Fast secondary fermentation (wine)

Question

I put my wine in secondary at 1.025 and in 1 day it was down the 1.002. Why so fast? Did I do something wrong? Do I just let fermentation play out or do I stop it?

Answer 1

Speed of fermentation usually depends on:

• the amount of yeast cells (and nutrients)
• the temperature of fermentation (the higher the faster)

To slow down fermentation:

• Drop the temperature using Ice Packs or other cooling devices
• Additives like SO2 could slow yeast as well

At 1.002 you are almost done, I would let it finish.

Answer 2

Exciting the wine can also give a burst of fermentation. Since your wine was actively fermenting, and you moved it into a secondary you more than likely degassed it just a bit, raised the pH a touch as a result and the yeast liked it better.

That’s all anecdotal, but it’s likely.