Comments on: How to Use Bentonite to Clarify Wine

By: Tammy Bennett

Tammy Bennett — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 15:30:00 +0000

This is the first time I used bentonite to clear my wine. I just used it this morning, so will see how it works. I always used the clarifier, but my carboy of wine wouldn’t clear.

By: Matt Williams

Matt Williams — Wed, 27 May 2015 02:35:00 +0000

In reply to link07. Bentonite is indeed a great clarifier, one I've had good results from as well.

By: link07

link07 — Sun, 17 May 2015 04:30:00 +0000

I normally just let the wine sit for a couple of weeks and its ok. But i used bentonite after primary and its insane! After just 4 hours the clarity is amazing. Almost store bought amazing.

By: Matt Williams

Matt Williams — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 01:49:00 +0000

In reply to Stephen Boland.

Bentonite is a unique clarifier in that it is the only one that may be used during fermentation as well as afterward. When you add bentonite at the beginning of fermentation you’re relying on the carbon dioxide bubbles that form to carry the bentonite up through the wine and, when the bubble pops, let it fall back down to the bottom. These repeated trips to up and down through the wine allow the bentonite to clear the wine as it’s being made.

In kit wines this is useful to shorten the length of time it takes to clear the wine for bottling. This way you’re not having to rely solely on the clarifier you add at the end of the wine making process.

I hope this helps! -Matt

By: Stephen Boland

Stephen Boland — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 15:43:00 +0000

All of the wine kits I have used have me add the bentonite before primary fermentation rather than adding it post fermentation as it seems you are instructing. Assuming both of the practices work, why would you choose to add bentonite one way over the other?

By: Matt Williams

Matt Williams — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 03:44:00 +0000

In reply to huh.

Thank you very much for pointing out my mistake! I strive to be as accurate as possible and I appreciate you taking the time to let me know.

I went back and revised the article so that it correctly states that bentonite is negatively charged upon hydrating it.

Cheers! -Matt

By: huh

huh — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 02:49:00 +0000

You contradict yourself – you claim that bentonite works by becoming positively charged when hydrated (to attach to the negative particles), but further into the paragraph you state that bentonite is negatively charged.