Late Harvest Vignoles or Riesling
Fall Bright, The Winemakers Shoppe
Providing winemaking supplies, grapes, juices and technical assistance plus brewing supplies for amateur winemakers for over 20 years.
Late Harvest Ravat 51 "Vignoles" This photo was taken by Bob Scharf, winemaker and friend.
MAKING YOUR LATE HARVEST WINES
When the growing season is hot and dry, the vineyardist is more at liberty (less at risk) to manage the vines and the fruit for the possible production of a true late harvest. A few late rains in September and early October will be all that is needed to encourage the "Noble Rot" Botrytis Cinerea to form. This unique fungus dehydrates the berries causing actual raisins to form on the cluster. This dehydration concentrates the sugars, aromas and flavors of the grape. Delicious hints of apricot, peach, raisins and honey permeate the juice and the wine to be.
A few things to keep in mind when crafting your "Late Harvest":
1. The high sugars create a more hostile environment for the yeast;
2. A high acidity is desirable to properly balance the high residual sugar;
3. The wines usually take much longer to ferment and to "fall bright".
With your Late Harvest Vignoles (Ravat 51) we are recommending an adjustment of the total acidity (TA) up to a figure of 1.1% if necessary and stopping the fermentation at a level of 6o Brix (hydrometer reading). To adjust your total acidity from say .855 to 1.1 – use tartaric acid at a rate of 40 grams per 5 gallons (OR) acid bend at the rate of 35 grams per 5 gallons. Tartaric Acid Sheet
An application of Bentonite at label recommended rates might assist in the clarification of the wine.
For yeast, we recommend the use of Lalvin71B or Red Star Cotes des Blanc.
To arrest the fermentation use a combination of racking, the addition of metabisulfite and sorbate, and chilling when the desired Brix level is achieved.
If you chose to make your Riesling as a Late Harvest, it is optional to use Cotes Des Blanc (Epernay2) for the fermentation. We recommend a total acidity (TA) of .9 to .95 with an initial Brix of 23 - 24 degrees and stopping the fermentation at a level of 2o Brix (hydrometer reading). Proceed as above for the clarification and stopping of the fermentation. Good luck and enjoy.
Basic info: 1.9 grams (1/4 teaspoon) of tartaric acid per gallon will raise the acid approximately .05%.
The recommendation of less acid blend is based on the use of citric acid in these
blends. Citric acid will not be reduced by cold stabilization in case of overdose.
Pick up a tartaric additive sheet.