a bit at a time.

[hindy]

If its been fermenting for 14 days I would say its now finished. I made a batch of rhubarb recently and only took 10 days.
Like Stoatus says use a hydrometer to test the sg. I think you will find its <1000 so you might have to sweeten to your taste.
If it has finished it would pay to rack off into a clean demijohn to let it clear without sitting on the sediment.

[punkrokka]

Thanks all......will test as advised.

Was also told to leave until air lock water settles/moves to right hand bottleside and then rack, at the moment mine are still moving between the two.