How will I know when I should have my wines tested for completion of Malolactic fermentation?
Many winemakers inoculate their wine with Leuconostoc oenes to induce malolactic fermentation. In this case, under the proper conditions, the secondary fermentation should be complete by December. If you choose not to inoculate, the fermentation may take until January or February to complete. The TA of the wine will slowly decrease and the pH will slowly increase as the wine goes through MLF. The air trap on the barrel should become silent when the fermentation is complete. Testing should be done to insure that MLF is complete.
