Functions and Uses of Filtration Materials in Winemaking

Wine has to go through a number of different processes before it is ready for consumption. One of the processes that you may choose to put your wine through is filtration during the final stages of winemaking to stabilise it and ensure that is has the proper clarity. Wines can develop a certain amount of sediment that makes it unattractive and can negatively affect the quality of it. Along with this, microbes can begin to thrive and cause spoilage if the filtration process does not happen. We discuss this process and the functions and uses of filtration materials in winemaking in the following details.

Why Filtration Is Important?

Through settling and racking, all wines go through some degree of clarification. To obtain the highest level of clarity and stabilization with your wine, you need to understand the importance of filtration. Wine develops suspended particles in it as byproducts of the chemical reaction that it undergoes. These particles are not soluble and float about in the wine, giving it a dull and cloudy appearance. Some of these particles may even be microbes that can cause the wine to spoil and lose its intended flavour and characteristics. Microbes are not necessarily visible to the naked eye, though, so using the right filtration ensures that you remove them. As you will learn in the next section, there are various types of filtration materials and you should use the one that suits your situation the best.

Examples of Filtration Materials

• Cartridge filters are in the form of a tube and the come in nominal, absolute and final membrane models. Each one removes a certain amount of the unwanted particles in wine with absolute ones having a 99.98-percent efficiency, which means that they remove more particles than the nominal ones do at 90-percent efficiency. On the other hand, the final membrane ones are for the purpose of removing microbes that can cause spoilage.
• Earth filtration is another form of removing unwanted particles from wine. Diatomaceous earth is one example of the materials that this type of filtration involves.
• Filter sheets are successful in reducing the presences of microbes in wine and other applications requiring coarse, fine and clarifying filtration

*Note: The type of filtration method that will work best for you depends upon your unique situation and preferences.*

For additional functions and uses of filtration materials in winemaking, contact Grapeworks Consumables. We carry a wide assortment of winemaking filtration products along with supplies, machinery and equipment. With our products, you can make your wine in an efficient and a quality manner.