Hello All,
I was making my first batch of white zin tonight from the kit, right after I sprinkled on the yeast the rubber gromet from the airlock fell in. This required me to use a spoon to fish it out. The directions say " do not stir in yeast". The yeast clearly got stirred in. So my question is , Will the kit still work even though the yeast got all mixed in? Thanks for any serious reply.-Greg

Tags: vino del vida

You shouldn't have a problem.

I believe everything will turn out okay.

- Scott

It may start a little slower because of the lack of oxygen by stirring it in. Not a problem. The airlock also chokes off the oxygen to the wine in the primary. I don't know why they insist in using an air lock in the primary. I guess that is so you can take a two week vacation and the wine won't spoil if the yeast starts. I hesitate making suggestions because for those kits you should follow the directions as close as possible. Watch it closely. You may not see the bubbles in the airlock right away. . Most winemakers never use an air lock on their primary. I would only deviate from the directions if all else is failing.

Quick update-The airlock is bubbling like crazy, so I assume that is a good sign?

gregmeetsworld wrote:Quick update-The airlock is bubbling like crazy, so I assume that is a good sign?

Your wine will be fine.

I usually avoid wine discussions because I am somewhat unfamiliar with the process but in this case I thought it was pretty obvious that things should be okay. Not being a wine maker so I did not realize that stirring in the yeast is how you aerate the must (That is the correct term is it not?).

Sorry to have steered you wrong.

- Scott

That was fine. They just put airlocks on those wine kits for the primary and I guess it is so it would be impossible for a beginner to make a mistake. I just throw a dish towel over my primary. Then stir 2 to 3 times a day. It goes a lot faster. Some people just punch down the fruit. I think there are hundreds of different ideas and they all make good wine at the end. I was going to tell him to take the lid off but with a kit I hesitate doing that. Good idea just to follow those step by step directions. all went well. On another forum someone told a kit maker to take the lid off and they did and then followed the rest of the directions for a week or so and it all turned to vinegar because they weren't watching the SG.