How long does wild yeast generally take to convert sugar to alcohol?

Wild yeast fermentation is a complex process that typically involves various stages, including lag phase, growth phase, and active fermentation. Generally, the initial fermentation process for wild yeast can take from one week to several weeks to convert sugar into alcohol. This lengthy duration is due to wild yeast strains being less predictable compared to cultivated yeast, which are specifically selected for their rapid fermentation abilities.

During the fermentation process, wild yeast may take longer as it must compete with ambient bacteria and other yeast strains present in the environment. This competition can slow down the fermentation compared to commercial yeasts, which are consistent and optimized for quick production.

The other provided options suggest much shorter time frames, which do not account for the natural variability and competition involved with wild yeast fermentation. Therefore, the range from one week to several weeks accurately reflects the realistic timeframe for wild yeast activity in alcoholic fermentation.