On Tue, 6 Dec 2011 Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

I suggested Nick empty the dregs/solid remains of his winemaking onto the
compost. He was horrified and said the alcohol would kill all the
bacteria.
I suppose it makes sense, although I'd expect the alcohol to have to be
stronger than wine-strength to do a major cleansing job.

No harm will come to the compost heap, I assure you.

Indeed. Even if it kills some on contact, their corpses will simply
encourage a growth boom of bacteria!

I always pour the dregs over my vines in the belief that the yeast will
become endemic and coat the grapes the following year. I believe it to
have worked as I have sometimes fermented grapes successfully in the
past without adding any cultured yeast.

Well, as that was the way that it always used to be done, I suspect
that your actions weren't the primary cause :-)

It works in a wine growing area but where there is little or no
viticulture the chances of a wild yeast (something apiculata) which
unrelated to wine yeast (something cerevisiae) will get in and ruin
the brew.

David

Kloeckera apiculata (Google is my friend) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Thanks! I've got it in a book somewhere but didn't have time to look it
up!

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
http://rance.org.uk

On Dec 4, 11:16*pm, uriel13
wrote:
No Name;943006 Wrote:









I suggested Nick empty the dregs/solid remains of his winemaking onto
the
compost. *He was horrified and said the alcohol would kill all the
bacteria.
I suppose it makes sense, although I'd expect the alcohol to have to be
stronger than wine-strength to do a major cleansing job.

Is there anything else we can do with it? *(Perhaps I should have put
it
under the rhubarbs when I replanted them yesterday!) *I know certain
fruiting veg, such as pumpkin, are meant to appreciate being drenched
in
beer during the fattening up season, but I don't fancy holding on to
the
wine rubbish for /another/ year.

Suggestions, please?

--

Hi,

I have been using dreg of home brew in the compost bins for about 30
years. The bins are very healthy and produce good quality compost.

It won't harm the bacteria because the alcohol is fermented as opposed
to distilled. Bacteria are well capable of breaking down fermented
alcohol into a food source which they can consume.

Just don't add too much at once or you will end up with a soggy mess!!!

uriel13

--
uriel13

I have been home brewing regularly for 15yrs and always empty my
organic waste into the compost. I use my home-made compost mixed with
sand for seeds and cuttings and never had a problem.

wrote in message
...
I suggested Nick empty the dregs/solid remains of his winemaking onto the
compost. He was horrified and said the alcohol would kill all the
bacteria.
I suppose it makes sense, although I'd expect the alcohol to have to be
stronger than wine-strength to do a major cleansing job.

Is there anything else we can do with it? (Perhaps I should have put it
under the rhubarbs when I replanted them yesterday!) I know certain
fruiting veg, such as pumpkin, are meant to appreciate being drenched in
beer during the fattening up season, but I don't fancy holding on to the
wine rubbish for /another/ year.

Suggestions, please?

--

Go with your original thought, there can't be much in the dregs to cause
bacterial devastaion.

Bill

wrote in
:

I suggested Nick empty the dregs/solid remains of his winemaking onto
the compost. He was horrified and said the alcohol would kill all the
bacteria. I suppose it makes sense, although I'd expect the alcohol to
have to be stronger than wine-strength to do a major cleansing job.

Is there anything else we can do with it? (Perhaps I should have put
it under the rhubarbs when I replanted them yesterday!) I know
certain fruiting veg, such as pumpkin, are meant to appreciate being
drenched in beer during the fattening up season, but I don't fancy
holding on to the wine rubbish for /another/ year.

Suggestions, please?


vicky, you can filter the dregs and be surprised how much wine results.
Then throw the dregs into compost.
I think I am right in saying that composting material uses wild yeast
during the rotting process and creates alcohol anyway.

Baz