WHY DOES SOME WINE LOOK HAZY?)

 

A glass of red wine AI-generated content may be incorrect.

 

CLARIFYING AND BOTTLING (FILTERED VS UNFILTERED: WHY DOES SOME WINE LOOK HAZY?)

 

Most wine we drink will have a clear and bright appearance in the glass. However, some wines can have a hazy or cloudy look to them due to tiny particles of yeast or grape skins left over after fermentation. This sediment can be removed using filtration or fining.

A ‘fining agent’ that is heavier than the fermented juice will attach itself to the unwanted bits as it slowly sinks to the bottom of the vat so the clear wine can be drained off leaving the dregs, or ‘lees’, behind. In the past we have used things like egg whites, milk or even fish blood to ‘fine’ wines. As technology and attitudes have changed you are more likely to find substances like bentonite, which is clay based and obviously vegan, being used though the old ways can still be found.

Filtration technology has also moved on at great pace with the use of fine carbon filters and complex centrifuges. These create clear wines, unsullied by unwanted particles such as a vibrant and expressive New Zealand Sauvignon.

Sometimes the winemaker will leave these particles in the bottle to add depth of flavour and character, particularly in Natural wines where minimal intervention is the preferred technique, allowing the fermented grapes to show their full, unadulterated potential. A great example of this is the wonderfully aromatic Charles Frey Maceration, full of spiced tangerine notes and a zippy texture.

The sediment in wine usually settles to the bottom of the bottle and, with careful pouring, will remain there and not in your glass. However, some wines will remain cloudy or hazy. And there are some people who actively stir up the sediment to enjoy this extra dimension in a wine.

To help you decide which you prefer, take a bottle with noticeable sediment and carefully pour yourself a small measure of clear wine. Next, give the bottle a gentle shake to agitate the sediment and pour a measure of this and try both, one after the other, to see what differences in flavour and texture you encounter. Choosing clarity or haziness in your glass is a personal choice and it’s worth experimenting with both ways to see which you enjoy most.

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