1/4 teaspoon would be plenty but what are you going to do with the rest of it? Once oxygen hits the malolactic the clock starts ticking on its viability. As soon as I open the packet I use it all whether it's 5 gallons or 35. Using more than necessary won't overdose your must. The bacteria will consume the acids and then die and sink into the lees. Plus if the nature of the must is less than hospitable to the malolactic more is better. I always get good results with VP 41. I'm sure you will too.

You can't over-innoculate with this product. The shelf life is not long once opened so unless you have another batch to use it with in the very short term or at the same time you can use the entire package. I would use 1 gram minimum for up to 6 gallon carboy. A larger addition will result in a faster MLF.

According to the package instructions 2.5 g of bacteria is used to inoculate 66 gal of wine. For 3 gal using a simple proportion calculation 0.114 g of bacteria will be needed. Keep in mind that the bacteria should be dissolved in water containing a ML nutrient actimil. For 2.5 g of ML bacteria 50 g of actimil is dissolved in 250 ml of water. For 3 gal of wine dissolve 0.114 g of bacteria in 11.4 ml water with 2.28 g actimil. Side note: since the bacteria cannot be stored after the package is opened it might be easier to make up the large batch of bacteria nutrient mix as if you were going to inoculate 66 gal of wine but only use 11.4 ml of this mix to inoculate your 3 gal of wine. Hope this helps.

You can add the entire package (2.5 g). You can't overdose your wine the bacteria will multiply while there's sufficient malic acid then they'll all die off when the malic has converted completely to lactic.

The instructions say 2.5 g for 66 gallons. (2.5g/66gall) x 3 gall = 0.113 grams for 3 gallons

Per the instructions 2.5 grams is good for 66 gallons so 2.5 grams/66 gallons = 0.11 grams/3 gallons.

Find something packaged for smaller batches

It calls for 1.35g per 1 gallon but we use the entire packet for 30 gallon barrels and MLF still gets done quickly. Be sure to follow the MLF protocol adjusted for the amount you put in: a)Prepare malolactic nutrient Malostart; Dosage is 1.35 grams per 1 gallon; b)Add to warm distilled water 10 times its weigh; scoop out a little must and add to Malostart mixture; c)To add malolactic bacteria mixture: Rehydrate yeast packet in distilled warm water for 15 minutes: Dosage: 2.5 grams per 66 gallons; d)Pour in Malostart mixture and malolactic bacteria;

Sure… VP41 is my go for ML in WineMaking. Make sure to feed the ML with Opti Malo Plus especially during difficult environments.

What is the ph on the fermentation? That might be affecting the yeast leading to stuck ferm. As far as the bacteria goes I've combined both before and the malo went fine. But again if the must is too acidic you're gonna have problems there too.

Yes but Acti-ML can help strengthen the development of bacteria growth under difficult conditions.

I have used it without the acti successfully

I used it last year and skipped adding the nutrient and got a poor result. So I would say that you need the Acti ML or some other nutrient for best result. That is less the case if you co-inoculate. In my case primary ferment was complete so that may have played a role in the poor result.

Yes you can although I use it just to be on the safe side

Have you read the descriptions for both? Acti-ML is a yeast nutrient for the Malolactic bacteria. Your malolactic fermentation will likely suffer without proper nutrients. I have used both Acti-ML or Opti Malo Plus at different times. Either one will work well and they're inexpensive. MLF can be difficult anyway so why not give yourself the best chance for success?

Yes ML bacteria can be used alone quite nicely. I added Acti-ML because I wanted to make sure the ML started and was worried about the timing. I added it late in the fermentation.

Hello Valentin yes you can use VP41 without adding Acti-ML. Suggest stirring the wine every two weeks durning MLF. This will recirculate the sediment and aid in secondary fermentation. Hope this was helpful

From Scottlabs: • Once opened lactic acid bacteria sachet must be used immediately. • This product can be stored for 18 months at 4°C/40°F or 36 months at -18°C/O°F in original sealed packaging. • Sealed packets can be delivered and stored for 3 weeks at ambient temperature (<25°C/77°F) without significant loss of viability. • That said (on advice of a local wine lab technician) I have weighed out a portion of the bacteria and resealed the sachet and returned to freezer with good results. However I use the rest of it within weeks to a month or two depending on harvest timing.

If refregerated at least a year.

The LALVIN online literature claims that it can survive unopened 18 months at 4 degrees C and 30 months at -20 degrees C. I normally replace it before every harvest and I use only one 2.5 g package.

I would say at least a year. I am a huge fan of VP41. I have used it since 2013 and it has never failed. I typically purchase mine after harvest when I can estimate what I need for the year. That said I currently have a couple of these in the freezer from last year - I will use them this year with confidence. I typically sprinkle VP41 on top of my fermenters and then stir. I do this one day before pressing. There are different opinions on when to add malolactic but this has always worked for me.

I can’t give you a technical answer but I can tell you anecdotally I have used out of date VP41 and it worked fine for me. It was at least two months past expiration date.Keep in mind I kept it properly refrigerated at all times. Hope this helps Mike.

On the package it states that once the package is opened it must be used immediately. Storage unopened in the freezer (0 F) for up to a year should be fine. In fact it is likely that an unopened package stored at 0 F would be good for more than a year but I haven't explicitly tested this.

NOT LONG IT IS BEST TO USE IT RIGHT AFTER YOU OPEN THE PACKAGE. NOW WITH THAT SAID I HAVE USED IT 72 HOURS AFTER OPENING WITH NO ADVERSE ISSUES.