Filtration and Clarification in Winemaking: How Important is this?

Filtration is usually a valuable step for stabilising and clarifying wines during the final stages of the winemaking process. All wines gain some amount of clarification through settling and racking. In addition, the majority of wines are filtered. However, the wine producer makes the final decision of whether or not to filter a wine, often based on his or her individual preferences. If filtration is performed, it must be done correctly in order to avoid significant problems during this stage of a new wine’s creation. The main argument in favor of filtering is that its result is a clear wine consistency, without any floating particles that are visible to the naked eye during the bottling process. By stabilising wines via protein and tartrate stabilising procedures, the wine will have even more clarity. Filtration also usually renders wines that remain stable over time, without the presence of microbes that can mar the look and flavor of a wine after it is bottled.

Measures for Reducing the Need for Filtration During Wine Production

Although most experienced winemakers consider filtration a necessary element of the overall wine production process, there are some measures that can be used to reduce the necessity for filtration procedures during wine production, including the following:

• Decreasing Malic Acid, Fructose and Glucose in Wines. – By reducing the levels of these compounds found in wines during production, microbes will be less capable of growing, multiplying and causing wine spoilage.
• Reducing pH Levels in Wines. – Since many microbes can grow more easily and rapidly in wines that contain a high pH count, the numbers of microbes present can be reduced significantly by lowering the wine’s pH count during production.
• Regulating Sulphur Dioxide Levels in Wines. – When regulated levels of this compound are included in wine composition during the production process, this preservative becomes effective in reducing the likelihood of wine spoilage due to bacterial content.

When you consult the winemaking procedures and equipment experts at Grapeworks located in Dingley Village, Victoria, you will receive top-tier advice and information regarding all aspects of fine wine production procedures. This excellent team of wine producing professionals can offer you valuable tips concerning all steps during the wine creation process, including filtration and clarification procedures. They understand well that winemakers and consumers may have widely varied preferences concerning the degree of filtration generally needed for producing wines with fine quality body, bouquet and flavor. These experts also realize the value of preventing any hints of spoilage of wines due to the presence of wine-altering bacteria. You can put your full trust in the advice of these wine production pros as they fully resolve all your questions and issues relative to modern-day creation of best quality wines.